WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 6, 1864-3.20 p. m. Major-General MEADE: If you can spare Major-General Hancock I desire that you will direct him to report to me as soon as convenient with a view to performing temporary special duty, but not to interfere with his command in your army. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. JANUARY 6, 1864. ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY : I have the honor herewith to transmit a statement showing the regiments and companies thus far ordered home from this army as veteran volunteers under the orders governing the subject, threefourths of the same having re-enlisted. It will be seen that these organizations number in the aggregate about 6,000. General Orders, No. 376, of November 21, 1863, from the War Department, taken in connection with the circular of December 15, 1863, from the War Department, requires that the volunteers sent home as organized bodies shall report through the governors of the . States to the superintendent of the recruiting service; they are consequently placed beyond my control and may be kept from my command for an indefinite period, and perhaps transferred from it altogether. In view of the large number of volunteers that have been and may be furloughed in organizations as veteran volunteers in this army, I respectfully request that the superintendent of the recruiting service may be instructed to give those organizations immediately on reporting the thirty days' furlough provided for in General Orders, No. 376, and that on reassembling at the appointed places of rendezvous the regiments and companies be allowed not to exceed three weeks for recruiting and reorganization, and that at the expiration of that term they be sent back to this army. If those regiments and companies are permitted to remain in their States beyond the period indicated, it is probable that many other men who have re-enlisted or may re-enlist as veteran volunteers, with the understanding that they are to receive furloughs this winter, may by the absolute necessities of the service be kept with the army. I am clearly of the opinion that it is in every way for the best interests of the service that the regiments and companies that may be sent home as organized bodies be promptly returned to the field very soon after the expiration of their furloughs, and I shall be glad to learn that instructions to that effect have been given. I also ask that the men furloughed by me individually may not be permitted to be kept from the army after the expiration of their furloughs, by details or otherwise. Very respectfully, &c., GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. [Indorsement.] JANUARY 12, 1864. Unless otherwise directed they will return to their proper com mands. H. W. HALLECK, [Inclosure.] Veteran volunteers sent to their respective States to the 5th day of January, 1864, inclusive. 1st Delaware Infantry 8th Illinois Cavalry 1st Maryland Cavalry (seven companies). 3d Michigan Infantry (three companies). 5th Michigan Infantry 7th Michigan Infantry 16th Michigan Infantry 4th New Jersey Infantry. 1st New York Artillery. 6th New York Cavalry. 9th New York Cavalry (eight companies). 40th New York Infantry (eight companies). 43d New York Infantry (four companies). 59th New York Infantry Battalion.... 61st New York Infantry (seven companies). 63d New York Infantry (two companies). 66th New York Infantry 69th New York Infantry Battalion. 86th New York Infantry 93d New York Infantry (seven companies). 1st Pennsylvania Rifles (two companies) 5th Pennsylvania Reserves (one company). 223 415 169 72 154 164 270 330 44 411 231 346 184 114 51 96 150 84 415 236 33 25 182 165 53d Pennsylvania Infantry 57th Pennsylvania Infantry 91st Pennsylvania Infantry 231 95th Pennsylvania Infantry (two companies). 105th Pennsylvania Infantry. 79 278 2d U. S. Sharpshooters (eight companies). 5th Vermont Infantry.. 189 302 6th Vermont Infantry (one company) 27 6th Wisconsin Infantry 7th Wisconsin Infantry Total infantry Total cavalry 226 201 4,827 1,226 44 Aggregate.... 6,097 PONY MOUNTAIN, January 6, 1864-11 a. m. Captain NORTON : Can discover no_alteration from previous reports of the position across the river. In the direction of Manassas and Thornton Gaps atmosphere too smoky for observation. Have seen no signal flag as yet on Cedar Mountain. PAINE. CULPEPER, VA., January 6, 1864. Capt. E. B. PARSONS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: All quiet on the line of pickets. I have made every possible inquiry in regard to Starke's Ford. Had before I inquired of headquarters, but can find out nothing. I will send the force as directed. W. MERRITT, Brigadier-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, IV. In accordance with instructions from the General-in-Chief, Brig. Gen. H. D. Terry will proceed without delay with the First Brigade of his division to Sandusky, Ohio, to act as a guard to the prisoners of war now on Johnson's Island. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington: The First Separate Brigade, General Averell, has been by my order named the Fourth Division of this department; this by reason of recent addition thereto, and to enable it to have an assistant commissary of musters. It has been found impracticable to muster properly and promptly veteran volunteers of the command, very many of whom are enlisting. To facilitate, I suggest the name of Capt. Edwin Frey, Twenty-eighth Ohio, for assistant commissary of musters, Fourth Division. B. F. KELLEY, CUMBERLAND, January 6, 1864-9 a. m. Colonel MULLIGAN, New Creek: Yours of last night just received. I had already ordered Sullivan and Averell to be on the alert and cut off Lee's return if possible. What was your information last night? Is the enemy at Romney or at Moorefield Junction, or on the Northwestern pike east of Romney? What is your information from Thoburn? Has the enemy all left his front? Please answer me fully. How long will it take you to get ready to move? Did the Fourth and Sixth arrive? If so, see that they are taken care of. B. F. KELLEY, CUMBERLAND, January 6, 1864-9 p. m. Brigadier-General SULLIVAN, Harper's Ferry: It The troops (infantry) sent to Martinsburg will be under your command. I will be down to see you on this and other subjects as soon as possible. Thoburn reports the enemy all gone from his front. is reported by scouts that Lee and Rosser passed through Blue's Gap yesterday afternoon. The railroad agent informs me to-night that 1,400 troops leave Harper's Ferry for the Ohio River. What troops are they? B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General. CUMBERLAND, January 6, 1864-6 p. m. Colonel MULLIGAN, New Creek: I have been waiting to get some reliable information in regard to the movements of the enemy before we would make a movement. I learn just now by a telegram from Paw Paw that Lee and Rosser passed through Blue's Gap yesterday evening. It will therefore be useless to send an infantry force after them. Your cavalry scout will probably be able to pick up some stragglers and broken-down horses. Sullivan is after them. Will meet them this side of Winchester if they go that way. B. F. KELLEY, CUMBERLAND, January 6, 1864-6 p. m. Brigadier-General AVERELL, Martinsburg: Scouts report Lee and Rosser having passed Blue's Gap late yesterday evening. The force in front of Thoburn have all left. What little effective cavalry I have is pursuing the enemy both from Petersburg and by way of Romney. Send out every available man you can raise to co-operate with Colonel Boyd, who is at Winchester to-night. I fear they will turn off by way of Cacapon Springs, however, and escape. B. F. KELLEY, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Brig. Gen. G. MARSTON, Commanding District of Saint Mary's: GENERAL: Information having been received here that a small cavalry force of the enemy is roaming about the counties of Westmoreland, Richmond, Northumberland, and Lancaster, Va., collecting conscripts, deserters, horses, mules, neat stock, and grain, and sending the same to Richmond and the rebel army, the majorgeneral commanding this department commands that you cross the Potomac with such force as you may deem necessary and as can be spared from other service, and with the aid of the gun-boats at your command effect a landing in the above-named counties, capture or disperse any hostile force you may find there, seize and fetch away the negroes, live-stock, tobacco, and grain of rebel owners, and also the boats used in carrying men and supplies across the Rappahannock. The grain and boats and other property which you cannot fetch away you are authorized to destroy. It is to be hoped that large quantities of wood and cattle for the use of the prisoners may be thus obtained. Respectfully, yours, R. S. DAVIS, Assistant Adjutant-General. 2. The following officers are hereby relieved from duty in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, and will report in person, without delay, for duty as follows: Brig. Gen. George W. Getty, U. S. Volunteers, Brig. Gen. James Barnes, U. S. Volunteers, to the commanding general of the Army of the Potomac. Brig. Gen. James H. Ledlie, U. S. Volunteers, to the commanding general of the Army of the Ohio. Col. D. T. JENKINS, Commanding Second Division : Information has just been received, the reliability of which the commanding general cannot vouch for, that the rebel cavalry are this side of Morrisville, and contemplate making an attack on the railroad between Warrenton Junction and Bristoe to-night. The commanding general directs you to keep a good lookout to-night. FRED. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV., CAVALRY CORPS, Capt. H. C. WEIR, A. A. G., Secona Div., Cavalry Corps: : CAPTAIN I have the honor to report that, in compliance with orders from Second Division headquarters, 100 men from First New Jersey Cavalry, under command of Lieut. J. Hobensack, of same regiment, were ordered out to pursue the enemy, who had attacked the reserve of the Third Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Hobensack reports that he took the Warrenton and Waterloo pike; found the track of the enemy; thence to the Salem and Waterloo road; followed its course to within 3 miles of Salem, where it changed its course, taking the Orleans road. The lieutenant reports the enemy at this point three hours advance of him; his horses much fatigued and gave up pursuit, returning by the Salem and Waterloo road. He captured 2 of Mosby's men, who he delivered to the division provost-marshal. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, Comdg. First Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps. |