J.M.  SCHOFIELD, Secretary of War.

By command of the General of the Army: 

E.D.  TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 55.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE,

Washington, March 9, 1869.

* * * * *

6.  By direction of the President, Brevet Major-General Adelbert Ames, lieutenant-colonel Twenty-fourth United States Infantry, is hereby assigned to command the Fourth Military District, according to his brevet rank.

* * * * *

By command of General Sherman: 

E.D.  TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 18.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE,

Washington, March 16, 1869.

By direction of the President of the United States, the following changes are made in military divisions and department commands: 

I. Lieutenant-General P.H.  Sheridan is assigned to command the Military
Division of the Missouri.

II.  Major-General H.W.  Halleck is assigned to the command of the Military Division of the South, to be composed of the Departments of the South and Louisiana, of the Fourth Military District, and of the States composing the present Department of the Cumberland; headquarters, Louisville, Ky.  Major-General Halleck will proceed to his new command as soon as relieved by Major-General Thomas.

III.  Major-General G.H.  Thomas is assigned to command the Military
Division of the Pacific.

IV.  Major-General J.M.  Schofield is assigned to command the Department of the Missouri.  The State of Illinois and post of Fort Smith, Ark., are transferred to this department.

V. Brigadier and Brevet Major General O.O.  Howard is assigned to command the Department of Louisiana.  Until his arrival the senior officer, Brevet Major-General J.A.  Mower, will command, according to his brevet of major-general.

VI.  The Department of Washington will be discontinued and merged in the Department of the East.  The records will be sent to the Adjutant-General of the Army.

VII.  The First Military District will be added to the Military Division of the Atlantic.

VIII.  As soon as Major-General Thomas is ready to relinquish command of the Department of the Cumberland, the department will be discontinued, and the States composing it will be added to other departments, to be hereafter designated.  The records will be forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army.

By command of General Sherman: 

E.D.  TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, March 26, 1869.

By direction of the President, the order of the Secretary of War dated War Department, March 5, 1869, and published in General Orders, No. 11, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General’s Office, dated March 8, 1869, except so much as directs General W.T.  Sherman to “assume command of the Army of the United States,” is hereby rescinded.