WASHINGTON, D. C., August 12, 1864-3 p. m. Brig. Gen. J. BARNES, It is reported that arms have been sent from Richmond to some points on the Potomac or bay for the use of prisoners at Point Lookout, and attempts will be made to smuggle them across. This matter should receive your careful attention. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS, This command will move at once, left in front, in rear of the Nineteenth Corps as far as the Front Royal pike, thence via Stephensburg to Middletown, and go into position on the right of the Strasburg pike. First, Second Division; second, Third Division; third, artillery in reserve, and trains; fourth, First Division. Brigadier-General Russell, commanding First Division, will order one brigade of his division, via the Millwood pike to Winchester, to occupy that place until the arrival of the trains. Pickets will be withdrawn by the division commanders. By command of Major-General Wright: C. A. WHITTIER, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS, This division will be held in readiness to move at 7.30 this a. m. Order of march: Second Brigade; Captain McCartney's battery; First Brigade. The Third Brigade, Colonel Edwards commanding, will move via the Millwood pike to Winchester, to occupy that place until the arrival of the train. The troops will be moved left in front. By command of Brigadier-General Russell: HENRY R. DALTON, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. C. GROVER, Commanding Division, Nineteenth Corps: August 12, 1864. GENERAL: In accordance with instructions from headquarters of the army, the major-general commanding directs that, with your division, you join the command of Major-General Sheridan by the way of Snicker's Gap. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, August 12, 1864. Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Division, Cavalry Corps: GENERAL: In accordance with instructions from headquarters of the army the major-general commanding directs that you hold in readiness a good and reliable regiment of your command to escort Colonel Chipman, aide-de-camp, bearer of dispatches to Major-General Sheridan.. The regiment should be fully provided with ammunition, and, if necessary, sufficient must be taken from other regiments to complete its supply. The escort will take the shortest route, to and through Snicker's Gap. Colonel Chipman will reach your headquarters this p. m., and it is desirable that there be no delay in the movement of the regiment after he reports. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, The command will move out on the road toward Washington at 6. p. m. to-day in the following order: First Brigade, General McIntosh, with Fitzhugh's battery, ambulances, ammunition, forage, and subsistence trains; Second Brigade, General Chapman, with Pennington's battery. Brigade commanders will leave responsible officers at Camp Stoneman to superintend and expedite the remounting of the rest of the dismounted men of their commands, to rejoin the division with these detachments as soon as mounted. One officer to every fifty men will be sufficient. By command of Brigadier-General Wilson: L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General. CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, The command will be in readiness to move at precisely 7 this p. m. in the following order: first, First Brigade, General McIntosh, with Fitzhugh's battery, followed by the ambulance, ammunition, forage, and subsistence trains; second, Second Brigade, General Chapman, with Pennington's battery. All men not fully able yet to march with the command will be left at Camp Stoneman, under charge of one officer to every fifty men. They will expedite the remounting and equipping of these men and rejoin the command as quickly as possible. The line of march will be through Washington, over the Chain Bridge, to Leesburg. By command of Brigadier-General Wilson: L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF HARPER'S FERRY, Lieut. Col. J. W. FORSYTH, Chief of Staff, Middle Military Division: SIR: Your order relating to the repairing of the telegraph line to Martinsburg was received. Men will come from Baltimore to-day to replace the poles, and the wires will be here to-morrow morning. The line will be completed as soon as possible. The timber for the railroad bridge is here, and the bridge will be in working order to-morrow. I shall commence repairing the pontoon bridge to-morrow, and afterward use it only in case of necessity. Would it be advisable to repair the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between here and Hancock? I shall put the railroad between here and Halltown in repair at once, as it will be impossible for the army to draw their supplies from the Ferry proper, on account of the want of room for loading the teams. The train can load at Halltown. Can I be informed of the probable number of horses - for which the post quartermaster will be called upon to furnish forage? He is now receiving 5,000 bushels of grain daily, and that number is not sufficient for the calls upon him. Respectfully, your obedient servant, MAX WEBER, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: BALTIMORE, August 12, 1864. Our engineer, who visited Harper's Ferry at 6 last p. m., reports that General Weber is in command there. Pickets have only been sent as far as two miles west of Harper's Ferry, and General Weber states that the time of his entire force, excepting eighty men, namely, three regiments of 100-days' men, will expire on Monday next, and that he, therefore, will have no power to protect or assist in reopening the road. The time of the chief part of the forces, which consist of 100days' men, under General Kelley, at Cumberland, also expires in a few days. I have ordered men and materials to the destroyed portions of the road east and west, and the company is prepared to proceed with the rapid reconstruction of the line the moment the requisite military protection is afforded. The force of the enemy is reported to consist only of small bands, moving rapidly from point to point in the country betwixt Harper's Ferry and Back Creek. I trust such re-enforcements can be promptly given General Kelley as will restore to the Government and the country at an early period the great advantage of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. I hope General Sheridan will have it in his power to detail at once an effective force for this purpose. General Averell is reported as moving with his cavalry from Cumberland to Harper's Ferry by turnpike, and is expected to arrive at the latter point to-day or to-morrow. If his command or a portion of it could be used to take possession of Martinsburg and protect the neighboring territory the desired objects could be accomplished. J. W. GARRETT, President. CUMBERLAND, August 12, 1864. Brevet Major-General CROOK: The term of service of all the troops I have between Piedmont and Sleepy Creek expires in a few days, except small detachments of the Sixth and Eleventh West Virginia Infantry. Governor Brough is extremely anxious the 100-days' men be promptly sent home. Will you send troops to relieve them? I would prefer Virginia troops, because of their acquaintance with the people and the geography of the country. The people here are anxious to have the Second Maryland sent back. B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General. Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY: HANCOCK, August 12, 1864. Detachment of my cavalry in Martinsburg yesterday. Enemy's stragglers retired through Bunker Hill day before. Brigadier-General AVERELL: W. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General. CUMBERLAND, August 12, 1864. Have the promise that everything will be forwarded to-day. Shall remain until certain, unless you order me to Hancock. J. A. BYERS, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. 25. Capt. William R. Howe, assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, will report in person without delay to Brigadier-General Averell, U. S. Volunteers, for assignment to duty. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. MIDDLE DEPT., 8TH ARMY COrps, Baltimore, August 12, 1864. No. 201. } 1. Capt. T. M. Bartholomee, commanding detachment Twelfth Maryland Infantry (100-days' service), is hereby ordered to put his command en route without delay to proceed to Hood's Mills, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, there to await orders from Brig. Gen. E. B. Tyler, commanding First Separate Brigade. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to state that the interests of the service [require] that a district should be formed of the mountain region, including from Cumberland Valley on the east to Laurel Hill on the west. The civil officers in the lower part of this section are hostile to the Government, as well as a large number of the inhabitants. There are other reasons purely military which demand it. I am informed that Brig. Gen. O. S. Ferry, of General Butler's command, has a division, the term of service of which will expire this month. If he can be spared without detriment to the service I should like to have him; if not, please send me an officer who is energetic, temperate, discreet, and with good common sense. Such a one would be of as much value to the country on this duty as though he commanded a brigade in the field. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. N. COUCH, Major-General, Commanding Department. SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 185. HDQRS, DEPT. OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, * * 4. Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, U. S. Volunteers, commanding Brandywine District, will send without delay one company of 100-days' infantry from Chambersburg, Pa., to Scranton, Pa., with orders to report to Capt. S. N. Bradford, provost-marshal Twelfth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, for duty. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. 5. Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, U. S. Volunteers, commanding Brandywine District, will send without delay the company of 100-days' infantry now at Fort Washington to Chambersburg, Pa., with orders to report to Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, commanding First Battalion (100-days') Pennsylvania Volunteers, at that place. The quartermas ter's department will furnish the necessary transportation. 6. Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, U. S. Volunteers, commanding Brandywine District, will send without delay by railroad twelve mounted men with their horses, under command of a reliable non-commissioned officer, from Capt. George D. Stroud's company of mounted men for 100-days' service (now at Chambersburg), with orders to report to Capt. S. N. Bradford, provost-marshal Twelfth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, for duty. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. 7. Capt. C. N. Turnbull, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, having completed the duties assigned him in paragraph 1, Special Orders, No. 177, from these headquarters, dated August 1, 1864, is hereby relieved from duty as chief engineer of the Department of the Susquehanna. * ** * By command of Major-General Couch: JNO. S. SCHULTZE, Assistant Adjutant-General. |