the roads leading out to that place beyond the town, and more especially the road to Liberty Gap. You will place your reserve where your horses can graze, but will conceal them from the observation of the enemy as much as possible. You will graze them ten at a time: By command of Brigadier-General Duffié: E. W. CLARK, JR., Assistant Adjutant-General. CUMBERLAND, MD., May 8, 1864-2 p. m. Major-General HALLECK, Washington: I received orders from the Secretary of War on the 6th instant directing me to assume command of all the troops guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad west of Monocacy, and that I would receive orders from you what additional troops would be assigned me. Not having heard from you I deemed it proper to send this telegram. Do I understand that I am to report direct to you? Capt. THAYER MELVIN, B. F. KELLEY, CUMBERLAND, May 8, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Winchester: The general's telegram in cipher was duly received, but not having cipher book I sent it back to Captain Mathews to be deciphered. No troops have yet reported from Ohio. When they arrive I will dispose of them along the line of road at such points as are weakest. I will exert all energy possible to protect the road and facilitate the transit of troops and supplies to the general, that his expedition may prove a success. B. F. KELLEY, PARKERSBURG, May 8, 1864. [ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA:] By order of Major-General Heintzelman, as commandant of the One hundred and thirty-third Regiment National Ohio 100-days' State Militia, I was directed to proceed to Parkersburg, and there report to you by telegraph. I now obey that order. G. S. INNIS, Colonel, Commanding. PARKERSBURG, May 8, 1864. [ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA:] In obedience to Special Orders, No. 79, by General Heintzelman, commanding Northern Department, issued 15th instant, I have the honor to report my command, S50 strong, at this place, where I await your orders. JAS. B. ARMSTRONG, General B. F. KELLEY: NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. General Sigel started 500 cavalry to Romney the 6th. He cannot let me have the Sixth Virginia Cavalry. N. WILKINSON, Colonel. General B. F. KELLEY: NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. Unless circumstances have changed your views I will order one Ohio regiment to Grafton, and the other to New Creek, and advise them to draw at Parkersburg the necessary camp and garrison equipage, except tents. Please answer. N. WILKINSON, Colonel WILKINSON, New Creek: Colonel. CUMBERLAND, MD., May 8, 1864. The regiments I intended for Grafton and New Creek were ordered by the Secretary of War to report at Wheeling, where transportation is in readiness. If any other Ohio regiments are at Parkersburg, one may be ordered here and the other to Harper's Ferry. B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General. General B. F. KELLEY: NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. Might there be a mistake? The Ohio troops at Parkersburg may. be those expected to report at Wheeling. Colonel WILKINSON, New Creek: N. WILKINSON, Colonel. CUMBERLAND, May 8, 1864. What regiments of Ohio troops are at Parkersburg? Is transportation ready there for them? I think the troops at Parkersburg are not those indicated in the telegram of the Adjutant-General as ordered to report at Wheeling. Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY: B. F. KELLEY, NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. The One hundred and thirty-third, Col. G. S. Innis, and One hundred and thirty-fourth, Col. J. B. Armstrong, Ohio National Guard, are at Parkersburg. I have directed Mr. Coffran to send transportation, and report when it will be ready. N. WILKINSON, Colonel. NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. General B. F. KELLEY: Your dispatch ordering Fourth Virginia to Clarksburg, &c., received at 1.20 p. m. to-day. N. WILKINSON, Colonel. BEVERLY, W. VA., May 8, 1864. Col. N. WILKINSON, New Creek, Va.: Refugees and deserters just in report Imboden and Jackson preparing for an immediate raid in this section. Have just sent cavalry reconnaissance to go thirty miles to the front, both on the Staunton and Huntersville roads. Colonel WILKINSON, New Creek: T. M. HARRIS, Colonel, Commanding. CUMBERLAND, MD., May 8, 1864. Order one section of Maulsby's battery to proceed at once to Beverly and report to Colonel Harris. Advise Harris. B. F. KELLEY, General B. F. KELLEY: NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. General Sigel inquires whether the order for four guns of Keeper's battery to be sent to Clarksburg had been received and carried out. I answered no such order had been received. He also says that all the troops on line of railroad and in front of that line, from Parkersburg to Sleepy Creek, are at my disposition, with discretionary power as to their disposal, looking to the defenses of the railroad and interior parts. These dispatches are dated yesterday. Their tenor, in my opinion, settles your command as all on or off the railroad. How would it answer to send part of Keeper's battery instead of Maulsby's to Beverly? The former is, I learn, at Webster. N. WILKINSON, Colonel. CUMBERLAND, May 8, 1864. Colonel WILKINSON, New Creek: I did not know that Keeper's battery was at Webster. Yes; send a section of it to Beverly. B. F. KELLEY, General B. F. KELLEY: NEW CREEK, May 8, 1864. Will it answer to send to Weston the brass piece lately at Bull town? Colonel WILKINSON, New Creek: N. WILKINSON, Colonel. CUMBERLAND, MD., May 8, 1864. Yes; send the gun indicated if you can raise the gun squad. B. F. KELLEY, Major-General DIX, WASHINGTON CITY, May 8, 1864-7 a. m. New York: We have no official reports from the front, but the medical director has notified the Surgeon-General that our wounded were being 'sent to Washington and will number from 6,000 to 8,000. The chief quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac has made requisition for seven days' grain and for railroad construction trains, and states that the enemy is reported to be retiring. This indicates General Grant's advance and affords an inference of material success on our part. The enemy's strength has always been most felt in his first blows, and these having failed, and our forces not only maintained their ground, but, preparing to advance, lead to the hope of full and complete success; for when either party falls back disorganization by straggling and desertion commences, and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded must weaken him more than we are weakened. Nothing later than my last night's dispatch has been received from General Butler. A dispatch from General Sherman, dated at 5 p. m. of yesterday, states that General Thomas had occupied Tunnel Hill, where he had expected a battle, and that the enemy had taken position at Buzzard Roost Pass, north of Dalton. Skirmishing had taken place, but no real fighting yet. Nothing later from General Banks. You may give such publicity as you deem proper to the information transmitted to you. It is designed to give accurate official statements of what is known to the Department in this great crisis, and to withhold nothing from the public. EDWIN M. STANTON, SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 36. HEADQUARTERS HASKIN'S DIVISION, May 9, 1864. 1. The First Company Unassigned New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, Capt. Charles H. Long commanding, having reported to these headquarters for duty, is hereby assigned to Fort Slocum. 2. The Second Company Unassigned New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, Capt. Ira McL. Barton commanding, having reported to these headquarters for duty, is hereby assigned to Fort Stevens. The quartermaster will furnish the necessary transportation. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Haskin: R. CHANDLER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, General BRIGGS, Commanding Draft Rendezvous, Alexandria: Send all the companies of the Massachusetts Heavy Artillery in your command to this city, the commanding officer of them to report to Lieutenant-Colonel Haskin, commanding division. Turn over to Colonel Byrnes all men with you belonging to the Army of the Potomac. He is organizing them into provisional brigades. C. C. AUGUR, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General BRIGGS, Alexandria, Va.: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that the First Regiment Maryland Volunteers be directed to report to Colonel Byrnes, commanding provisional regiment, to-morrow, May 10, a. m. Very respectfully, J. H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General DE RUSSY, Commanding Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to inform you that the Ninth New York Artillery (Colonel Welling) has been ordered to report to you to relievo the First Connecticut Artillery. and will march early a. m. May 10. Colonel Abbot will be directed this p. m. to draw shelter-tents, and to move his regiment into camp to-morrow morning, preparatory to embarkation. The regiment will be provided with five days' rations, and 100 rounds of ammunition per man. Be kind enough to inform these headquarters when the regiment moves into camp. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, |