'bushwhacking, and render every man within the limits of my command practically loyal, if allowed to deal with them as I choose. Very respectfully, &c., G. A. CUSTER, P. S.-I have forwarded the information obtained from the enemy to General Kilpatrick, but it is more direct to your headquarters than to his. I therefore send you a copy also, not doubting but that General Kilpatrick will do so likewise." [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, This communication is respectfully forwarded to headquarters Army of the Potomac, with the Richmond Examiner referred to. The captured letters were not sent. General Custer has been directed to forward them. Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Headquarters Army of the Potomac : Order at once the regular division in the Fifth Corps and the Vermont brigade in the Sixth Corps to Alexandria. Call on the Quartermaster's Department to furnish transportation by railroad, so as to forward these troops with as little delay as possible. land transportation or supplies to accompany them. Commanding Officer Sixth Corps: GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. No AUGUST 13, 1863-10.10 p. m. The commanding general directs that the Vermont brigade of your corps proceed forthwith to Alexandria, there to receive further orders. The brigade will march at the earliest possible moment to Warrenton Junction, where railroad transportation will be provided for it. No land transportation or supplies will be taken by the brigade. Please acknowledge this dispatch at once, and report as soon as you can the number of officers and men for whom transportation will be required. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. AUGUST 13, 1863-10.15 p. m. Commanding Officer Fifth Corps: The commanding general directs that the regular division of your corps proceed forthwith to Alexandria, there to receive further orders. The division will march as soon as possible to Rappahannock Station, where railroad transportation will be provided for it. No land transportation or supplies will accompany the division. Please acknowledge this dispatch, and report as soon as you can the number of officers and men for whom transportation will be required. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. Col. G. H. SHARPE, OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, Deputy Provost-Marshal-General, &c.: August 13, 1863. COLONEL: At your suggestion, I have the honor to report in brief the manner in which goods have been brought to the Army of the Potomac by sutlers and traders during the time General Patrick has been acting as provost-marshal-general. By referring to the circular issued November 7, 1862, and marked A, it will be seen that before goods could be brought to the army an invoice must be presented to this office for approval, or the goods attempted to be brought to the army would be liable to confiscation. Such instances, I may here add, were not a few. That system continued in force from the issuing of the circular, November 7, 1862, at which time goods were brought to the army in wagons, until the army went into winter quarters on the Rappahannock, when the following system went into effect: A sutler wishing to bring goods to the army made up his invoice in conformity to the "Wilson bill," and for one month's supply. That invoice was approved by the commandant of his regiment and brigade, and latterly by command of the provost-marshal-general. Three sutlers, with their papers thus approved, could go to Washington, and there of the Quartermaster-General obtain permission to clear a vessel for Belle Plain or Aquia Creek. At these points were officers, acting under orders of the provost-marshal-general, who examined the goods and manifest accompanying the vessels. If found to agree, and no contraband goods discovered, the sutlers were permitted to land their goods. The confiscations while the army lay at that point were not a few. Parties attempting to smuggle liquors and other contraband goods into the army, not only lost their goods, but were sent from the army not to return. The system last mentioned continued in effect until the army moved from the Rappahannock in June last, at which time sutlers were notified to go to the rear with their goods and teams, as they were not to be permitted to follow the army when on the move. Now that the army is stationary, and sutlers, if they come to it, will be obliged to have their goods in wagons, some plan should be hit upon preventing contraband goods from coming to the army. I have carefully read the plan proposed by Colonel Hardie, assistant adjutant-general to Major-General Meade, and which, in the main, is the same as that followed by the army, in accordance with the circular marked A, and heretofore referred to. In those times, if I remember rightly, General Martindale gave the sutlers permission to come to the army from Washington, instead of the Quartermaster-General as proposed, and upon papers approved from this office. Again, by referring to the accompanying General Orders, No. 56, issued from headquarters of the army, you will discover that no public transportation is given the sutler or trader. Such being the case, Colonel Hardie very properly suggests that some plan should be hit upon which in the future shall prevent the enemy from being supplied through the sutlers. Whether a mounted escort, at stated periods, is the best mode, others better qualified to judge will say. It would seem if the plan suggested by Colonel Hardie was followed, and which, by the way, does not materially differ from that heretofore followed in the army, the instances need be rare when imposition will be practiced, provided the inspecting officer at the Long Bridge, or at whatever point he is stationed, uses due vigilance and care in the exercise of his duties. We have reason to believe that liquors are being brought to the army by sutlers and their employés. Whether properly or not, we have no means of knowing, as liquors now come to the army in accordance with a general order issued by General Martindale, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, marked D, from which it will be readily seen that we have not in our possession any record by which we can tell whether or not the liquors are brought upon proper papers. The test of citizenship has never been applied to sutlers in this army, to my knowledge. The certificate accompanying is such as we give sutlers who are registered in our office upon what we deem proper papers. The certificate we require to be shown if we have any doubt as to whether the party applying for passes or favors is entitled to that for which he asks. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. W. BECKWITH, Captain, and Aide-de-Camp. AUGUST 14, 1863-12.45 a. m. Commanding Officer Fifth Corps: I am instructed by the commanding general to say that the volunteer brigade attached to the regular division is to remain, and not accompany the division. Please acknowledge. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, August 14, 1863–7.20 a. m. In GENERAL: General Merritt reports the return of Colonel Devin. No new discoveries. Enemy's force in front about the same. front of Merritt's pickets the enemy's [pickets] are in considerable force in cavalry. Colonel Devin's signal officer read following dispatch of the enemy: There is nothing new in our front. The enemy's fires seem to be increasing. This dispatch was addressed to Colonel C. General Kilpatrick reports he pickets 32 miles and patrols 14 more. The line he is required to occupy cannot be looked after with a less force. I forward a copy of Colonel Mann's report of his scout after Mosby.* Colonel Huey reports small scattering parties in the vicinity of Middleburg, Aldie, Salem, and surrounding country. He reports that White's guerrillas have joined Mosby. The officer and 16 men supposed by General Gregg to be captured, have returned. I inclose communications from General Greggt and Colonel McIntosht relative to crossing the Aestham River. I shall call on General Gregg for further explanation. Very respectfully, A. PLEASONTON, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, August 14, 1863-11 a. m. (Received 11.10 a. m.) Maj. Gen. GEORGE G. MEADE, Washington, D. C.: The regular troops of Ayres' division (aggregating 2,000) are at Bealeton and the Vermont brigade (aggregating 2,000) are at Warrenton Junction. These troops are moving to Alexandria as fast as they are furnished with transportation by the railroad. Nothing new this morning. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE Potomac, August 14, 1863-2.30 p. m. Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: I inclose a copy of a report* of a scout who has been on the south side of the Rappahannock, and brings important information. I have sent for the man himself, and will forward him to you; but as he belongs to the command out on picket, he may not arrivé until to-morrow. Taken in connection with other reports and information bearing on the same point, this dispatch is of the utmost importance. I have been satisfied the enemy was intending something on our left for some days past, and have desired a greater force of cavalry in that vicinity. I would urge that this information be sent in cipher immediately to General Meade, that he may authorize a change in the present disposition of the cavalry, as well as other corps, our left flank being in no condition to receive an attack from the enemy's whole force, and we know from our own experience at Chancellorsville that an army entire can be crossed in a single night. United States Ford is evidently the point intended by the enemy to cross. From that point, and a night start, their cavalry could reach the vicinity of Washington before ours could, in any force, from its present location. Very respectfully, * Not found. A. PLEASONTON, Major-General, Commanding. See p. 33 and foot-note on p. 34. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION CAVALRY CORPS, Captain COHEN, Assistant Adjutant-General: CAPTAIN: The inclosed communication is forwarded for the information of the major-general commanding Cavalry Corps. I most respectfully suggest that the force now at Georgetown, under Major Cooke, can be safely reduced to one strong regiment, as the object of this force is but to watch and not to fight. I can then move to General Custer's assistance, with four regiments and the batteries, at any moment. Respectfully submitted. Capt. JACOB L. GREENE, J. KILPATRICK, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [Inclosure.] CAVALRY OUTPOST, Falmouth Road, August 13, 1863. Assistant Adjutant-General: I have a scout of my own regiment who has just returned, having been across the river and in the camps of the enemy. He crossed half a mile below United States Ford. Had to swim the river. Found extensive camps. Longstreet's corps, 10,000 strong; also, 5,000 mounted men mostly mounted infantry-armed with Enfield rifles; likewise some regular cavalry. He went through the camp as a member of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry. He saw some 500 negroes at work near United States Ford, cutting timber into logs from 10 to 30 feet in length. Report among the men in camp was that they were to cross in great force, getting in the rear of General Meade's army, and on to Washington. Said they were diverting General Meade to the left, while their forces come this way. This man is a very square fellow; still I hardly know how much reliance to place in the report. He staid over some time; took dinner with them; saw large quantities of commissary stores. This report, taken with the remark in the private letter intercepted today- "the coming great battle "-may be of significance. Scout said the boys said this was to be their last great struggle. If successful, they would be recognized. If not, all was up. W. D. MANN, Colonel, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General MEADE, Washington: Dispatch from signal officer at Watery Mountain: A large cloud of smoke is rising between Orange Court-House and Gordonsville; very near the latter place. Can see the enemy's camp smoke south of Clark's Mountain. There is not so much smoke in vicinity of Culpeper as heretofore. TAYLOR, A. A. HUMPHREYS, |