report except disgraceful mismanagement and consequent complete rout of our men, and a second Aldie disaster. A board of investigation has been called to ascertain who is responsible, and examine into and report upon the facts in the case; it will be forwarded with a complete statement in regard to the affair as soon as possible. A strong party was sent out this morning to the scene of the disaster to pick up stragglers and what wounded men could be found. Nothing has been heard from the force sent above Leesburg; they had orders to communicate any intelligence of importance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. M. LAZELLE, Colonel Sixteenth New York Cavalry, Comdg. Cavalry Brigade. Capt. E. B. PARSONS, HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS, August 9, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Middle Military Division: SIR: In obedience to order I have the honor to submit the following field return: ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS, The corps will move to-morrow at 5 a. m., via a dirt road on the north side of the Berryville pike, to Clifton. A guide will be sent from these headquarters to Brigadier-General Ricketts, commanding the leading division, to indicate the road to be taken and to accompany him. The following will be the order of march: first, Third Division; second, First Division; third, Reserve Artillery, and the transportation allowed by General Orders, No. 2, headquarters U. S. Forces, with the exception of wagons for regimental baggage, which will be sent to the supply train; fourth, Second Division. The ambulances will accompany the divisions to which they belong. Division commanders will send a staff officer to these headquarters to-night for the corps' time. By command of Major-General Wright: C. H. WHITTELSEY, HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS, August 9, 1864. Brigadier-General RUSSELL, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding the corps directs that when the corps moves to-morrow the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers shall be left behind. It will move to the vicinity of the supply train and remain there until further orders. The supply train will be parked on the other side of the works on Bolivar Heights. This regiment is left behind on account of the prevalence of varioloid among the men. Very respectfully, C. A. WHITTIER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS, August 9, 1864. Colonel Edwards, commanding Third Brigade, will send the Fortyninth Pennsylvania Volunteers to report, in compliance with the above order, to-morrow morning. By command of Brigadier-General Russell: HENRY R. DALTON, HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brevet Major-General EMORY, Commanding Nineteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: There will be an advance movement of the command to-morrow morning. The order for the movement will reach you this evening. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Bvt. Maj. Gen. GEORGE CROOK, Commanding Army of West Virginia: GENERAL: Supply your command with at least three days' rations from to-morrow morning, to be carried on their persons, and then have your supply trains parked inside the lines of works at Bolivar Heights. I am, very respectfully, (Same to General Emory.) GENERAL ORDERS, No. 1. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. CAVALRY, MID. MIL. DIVISION, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., August 9, 1864. Pursuant to General Orders, No. 4, headquarters Middle Military Division, the undersigned assumes command of the cavalry of the Middle Military Division. A. T. A. TORBERT, Brigadier-General Volunteers and Chief of Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., August 9, 1864-8 a. m. Brigadier-General TORBERT, Chief of Cavalry: GENERAL: Have the division of General Merritt and the command of Colonel Lowell at once supplied with three days' rations from tomorrow morning, to be carried on the person, and two days' forage for the animals (this amount will be required to last five days). Then send all your wagons, "except one wagon for division headquarters and one wagon for brigade headquarters," inside the line of works at Bolivar Heights, to be there snugly parked, and to rejoin when ordered from these headquarters. I am, very respectfully, P. H. SHERIDAN, HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brigadier-General MERRITT, Commanding Reserve Brigade: SIR: Brigadier-General Torbert directs that you send a strong scouting party to Middleburg to collect information of the enemy, and make a report of the same as soon as possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. H. GOLDSMITH, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brigadier-General MERRITT: Harper's Ferry, W. Va., August 9, 1864. Inclosed you will find the order of march for to-morrow. Be in readiness to move at the time specified. I will be out some time to-night. Send for Colonel Lowell and give him his instructions. Yours, &c., A. T. A. TORBERT, [Inclosure.] HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, General MERRITT, Commanding First Division: Have your command at once supplied with three days' rations from to-morrow morning and two days' forage (this amount to last five days). All of your wagons, except one wagon and light wagon to division headquarters, and one wagon and ambulance to brigade headquarters, will be sent inside of the works at Bolivar Heights, to be snugly parked, to join us when sent for from these headquarters. A good officer will be left in charge of the train. Colonel Cole, with his regi. ment of Maryland cavalry, will be, or has been, ordered to report to Colonel Lowell. Be ready to move to-morrow morning. Yours, &c., A. T. A. TORBERT, 774 HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brig. Gen. J. H. WILSON, Commanding Third Cavalry Division, Washington, D. C.: (Care of Maj. Gen. C. C. Augur, commanding Department of Washington.) Do not lose a moment in getting your division ready to join me. it will take five or six days to get your other brigade up, get McIntosh ready at once and order him to join me on the north side of the river at this place, and by the shortest route. If you can get the whole of your division ready within three days, join me via Leesburg, Snicker's Gap, and Berryville. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. [Indorsement.] May it not do as well to have the dispatch sent yesterday, sent to General Wilson care of General Augur? JAS. W. FORSYTH, HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brig. Gen. J. H. WILSON: (Care of General Augur.) August 9, 1864-9 p. m. Have you received my last telegram, through General Augur, in relation to your movements? Also my telegram through the War Department? Please answer. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN, Harper's Ferry: August 9, 1864. Have received all your telegrams, and as they contained definite instructions did not think it necessary to reply, but intended to make every exertion to get off the entire command within the three days. I think, from appearances, I can leave day after to-morrow, time enough to make a day's march. Will do my best, but if the troops do not get here shall I wait longer, or go on with what I may have? You know my command is small at best. What about forage in the Valley? How much should I start with? J. H. WILSON, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, Washington, D. C., August 9, 1864-10 p. m. Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Cavalry Division : I have just received another telegram from General Sheridan, requesting me to hasten your departure as much as possible. Will you be good enough to inform [me] when you will be able to move with your division, and if there is anything I can do to facilitate your preparations. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 9, 1864. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff: (Received 11.14 a. m.) I have leave of absence for twenty days from General Sheridan. Please telegraph me at Barnum's Hotel, Baltimore, permission to visit my family in Washington. D. HUNTER, Major-General, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 9, 1864-12.11 p. m. Major-General HUNTER, Barnum's Hotel, Baltimore: You have permission to visit Washington. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, In accordance with Special Orders, No. 3, from headquarters Middle Military Division, the undersigned assumes temporary command of the Department of West Virginia. All communications for these headquarters will be sent to Harper's Ferry until further orders. GEORGE CROOK, HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF HARPER'S FERRY, Captain PARSONS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Middle Military Division: CAPTAIN: After consultation with engineer officers regarding the railroad bridge, I have ascertained and have the honor to report that the bridge will be completed and ready for the passage of troops and trains within three days. Such necessary materials as are wanting have been ordered by telegram and are expected here daily. Permit me to state that in my opinion a good pontoon bridge is very necessary, in addition to the railroad bridge, and for the reason that the railroad bridge is not reliable in case of high water. On two occasions since I have been in command here the trestle-work of the railroad bridge has been swept away, the river rising after heavy rains. In such case it is impossible to commence rebuilding until low water, and after the water has fallen two days' time at least is required to put the bridge in |