Major-General STAHEL: HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY SCOUT, I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here about 5 p. m. last night without opposition, and succeeded in capturing Major Calmese and 2 of his men. The information received, which in my opinion is reliable, is that Rosser left Fisher's Hill on Sunday evening and went into Page Valley. Their reason for leaving was they heard that General Averell was coming through Brock's Gap, and that General Sigel was coming up the Valley. Imboden is now at Harrisonburg. Scouts from the front have not returned. When they do I will send in any information they may obtain. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. F. TAYLOR, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Division. HEADQUARTERS, Col. R. S. RODGERS, Harper's Ferry, May 3, 1864. Commanding at Martinsburg: Your letter is received. General Weber is very sorry to hear of your condition, but he can render you no assistance for the next three or four days. The Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry have reported to relieve your regiment on the railroad. A full cavalry regiment was expected, but in fact only some 130 mounted men and 300 or 400 unarmed dismounted recruits. As soon as this force is in any degree effective, they will hasten to relieve your regiment. Can you send direct and at once to General Sigel a report of your condition similar to that which you sent to these headquarters? General Weber will send you to-day, if possible, as many dismounted men as are armed, to be employed by you according to your discretion. General Weber is satisfied with your action in the case of the men of the Twenty-first New York Cavalry. Ascertain the whereabouts of Lieutenant Joslyn, and under whose orders he acted. If his orders do not justify his conduct, place him in arrest. By order of Brig. Gen. Max Weber: SAML. F. WOODS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. NEW CREEK, May 3, 1864. [ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, DEPT. OF W. VIRGINIA :] The commanding officer of the Eleventh Virginia Infantry at Parkersburg has not replied to my inquiries made yesterday; consequently nothing is known of the position of his command. Colonel Harris reports that his regiment and detachments of the Twentyfirst New York and Sixth Virginia Cavalry are all at Beverly, except large scouting party now out in Pocahontas, Tucker, and Randolph Counties. If the information in my dispatch of this morning is correct, then Colonel Harris will need all he has at Beverly. I am informed that Captain Hagans' cavalry company, First Virginia, is at Wheeling, fully armed and equipped, and would suggest that they be sent to Buckhannon. I have relieved the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania at Green Spring Run. The company of that regiment at Patterson's Creek remains there. I cannot without great danger take another company from west of that point. N. WILKINSON. General WEBER: CUMBERLAND, May 3, 1864. Captain Snider states: Scout left Dry Fork, at Seneca, Beverly road, last Saturday. A rebel deserter came to him the evening previous, who says Jackson with 500 men was at Crab Bottom, 400 of Imboden's command were at and below Franklin, and 200 near Circleville. The enemy's intention was to attack Beverly and clean out the State scout companies. I return to New Creek to-day. N. WILKINSON, Colonel. Brig. Gen. MAX WEBER: CUMBERLAND, May 3, 1864. The rebels are in possession of Bulltown, occupying the fortifications. Your telegram received. The general commanding is so distant from your position that he is unable to give you definite instructions as to the disposition of your forces, but leaves it to your discretion to do the best you can. He hopes you will get the cavalry of which you speak very soon. By order of Brig. Gen. Max Weber: SAML. F. WOODS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Hon. E. M. STANTON, COLUMBUS, May 3, 1864-12.30 p. m. Secretary of War: My regiments are all in rendezvous. Will commence mustering and equipping to-morrow. If you can give me (confidentially if you desire) a statement of the points to which these men will be sent, I can save a large amount in transportation to the Government and the State by aggregating them in camps nearest to points of destination. JNO. BROUGH. WASHINGTON CITY, May 3, 1864-4.15 p. m. Columbus: Please make the following disposition: Gallipolis, one regiment; camps at Columbus, two regiments; Camp Dennison, two regiments; Johnson's Island, three regiments. The above eight regiments to report to Major-General Heintzelman. Cumberland, Md., two regiments, to report to Major-General Sigel. Baltimore, two regiments, to report to Major-General Wallace. Washington, eight regiments, to report to Major-General Augur. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, MAY 3, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.: COLONEL I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your telegram of 30th April,* in reply to my letter of 28th same month, f stating my intention to proclaim martial law in certain counties of Maryland, and asking for additional troops to enable me to execute it. I have the honor to state that I consider it necessary to proclaim martial law, inasmuch as the prevalence of disloyal and traitorous sentiments among the inhabitants of several counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and Kent and Sussex Counties in the State of Delaware, have imposed the necessity of extraordinary measures for the public security. Those sentiments manifest themselves in the encouragement and entertainment of rebel spies, and other rebel agents, in aiding the escape of prisoners of war from the United States authorities, in the establishment of an extensive contraband trade, in recruiting soldiers for the rebel army, in facilitating the passage of such recruits to their destination, and in communicating important information, and otherwise aiding the Government of the so-called Confederate States. I propose to give assurance to the people in the district named that the suspension of the civil government within the limits aforesaid shall not extend beyond the necessities of the occasion. I respectfully request that this may be submitted to his Excellency the President of the United States, and sincerely trust that it may be favorably considered. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, LEW. WALLACE, Major-General, Commanding. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. MIDDLE DEPT., 8TH ARMY CORPS, Baltimore, Md., May 3, 1864. Provost-marshals are hereby authorized to call upon the nearest commanding officer for temporary details of officers and men to as *Informing him "That the Secretary of War directs me to say that martial law can only be proclaimed by authority of the President. Your letter will be submitted to the President, and you will please furnish the Department, for his information, the facts and circumstances which make such proclamation necessary." See Vol. XXXIII, p. 1008. sist them in the performance of their official duties. Except in cases of urgent necessity, the application for the detail will be made to the general commanding the district in which the assistance is needed. By command of Major-General Wallace : SAMUEL B. LAWRENCE, SPECIAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, May 4, 1864. No. 167. 50. As fast as the troops of the Veteran Reserve Corps are relieved by the 100-days' men, they will be ordered to the city of Washington, the regiments to report to the department commander; the independent companies to report to the Provost-Marshal-General. 4. The following named companies, Veteran Reserve Corps, now at Cliffburne Barracks, D. C., will march to-morrow, the 5th instant, by road, to Fairfax Court-House, Va., and be reported on arrival to Brig. Gen. R. O. Tyler, commanding division, for duty. Company A, Tenth Regiment; One hundred and seventy-seventh Company, First Battalion; Two hundred and thirteenth Company, First Battalion; Two hundred and fourteenth Company, First Battalion. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. The Governor of Ohio has been directed to send two regiments of militia to Cumberland to report to you. J. C. KELTON, Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, 52. Maj. T. A. Meysenburg, assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, will report in person, without delay, to the commanding general Department of West Virginia, for assignment to duty. An officer just in from General Sigel reports his headquarters at Strasburg. Outposts at Woodstock. Nothing new at his point, and he is steadily advancing. I return to Harper's Ferry to-morrow. JOHN MCENTEE, Captain and Provost-Marshal. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY BRIGADE, Capt. WILL RUMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Division: SIR: The road up Island Creek is not picketed. I would respectfully request that Colonel Oley be ordered to send a company to picket this road. Already 1 man and 2 horses of some command have been captured some three-fourths of a mile up this creek, they having straggled on this road. There seems to be a small squad of bushwhackers up there. I have sent out a squad of about twenty men to overtake, attack, and capture these marauders. My men are now engaged with them, as I suppose, from the firing I hear. I do not wish to do this picket duty if it can be avoided. I am, captain, very respectfully, &c., A. N. DUFFIÉ, Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA, Lieut. C. W. HASKINS, First New York (Veteran) Cavalry, Bunker Hill, Va.: LIEUTENANT: Your dispatch to Captain Putnam is received. The general commanding directs that I say to you that you will probably be relieved to-day or to-morrow, in which case you will report with all your men to these headquarters. While at Bunker Hill you should send out frequently scouting parties to find out whether the |