glad to examine, as they shed more or less light upon affairs in rebeldom. Probably there is a force of about 6,000 or 7.000 at Kinston. The force at Wilmington is, in round numbers, 6,000. There are troops at Weldon and Greenville. Colonel McChesney was here a few days since, and he thinks there are some 3,000 or 4,000 at Greenville, with nine companies of cavalry 8 miles from Washington. The Sixth North Carolina Cavalry has arrived from Longstreet's army near Bristol, and has about 600 men. General Corse, with his brigade, also came from Longstreet and was at Goldsborough, but I cannot learn where he is now; possibly at Greenville. I cut the following out not knowing whether it is correct or not: LONGSTREET'S MOVEMENTS. The Democrat has information from an officer who left Knoxville on the 6th instant that General Longstreet had sent his wagon train to Richmond, and was mounting his entire force, and that the general impression at Knoxville was that Longstreet had been ordered to North Carolina. Colonel Starr is chief of artillery at Kinston, and has thirty-six field guns. Some of his batteries are at Greenville and Kenansville. Yesterday I had the honor to address you in relation to the iron sent from Wilmington and Atlanta for the rams. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, HDQRS, CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieut. Col. C. Ross SMITH, Chief of Staff, Cavalry Corps: The signal officer from Thoroughfare Mountain reports no visible changes since last report. Small column of dust near Stanardsville; all quiet. A reconnaissance from Second Brigade went to Woodville to-day, thence to Mud pike or Winchester road, and returned. Nothing new seen or heard. All quiet along the line. W. MERRITT, HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, March 20, 1864. Lieut. Col. C. Ross SMITH, Chief of Staff, Cavalry Corps: Lieutenant-Colonel Brinton has just arrived from Colonel Bryan's command and brings 5 more prisoners, whom I will forward with re ports and charges to-morrow morning. Lieutenant-Colonel Brinton was delayed by an attack by scouts on his patrol; lost 2 horses killed and 1 man wounded. Colonel Bryan reports that after scouting the country from Grove Church to beyond Hartwood Church and from United States Ford up the river to our line of pickets, he can find no force of the enemy on north side of the Rappahannock and has not been able to obtain any evidence that the enemy are massing any force about Fredericksburg. Colonel Bryan has destroyed two rafts and one boat used by scouts on the river. J. KILPATRICK, CUMBERLAND, MD., March 20, 1864. Brigadier-General CULLUM, Chief of Staff, Washington: The latest information from the Kanawha, from Beverly, and from Martinsburg is of no special importance, except that last night 40 rebels dashed into Bath, Morgan County, W. Va., and captured two members of the West Virginia Legislature, Mr. Wheat and Mr. Bechtal. The rebel party retired on the Winchester road. Cavalry was sent from General Averell's command to intercept them. I would be glad to be informed whether Leesburg is occupied by General Augur's troops, and whether I have to take care of Loudoun County, Va. A special report relative to the whole condition of military affairs in this department will be forwarded as soon as possible. F. SIGEL, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. J. C. SULLIVAN, Commanding First Division, Harper's Ferry, W. Va.: SIR: The general commanding department requests that you will organize 60 men, rank and file, with the proper officers and non-commissioned officers, as an engineer company for service with your division. The officers and men will be detailed from the regiments composing your division and will be selected with reference to their skill as mechanics. They will be borne upon the rolls and returns of. their regiments as upon detached service. The company will be kept well supplied with the tools necessary for the construction and destruction of roads, bridges, earth-works, &c., by requisition upon the chief engineer of the department. Upon the completion of the organization of the company, the commanding officers will report by letter to these, through your, headquarters. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. MELVIN, Assistant Adjutant-General. (Copies to Brig. Gen. George Crook, commanding Third Division, and Col. J. A. Mulligan, commanding Second Division.) HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. J. C. SULLIVAN, Commanding Division, Harper's Ferry, W. Va.: GENERAL: In reply to your communication of 17th instant, stating that, owing to the absence of veterans who are on furlough from your command, the force now within the lines of your division is, in your judgment, inadequate to garrison Maryland Heights and vicinity, I am directed to state that it is impracticable at this time to furnish an additional force from any other portion of the department. The general commanding will, however, endeavor to have other troops sent within the department at an early day for duty in your command. I am, general, very respectfully, &c., T. MELVIN, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. W. W. AVERELL, Commanding Division, Martinsburg, W. Va.: GENERAL: The general commanding requests that you will organize for your division a platoon of mounted pioneers. It will be composed of 30 men, rank and file, with the proper officers. They will be detailed from the regiments under your command, and will be selected for their skill as mechanics. They will be borne upon the rolls and returns of their regiments as upon detached service, and will be kept well supplied with the tools and materials necessary for the construction and destruction of roads, bridges, &c., by requisition upon the chief engineer of the department. Upon the completion of this organization the officer commanding it will report by letter to these, through your, headquarters. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. MELVIN, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Maj. Gen. F. SIGEL, Martinsburg, March 20, 1864. Commanding Department, Cumberland: General Averell is so ill that the surgeons forbid my showing him your dispatch. I have telegraphed the substance of it to Colonel Taylor, at Halltown, and notified our own pickets. WILL RUMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Col. R. F. TAYLOR. Halltown: The following dispatch just received: W. P. Smith, of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, telegraphs from Baltimore that Stuart is on a raid northward, and had a fight at Bristoe, near Manassas, to-day. SIGEL, Major-General. Have you any information? Keep on the lookout and ready for a move, if it should be necessary. By order of Brigadier-General Averell: Capt. WILL RUMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General: WILL RUMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. HALLTOWN, March 20, 1864. I learn from deserters that Mosby starts to-night or to-morrow on a raid. He intends going in the direction of Shepherdstown. Imboden is in the vicinity of Winchester. R. F. TAYLOR, Colonel, Commanding First Brigade. HDQRS. CAVALRY DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Col. R. F. TAYLOR, Halltown: Martinsburg, March 20, 1864. Please keep me advised of Mosby's movements and force, and send information to this place promptly. Perhaps he can be caught. Patrols to Winchester have not yet reported. Will inform you if they bring any news. All quiet this morning. By order: WILL RUMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Captain MELVIN, Martinsburg, March 20, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Cumberland: Colonel Taylor, at Halltown, reports that all is quiet in front. Scouts can hear of no enemy. All quiet in our front. Capt. WILL RUMSEY, WILL RUMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Assistant Adjutant-General. CAPTAIN: We have no information of any movement in our front. I heard yesterday from Millwood. Go on a scout to-day up the river, 45 R R-VOL XXXIII to try to find some one crossing from the south. Will send you any information of importance as soon as received. There is no clothing here for soldiers. I have no doubt that clothing down there can be receipted for by company commanders upon their return. I understand that the First New York comes back to-morrow. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, JESSE F. WYCKOFF, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. 1ST CAV. BRIG., 4TH DIV., DEPT. OF W. Va., Capt. WILL RUMSEY, A. A. G., 4th Div., Dept. of W. Va., Martinsburg, W. Va.: SIR: I have the honor to report that last night, March 19, the horses were taken by a party of rebels from the farmers living on and near the Philippi road, from Leadsville up to within 4 miles of my pickets, and within 1 mile of the round barn, where a wagon train was encamped with a strong escort. I sent a detachment out to try to intercept the rebels, but it is two legs after four. I am without cavalry. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. MOOR, Colonel, Commanding. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 20, 1864-2.40 p. m. Major-General BUTLER, Fort Monroe, Va.: The Secretary of War consents to the organization of an infantry regiment out of the surplus men in the Third Pennnsylvania Artillery. Report the organization to the Adjutant-General of the Army, in order that the Governor of Pennsylvania may be called upon to give the regiment a number and appoint its officers. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief of Staff. Major-General BUTLER : MARCH 20, 1864. My cavalry and artillery just returned by land. Their prisoners were turned over to General Graham. Infantry not arrived. I. J. WISTAR, HDQRS. ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, New Berne, N. C., March 20, 1864. Maj. Gen. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Comdg. Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina: GENERAL: On the 17th General Wessells wrote that he thought a combined attack was in contemplation before or about April 1 |