HEADQUARTER^.  DEPA RT.M EN'l  OE THE TENNESSEE,'
                                  Vioksburg. Miss.. July 30. \W?>.
(GENERAL  ORI>EKS, ,

        No. 49.         ]
  The Mississippi River having been opened to navigation by the valor
of the Army and Navy of the United  States, and being now only secure
for  the transit of steamers because these two arms of the public service
give them their  immediate protection, the General Commanding estab-
lishes the following rules to protect those men against the exorbitant
charges  and other impositions daily practiced  by steamboats  of this
Department:
  1st. Commissioned Officers traveling by authority will only becharged
three-fourths of a cent per mile, on any steamboat, for a cabin passage,
any where south of Cairo, 111.   This  will include berths.
  2i>. Enlisted men will be  charged not  to  exceed one-half cent per
mile, within the same  limits,—thisto include the  privilege of cooking
their rations.
  3d. Meals furnished to  officers or enlisted men will  be at their own
expense, and charged  extra,  but not at a higher rate than fifty cents per
 meal.
   1 in.  No  boat shall refuse to carry an officer or  enlisted  man who is
returning to his regiment  or  company, or who is  going from it with a
discharge from  the service, leave of absence, or furlough from his Corps
Commander, or traveling under proper military orders.
  5th.  Where officers or enlisted men are  returning to duty, and  with-
out the means of "paying  the foregoing rates of transportation and Mib-
sistence, rolls or vouchers will be made of all so carried,  upon which the
Quartermaster,  at their  places of debarkation, will settle according to
the terms of this order.  Quartermasters will  report  monthly  to  Corps
 commanders, the names  of such men  of  their commands (who were
 not entitled to  transportation at the public expense, under their orders,)
 and the amounts paid in  each case, which their Immediate  commanding
 officer will be directed to charge against them on the proper muster and
 pay roll.
   Hth. All violations  of  this order will  be  punished with  fines and im-
 prisonment, or  both, at the discretion of a Military commission.
   7th. All boats plying  South  of Cairo will  keep copies of this  order
 posted in three  or more conspicuous  places en board.
   8th. All Steamboats will  carry authorized Military Mail  Messengers.
 furnish them  subsistence at  seventy-five cents per day, and  assign a
 state room with a lock and key for their exclusive use.
   9th. Provost Marshals at all military posts will  examine the passes of
 all persons leaving on steamers,  allow none to go who are not properly
 authorized, and see that boats comply with the foregoing orders in good
 faith.
    BY ORDER OF MAJOR GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
                                                 T.  S. BOWERS,
                                           Acting Assistant Adjutant  General.
 [Official:]
                                     Assistant Adjutant General.