Resignations. Leaves and Furloughs. Copies of Corps Orders. GENERAL ORDERS j HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, No. 61. j New Orleans, August 17, 1863. I. Corps Commanders have authority to accept resignations of officers and to discharge enlisted men. II. The Commanders of Corps and separate Divisions may give leave of ab- sence for seven days, in cases of necessity, not to goj beyond the limits of this Department. III. Corps Commanders may grant leaves of absence for twenty days, on sur- geon's certificate, to go beyond the limits of this Department, to the officers of their commands, within the following limits : At least one Colonel must be present with each Brigade. At least one field officer must be present with each regiment. At least one company officer must be present with each company. Leaves of absence to go beyond the Department will not be granted by the Corps Commanders except on surgeon's certificate, approved by the Medical Direc- tor of the Corps, as required by General Orders No. 61, of 1862, from the War Department, Adjutant General's Office. Applications for leave of absence, if forwarded to Department Headquarters, must invariably state the number of officers of each grade present for duty with the regiment, and if the applicant be a field officer, the number of field officers present for duty with the Brigade. IV. Corps Commanders are authorized to approve furloughs for not exceeding sixty days to the enlisted men of their commands, provided that not more than four men shall be so absent from the same company at any one time. During the season of active operations, no furloughs shall be granted except on surgeon's certificate, approved by the Medical Director of the Corps. V. Corps Commanders will transmit to these Headquarters, on the day suc- ceeding their publication, copies of all General and Special Orders issued from their Headquarters. By command of Major General Banks : RICHARD B. IRWIN, Assistant Adjutant General. Official : Acting Assistant Adjutant General.