At least one-half of the force required for this service might be taken from the colored troops.
"3d.

By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force to guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten thousand men, if not to a less number.

Six thousand more would then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until active operations can again be resumed west of the river.

According to your last return, this would give you a force of over thirty thousand effective men with which to move against Mobile.

To this I expect to add five thousand men from Missouri.