HEADQUARTERS 13th ARMY CORPS, Department op the Gulf, New Orleans, February 23, 1864. GENERAL ORDERS,) No. 14. J 1. The undersigned hereby resumes command of the 13th Army Corps, in obedience to the following order : Headquarters, Department op the Gulf, New Orleans, February 20, 18<>4. Special Orders, 1 No. 46. / Extract. 14. By direction of the President, Major General John A. McClernand, United States Volunteers, will relieve Major General E, 0. C. Ord, in command of the 13th Army Co.ps. By command of Major General Banks : (Signed) RICHARD B. IRWIN, Assistant Adjutant General. II. All officers on staff duty at these Headquarters, except Major General Ord's personal staff, will continue in the discharge of their present duties until otherwise ordered. III. Comrades! In thus renewing our former rela- tions, I cannot forbear the expression of my gratifica- tion at so welcome an event. The memories of our common trials and successes in the service of our be- loved country, have endeared you to me. I never will cease to admire your heroism and applaud your virtues. Arkansas Post, Raymond, New Carthage, Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill and Big Black, are so many testimonials to your gallantry and good conduct. These rapid and brilliant victories, together with the triumph of Major General Banks in reducing the stronghold of Port Hudson, re-opened the Mississippi River to the pining commerce of the grateful millions who inhabit its Valley, your assaults of the 19th and 22d of May on the defences of Vicksburg, will ever justly rank among the prodigies of military daring and constancy. All that I claimed for you, in that and other respects, in my congratulatory order of the 30th of last May, stands un- shaken by time and official scrutiny. Indeed, as the plain and simple truth, the contents of that order have become a part of the authentic history of this war. That I was not permitted to share in the consummation of the Mississippi campaign, by leading you into Vicksburg, is my misfortune rather than my fault. My non-parti- cipation in that memorable event was involuntary and constrained, and is deeply deplored on my part. I am profoundly thankful to the President, that he has interposed to restore us to each other, after a separation that has been so long and painful to me. Your service, meantime, i 1 this department, is unfamiliar to me, but I doubt not that it is worthy of your own antecedents, of the character of the distinguished commander whom I now succeed, and of the fame of the able and success- ful commander of this important Department. Comrades ! New fields of duty and peril are before us. Let us hasten to make them historic with the valor and success of American arms. Our countrymen are spectators of our conduct. Their hearts throb in unison with our ardor, our courage and devotion. Let us not disappoint their just expectations. JOHN A. Mc'CLERNAND, Major General Commanding. Official : HEADQUARTERS, 13th ARMY CORPS. Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, February 23, 1864. I. The undersigned hereby resumes command of the 13th Army Corps, in obedience to the following order : SPECIAL ORDERS, | HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, No. 46. J New Orleans, February 20, 1864. Extract. 14. By direction of the President, Major General John A. McClernand, United States Volunteers, will relieve Major General E. 0. C. Ord, in the command of the 13th Army Corps. By Command of Major General Banks: (Signed) RICHARD B. IRWIN, Assistant Adjutant General. II. All officers on staff duty at these Headquarters, except Major General Ord's personal staff, will continue in the discharge of their present duties until otherwise ordered. III. Comrades ! In thus renewing our former relations, I cannot forbear the expression of my gratification at so welcome an event. The memories of our com- mon trials and successes in the service of our beloved country, have endeared you to me. I never will cease to admire your heroism and applaud your virtues. Ar- kansas Post, Richmond, New Carthage, Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill and Big Black, are so many testimonials to your gallantry and good conduct. These rapid and brillian t victories, together with the triumph of Major General Banks in reducing the stronghold of Port Hudson, re-opened the Mississippi river to the pining commerce of the grateful millions who inhabit its valley. Your assaults of the 19th and 22d of May on the defences of Vicksburg, will ever justly rank among the prodigies of military daring and constancy. All that I claimed for you, in that and other respects, in my congratulatory order of the 30th of last May, stands unshaken by time and official scrutiny. Indeed, as the plain and simple truth, the contents of that order have become a part of the authentic history of this war. That I was not permitted to share in the consummation of the Mississippi campaign, by leading you into Vicksburg, is my misfortune rather than my fault GENERAL ORDERS No. 14. 2 My non-participation in that memorable event was involuntary and constrained, and is deely deplored on my part. I am profoundly thankful to the President, that he has interposed to restore us to each other, after a separation that has been so long and painful to me. Your service, meantime, in this Department, is unfamiliar to me, but I doubt not that it is worthy of your own antecedents, of the character of the distinguished commander whom I now succeed, and of the fame of the able and successful chief of this impor- tant Department. Comrades! New fields of duty and peril are before us. Let us hasten to make them historic with the valor and success of American arms. Our cause is a just one—approved, as we trust, by God and the civilized world. Our countrymen are spectators of our conduct. Their hearts throb in unison with our ardor, our cour- age and devotion. Let us not disappoint their just expectations. JOHN A. McCLERNAND, Major General Commanding. Official : Acting Assistant Adjutant General.