Alfred Pleasonton to A. J. Alexander, August 15, 1863

I. The Third (Reserve) Brigade of the First Division of this corps will turn over their horses, arms, and equipments to the respective staff officers of that division and proceed to Alexandria under the orders of Brigadier-General Merritt, who will report in person to Major-General Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry Bureau, Washington, for the purpose of heing placed in depot to be filled up and remounted. thes f

I. I. The commanding general of the First Cavalry Division will use the equipments, horses, and arms of the Third Brigade to mount and equip such men of his remaining brigades as require it. In case any surplus remains, it will be reported to these headquarters that it may be turned over to some other division.

III. The object of this order is to retain as many equipped and mounted men with this army as there are at present, including the Third Brigade, by mounting others before that command leaves. This requirement will be observed in the execution of this order.

I. V. The batteries of horse artillery belonging to the Second Brigade (Tidball’s), serving with corps, will be replaced by batteries from the First (or Robertson’s) Brigade, after which Captain Tidball will report with his brigade to Brigadier-General Tyler, commanding Artillery Reserve.

V. To equalize the number of batteries in the brigades, the Ninth Michigan Battery is transferred to the Second Brigade Horse Artillery.

By command of Major-General Pleasonton: