WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, May 31, 1863.

Honorable WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

Albany:

Advices to the 26th report everything progressing favorably at Vicksburg. If you are still at Albany let me know. The district attorney in New York has assumed a position that will require your interference promptly and I wish to report the matter to you.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, May 31, 1863

Colonel R. NUGENT,

Actg. Asst. Provost-Marshal-General, New York City:

Honorable William Whiting, Solicitor of War Department, is in New York, probably at Metropolitan or Fifth Avenue Hotel. If not there you will find him by calling on Francis B. Cutting, esq. Call on Mr. Whiting and explain to him the case of the arrest of men refusing to give their names, and say the Secretary desires him to see that proper, disposition is made of it.

J. B. FRY,

Provost-Marshal-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT. ADJT., GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 244.
Washington, June 1, 1863.

* * * * *

22. By direction of the President, Colonel Gustavus Loomis, U. S. Army is here by appointed superintendent of the general recruiting service until further orders.

* * * * *

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPT., PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, June 1, 1863.

Major-General BURNSIDE:

Commanding Department of the Ohio, Cincinnati:

GENERAL: I am directed by the Secretary of War to inform you that the recruitment of troops and the disbursements connected therewith are now under the general control of this Bureau. It is necessary that I should have a definite understanding with you in reference to the raising of the volunteer force for the defense of Kentucky authorized by the act approved February 7, 1863. (General Orders, Numbers 40, Adjutant-General's Office, 1863.) It is my opinion that the public interest demands that not more than ten regiments of the authorized force should be under recruitment at one time. This will promote economy, and will prevent too many fragmentary regiments from being scattered over the State, thus assisting the organization,