persons that the State should raise a force and keep it permanently in the field for her defense. Apart from other considerations it is to be observed that the expenses of such a measure would be quite beyond the present ability of the State. To raise and maintain an army of fifteen regiments would involve an annual expenditure of more than $15,000,000, and any smaller force would be inadequate. The plan which I have above proposed would, I think, give the State efficient protection, and if the Legislature should think fit to adopt it the expense can be readily provided for by law or otherwise. Having an organized force under the control of the authorities of the State, and mustered into the service for domestic protection, we would not, as heretofore, lose time in arranging for transportation and supplies with the National Government when it became necessary to call it into the field. When thoroughly organized it should be in all its appointments an army which could be increased by drafts made from our enrolled and classified citizens. The plan which I have above suggested is the result of reflection and experience which I have had during the last three years, and I have felt it to be my duty to submit it for your consideration for the purpose of providing for the effectual defense of the State. I, of course, cannot doubt your approval. If the Legislature should prefer the adoption of any other plan more efficient and economical than the one which I have herein proposed it will give me pleasure to co-operate heartily in carrying it into effect. In accordance with the act of May 4, 1864, I have appointed for the eastern armies Col. F. Jordan as agent at Washington, and Lieut. Col. James Gilliland as assistant agent at that place, and also for the southwestern armies Lieut. Col. James Chamberlin as agent at Nashville. These agents are now actively engaged in the performance of their duties, and it is desirable that our people should be aware that a part of them consists in the gratuitous collection of all claims by Pennsylvania volunteers or. their legal representatives on the State and National Governments. Volunteers having claims on either of these governments can have them collected through these agents without expense, and thus be rescued from the extortions to which it is feared they have sometimes heretofore been subjected. Having received information from the agents of the State that our sick and wounded were suffering greatly from the want of comforts, and even necessaries, I have been recently compelled to call on the people to contribute supplies, mainly in kind, for their relief, and it gives me pleasure to say that this appeal has been cheerfully responded to, as have been all my former appeals to the same end. It seems impossible to exhaust the liberality of our generous people when the well-being of our brave volunteers is in question. In my special message of the 30th of April last I stated the circumstances attending the advance by banks and other corporations of funds for the payment of the militia called out in 1863; in consequence the Legislature passed the act of May 4, 1864, authorizing a loan, for the purpose of refunding, with interest, the amount thus advanced in case Congress should fail to make the necessary appropriation at its then current session. I regret to say that Congress adjourned without making such appropriation. The balance in the treasury being found sufficient to reimburse the funds so advanced, without unduly diminishing the sinking fund, I have deemed it advisable not to advertise for proposals for the loan, and I recommend the passage of an act directing the payment to be made out of the moneys in the treasury. As the omission of Congress to act on this subject involved an unprecedented disregard of the good faith of the national authorities, I recommend that the Legislature take measures for procuring an appropriation at the next session of Congress. The revenue bill passed at the last session has been found to be defective in several points, and I recommend a careful and immediate revision of it. The bounty bill passed at the last session is found to be defective and unjust in many of its provisions, and from the manner in which it is administered in some parts of the State oppressive on the people, I, therefore, recommend a careful revision of it. As the present session has been called for the consideration of matters of vital public importance, I commend them to your earnest and exclusive attention. 5. All mounted and dismounted cavalry, belonging to BrigadierGeneral Averell's command of the Department of West Virginia, in the Brandywine District, will be sent without delay to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., under command of their own officers, and in case there are none, officers and a suitable guard will be detailed to take charge of them. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. By command of Major-General Couch: J. S. SCHULTZE, Assistant Adjutant-General. Major-General SHERIDAN, Harper's Ferry, W. Va.: WASHINGTON, August 10, 1864. General Augur has shown me your telegram* about General Grover's command. It was directed by General Grant that this command garrison Washington until other troops could be sent here for that purpose. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. Major-General SHERIDAN: WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., August 10, 1864. Major Kellogg, commissary of subsistence, U. S. Army, will be ordered to report to you, as requested in your telegram of the 9th instant. J. A. HARDIE, Colonel and Inspector-General. See Sheridan to Augur, p. 761. HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 10, 1864-7.30 p. m. Maj. T. T. ECKERT: Orderly just returned from front. General Sheridan near Berryville at 4 p. m. Had slight skirmishing with enemy as he advanced. Doing well. G. J. LAWRENCE, Cipher Operator. Captain LEET: CITY POINT, August 10, 1864. We had some information here yesterday that troops, supposed to be over a regiment, left Richmond last Saturday evening by the Central railroad, going north. The attention of the men sent by Colonel Sharpe should be carefully drawn to them to ascertain which way these troops have passed from Gordonsville, and their number. CIRCULAR.] T. S. BOWERS. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, The three days' rations drawn by the troops of this command before starting will be required to last four days from the date of issue, with such additional issue of fresh beef as may be necessary. The general headquarters to-night is established on the right of the turnpike going into Berryville, within 100 yards of the town. By command of Major-General Sheridan: F. C. NEWHALL, Major and Aide-de-Camp. CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Berryville, Va., August 10, 1864. Corps and other independent commanders will have their commands in readiness to move at 5 a. m. to-morrow. Special instructions in regard to their movement will be sent during the night. By command of Major-General Sheridan: F. C. NEWHALL, Major and Aide-de-Camp. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, I. The command will move from its present position to-morrow morning in the following order and at the following designated hours: II. The Sixth Corps will move at 5 o'clock and on the pike opposite General Wright's headquarters until it arrives at a point where that pike intersects the Berryville pike; it will then oblique and cross the fields until it reaches the pike leading from Berryville to Winchester; then up that pike to the crossing of Opequon Creek. If the enemy's infantry is encountered on this latter pike it will be driven across the creek and the crossing secured. III. The Nineteenth Corps will move at 5 o'clock on the Berryville pike until it reaches Berryville, when it will move on the Millwood pike for the distance of a mile, then turn to the right and move in the direction of-Opequon Creek and parallel to the Berryville and Winchester pike, striking a dirt road leading to Opequon Creek. If it meets the enemy it will drive him across the creek and secure the crossing. IV. The command of General Crook will move at 5 o'clock across the country until it strikes the Millwood pike beyond the point where the Nineteenth Corps turns to the right, when it will march out the Millwood pike a mile and a half beyond where the Nineteenth Corps leaves said pike, and then turn to the right until it reaches a dirt road which leads to a crossing of Opequon Creek. If it meets any enemy in this movement it will drive him across the creek and secure the crossing. V. The cavalry force under command of Brigadier-General Torbert, excepting the brigade of Colonel Lowell, will move at 5 o'clock toward Winchester up the Millwood and Winchester pike until it reaches the crossing of Opequon Creek. If it meets any enemy in the movement it will drive him across the creek, secure the crossing, and open communication with the left of General Crook's command. VI. If, on arriving at Opequon Creek, no enemy is found the whole cavalry force, excepting Colonel Lowell's command, will march in the direction of Stephensburg and secure that point if possible. If it is found that the enemy has gone up the Valley from Winchester, the entire infantry force will march in the direction of Stephensburg to support the cavalry. VII. In case that the enemy's infantry has moved from the position occupied this p. m., Colonel Lowell's command will move across the country, via Limestone Ridge, until it reaches the dirt road that leads from Clifton to Winchester, when it will move up that road to the crossing of Opequon Creek, opening communication with the right of the Sixth Corps, which will be at or near the crossing of Opequon Creek, on the Berryville and Winchester pike. VIII. The general commanding especially requires of General Torbert that he threaten the road from Winchester to Strasburg, and ascertain if possible if there are any movements from Winchester up the Valley, and report fully all information obtained. IX. In the parallel movement of the corps to-morrow, corps commanders will keep open communication with each other, and in case of being engaged with the enemy on this side of Opequon Creek, they will close in to the right in line of battle. X. The transportation permitted by General Orders, No. 2, will be subject to orders of corps commanders. By command of Major-General Sheridan: JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Harper's Ferry, August 10, 1864. (Received 8.50 a. m.) Maj. Gen. C. C. AUGUR, Commanding Department of Washington: Send the balance of the Nineteenth Army Corps now in Washington to Harper's Ferry. Direct General Grover to report his arrival to me here by letter. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 10, 1864-10 a. m. Maj. Gen. C. C. AUGUR, Washington, D. C.: General Sheridan has ordered concentration of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry at Muddy Branch to picket the river from Monocacy to Washington. The river is well guarded from the mouth of the Monocacy to Harper's Ferry. Lowell has been attached (commanding a brigade) to Torbert's division. He carries the Second Massachusetts Cavalry with him. General Sheridan desires Wilson's division to organize and move as soon as practicable. I leave here at 1 p. m. to-day. Captain Melvin, assistant adjutant-general, is left here in charge of the officeheadquarters Middle Military Division. General Weber in command of defenses of Harper's Ferry. J. H. TAYLOR, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to inform you that since last evening's report the following wounded from the disaster at Fairfax Station have been brought in: Thirteenth New York Cavalry, five; Sixteenth New York Cavalry, three. Five men are known to have been killed, but their regiment cannot be ascertained, as they were buried before our relieving party reached them. Capt. J. H. Fleming, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, in command, was killed. His body was found by the roadside, stripped of much of its clothing, and was brought into camp last evening and buried this morning in the old church yard at Falls Church. Captain McMenamin, Thirteenth New York Cavalry, had three balls through his clothing and a slight skin wound in the knee. A full report of the affair will be sent to-morrow. Nothing has been heard from a party of thirty men sent to Leesburg on Sunday last, and nothing from the party sent to reconnoiter in vicinity of Goose Creek. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. M. LAZELLE, Colonel Sixteenth New York Cavalry, Comdg. Cavalry Brigade. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS, August 10, 1864. In accordance with orders from headquarters Middle Military Division, this corps will be held in readiness to move to-morrow at 5 a. m. Special instruction in regard to the movement will be sent to-night, as soon as received from headquarters Middle Military Division. By command of Major-General Wright: C. A. WHITTIER, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. |