GENERAL ORDERS, 
NO. 21. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General's Office, 
Washington, February 10, 1865. 
1.. The State of Kentucky will constitute the Military Department 
of-Kentucky. Major General J. M. PALMER, U. S. Volunteers, is 
assigned to the command of the Department of Kentucky. 
11.. The Department of the Cumberland will include the State of 
Tennessee, and such parts of Northern Georgia, Alabama, and Missis- 
sippi, as may be occupied by troops under the command of Major 
General G. H. Thomas. 
111.. All troops in the Department of Kentucky and the Cumberland 
will, in the absence of Major General Sherman, be subject to the orders 
of Major General Thomas, except the posts on the east bank of the 
Mississippi river, which will be subject to Major General Canby's orders 
in movements for protecting the navigation of that river. In all other 
respects they will be under the direct orders of their departmental com- 
manders ; and wherever time will permit, General Canby will commu- 
nicate his orders through such commanders. 
IV. The Department of Mississippi will embrace so much of that 
State as may be occupied by the troops of the Military Division of 
West Mississippi, on the river. 
V. Department of the Gulf will embrace the States ot Louisiana 
and Texas. 
VI. Other military districts on the Gulf of Mexico will report direct 
to the Commanding General of the Military Division. 
order of the Secretary of War: 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General,