The sooner it is put in execution the better, if it be deemed practicable. At this time, as far as I can learn, all the troops in the control of the United States are being sent to Grant, and little or no opposition could be made by those at Washington. With relation to the project of Marshal Kane, if the matter can be kept secret, which I fear is impossible, should General Early cross the Potomac, he might be sent to join him. Very respectfully, Your Excellency's obedient servant, GENERAL ORDERS, } HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT, I. Major-General Ransom, commanding cavalry Valley District, is relieved from duty with Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge and will report with his command directly to the lieutenant-general commanding. II. Col. Bradley T. Johnson, with the Maryland Battalion of Cavalry, will report to Major-General Ransom for assignment to Jones' brigade, of which Colonel Johnson will take command. III. Maj. Gen. J. B. Gordon will hereafter report to Major-General Breckinridge, who will have command of his own and Gordon's divisions. IV. The following reduction of transportation in this army is ordered, and will be made immediately. The chief quartermaster is charged with the execution of the order, and division quartermasters will act under his instructions: For corps headquarters, one 6-horse wagon; division headquarters, one 4-horse wagon; brigade headquarters, including brigade, quartermaster and brigade commissary of subsistence, one 4-horse wagon; to every 500 men will be allowed one 4-horse wagon for cooking utensils of officers and men. Regimental and company officers must carry for themselves such underclothing as they need for the present expedition, and the remainder of their baggage with the regimental baggage wagons will be stored at such place as the chief quartermaster may direct until they can be brought to the command. The above applies equally to the battalions of artillery as to the regiments of infantry and cavalry. A report of all wagons and animals will be made at once to the chief quartermaster, by whom alone any change in the present arrangement of teams will be made. By command of Lieut. Gen. J. A. Early: A. S. PENDLETON, Assistant Adjutant-General. LYNCHBURG, June 27, 1864. General NICHOLLS: An artillery company of the Augusta reserves is at Lynchburg. I have disbanded all the reserves, and if you can spare this company it had better be sent home. J. A. EARLY, [Indorsement.] JUNE 29, 1864. General Early appears to me to have clearly exceeded his authority in disbanding these reserves. They are under the command of General Kemper by special order from the President, and had been only detailed or ordered to report to General Early (or more strictly to General Breckinridge). When, therefore, he had no longer need for them, they should have been returned to General Kemper's command, and the discharge, if to be made, should have been by him, acting under the President's order. Let an order prevent such discharges in future, except through the commanders specially assigned to command the reserves. J. A. S. LYNCHBURG, June 29, 1864. General CoOPER: The Secretary of War seems to be under the impression that I have a force here. Such is not the case. Otey's disabled men is the only force I have. The reserves are at the High Bridge. I cannot take care of or forward prisoners sent to me, unless the guard from Richmond goes with them. With the number of prisoners sent today from Richmond I will have to send men who before the_late attack on Lynchburg were themselves prisoners, and whom I released for the occasion. I wish you would get the President's pardon for these men. They have done their duty since their release faithfully, except a few whom I would wish to except from the general pardon. FRANCIS T. NICHOLLS, Brigadier-General. His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, HEADQUARTERS, Petersburg, June 29, 1864. President Confederate States: Mr. PRESIDENT: I inclose for your perusal a letter* received to-day from General Early. His general plan of action is in conformity to my original instructions and conversation with him before his departure. I still think it is our policy to draw the attention of the enemy to his own territory. It may force Grant to attack me, or weaken his forces. It will also, I think, oblige Hunter to cross the Potomac or expose himself to attack. From either of these events I anticipate good results. The success of General J. E. Johnston, announced in this morning's journals, besides its general good effect, will favor Early's movement. If it could be united with a release of the prisoners at Point Lookout the advantages would be great. I believe the latter only requires a proper leader. Can one be found? There will be time to shape Early's course or terminate it when he reaches the Potomac, as circumstances require. He could not be withdrawn from the Valley without inviting a return of Hunter's expedition. To retain him there inactive would not be advanta *Not found, 49 R R VOL XXXVII, PT I geous. As before stated, my greatest present anxiety is to secure regular and constant supplies. At this time I am doing well, but I must look to the future. I have started to-day a train of wagons, via Dinwiddie Court-House to Stony Creek Station, Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, for corn to be brought there from Weldon. This, with the standing crop of clover and oats, will subsist our horses for the present. The enemy's cavalry having been turned away from the High Bridge and repulsed at the Staunton River bridge, are returning. Hampton encountered them last night at Sappony Church and arrested their progress. Fitz. Lee will to-day reach Reams' Station, but I fear he will not be able to prevent their getting east of the railroad. With great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General. Abbot's (Henry L.) Heavy Artillery. See Connecticut Troops, 1st Regiment. Adams' (Alonzo W.) Cavalry. See New York Troops, 1st Regiment (Lincoln). Alexander's (Charles M.) Infantry. See District of Columbia Troops, 2d Regiment. Alexander's (Frederic W.) Artillery. See Baltimore Artillery, post. Allen's (Crawford, jr.) Artillery. See Rhode Island Troops, 1st Regiment, Battery H. Allen's (Henry S.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 159th Regiment. Allen's (John A. P.) Heavy Artillery. See Massachusetts Troops, 6th Unattached Company. Amelunxen's (Max von) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 2d Battalion, 162d Company. Anderson's (W. Watron) Cavalry. See Pennsylvania Troops, 20th Regiment. Arnett's (William W.) Cavalry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 20th Regiment. Atkinson's (Benjamin H. H.) Artillery. See West Virginia Troops, Battery B. Bagley's (Charles) Artillery. Ball's (William H.) Infantry. See Illinois Troops, 1st Regiment, Battery L. See Ohio Troops, 122d Regiment. Ballier's (John F.) Infantry. See Pennsylvania Troops, 98th Regiment. Baltimore Artillery. See Maryland Troops, Union. Bamford's (Robert C.) Infantry. See Maryland Troops, Union, 1st Regiment, P. H. B. Barton's (Ira McL.) Heavy Artillery. Sec New Hampshire Troops, 2d Battery. Beckley's (Henry M.) Infantry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 45th Battalion. Bell's (William) Cavalry. See Pennsylvania Troops, 12th Regiment. *References, unless otherwise indicated, are to index following. Boggs' (John) Home Guards. See Pendleton Home Guards, post. Borrowe's (William) Artillery. See Pennsylvania Troops, Battery H. Botetourt Artillery. See Virginia Troops, Confederate. Bowen's (Henry S.) Cavalry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 22d Regiment. Bowley's (Lemuel) Infantry. See Patapsco Guards, Infantry, post. Boyd's (Carlile) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 14th and 21st Boyd's (Robert) Infantry. See District of Columbia Troops, 1st Regiment. Brian's (William) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 2d Battalion, 57th Company. Bronson's (Nelson) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 2d Battalion, 89th Company. Brooks' (Horace) Artillery. See Union Troops, Regulars, 4th Regiment. Brown's (Allison L.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 144th and 149th Regiments. See Maryland Troops, Union, 1st Regiment, P. H. B. Brown's (James) Artillery. See Pennsylvania Troops, 1st Battalion, Battery B. Browne's (William H.) Infantry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 45th Regiment. Bryan's (Thomas A.) Artillery. See Virginia Troops, Confederate. Bryant's (Montgomery) Infantry. See Union Troops, Regulars, 6th Regiment. Buckley's (William W.) Artillery. See Rhode Island Troops, 1st Regiment, Battery D. Bumstead's (Horace) Infantry. See Union Troops, Colored, 43d Regiment. Chapin's (Gurden) Infantry. See Union Troops, Regulars, 7th Regiment. Chapman's (Justin H.) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 2d Battalion, 59th Company. Chatfield's (Charles J.) Artillery. See New York Troops, 20th Battery. Clark's (Erastus L.) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 6th Regiment. Clendenin's (David R.) Cavalry. See Illinois Troops, 8th Regiment. Coast Guard Battalion, Infantry. See Maine Troops. Coates' (Benjamin F.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 91st Regiment. Cole's (Henry A.) Cavalry. See Maryland Troops, Union, 1st Regiment, P. H. B. Coles' (Frank H.) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 2d Battalion, 52d Company. Colgrove's (Oscar R.) Cavalry. Seo New York Troops, 15th Regiment. Comly's (James M.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 23d Regiment. Conant's (Oliver J.) Infantry. See Coast Guard Battalion, ante. See West Virginia Troops, 3d Regiment. Cook's (Benjamin C.) Infantry. See Union Troops, Veteran Reserve Corps, 2d Battalion, 50th Company. |