Danl. Butterfield to O. O. Howarp, June 22, 1863

General O. O. Howarp: Pleasonton, as I wrote you yesterday, drove the enemy’s cavalry through Ashby’s Gap. He has returned this morning, and informs me that the Confederate army are in the Valley of the Shenandoah, about Winchester and Martinsburg ; Lee and Longstreet at Winchester. A. P. Hill is coming up through the Valley to jointhem. This is the substance of the news as given by Pleasonton. He was yesterday opposed only by a brigade of cavalry and one battery, but the character of the country was so favorable for defense that it took him all day with his large force to drive them back some 12 miles. I came near catching our friend Mosby this morning. I had reliable intelligence of his expected pecans a place about 4 miles from here at sunrise. I sent 40 mounted men (all I have) and 100 infantry, who succeeded in posting themselves in ambush at the designated spot. Sure enough, Mr. Mosby, together with 30 of his followers, made their appearance about sunrise, but, I regret to say, their exit also, from what I can learn, through the fault both of foot and horse. It appears Mosby saw the cavalry, and immediately charged them. They ran (that is, my horses) toward the infantry, posted behind a fence. The infantry, instead of rising and deliberately delivering their fire, fired lying on the ground; didnot hit a rebel, who immediately scattered and dispersed, and thus the prettiest chance in the world to dispose of Mr. Mosby was lost. Truly, yours, GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General. [P. S.]—I don’t know what we are going todo. I have had no communication from headquarters for three days. JUNE 22, 1863—12′ noon. Major-General STAHEL : Yours of 10.30 p. m., 21st, just received. General Pleasonton was very successful yesterday, indeed. The operator, with this, will furnish you an account of his operations. ou will not be likely to find any enemy at New Baltimore, as they will probably be called up to assist Stuart. Your scouting party rest at Centreville to-day, having marched 30 miles yesterday. The general was not aware that you took your wagons with you, and thinks you had better return them DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, June 22, 1863—12.40 p. m. Major-General Hancock, Thoroughfare Gap: General Stahel with his command attacks the enemy at New Baltimore to-day. There cannot be much danger to your command or rear while he is there in such force as he is. The operator, with this, will send you the account of General Pleasonton’s success yesterday. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. 256 N. C0. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., P. A., ETC. [Cuar. XXXIX. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, June 22, 18683—11.15 a. m. Major-General Stocum, Leesburg: If youshould-need batteries before the reserve batteries reach you, call on Howard. They cannot be sent up until cavalry are here to escort them. Pleasonton was very successful yesterday. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, June 22, 1863. Captain TURNBULL, Edwards Ferry: General Wadsworth is bridging Goose Creek near the pike. Can you bridge Goose Creek near the mouth, on a road that will conduct to Edwards Ferry?’ DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General. EDWARDS FERRY, June 22, 1863. Major-General BUTTERFIELD, Headquarters Army of the Potomac: I py bridge Goose Creek anywhere within one-half mile of its mouth. I was informed this morning by an officer of General Howard’s command that a good road could be made from General Howard’s headquarters to the mouth of Goose Creek. — CHAS. N. TURNBULL, Captain of Engineers. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CoRPs, Thoroughfare Gap, June 22, 1863—6.20 [p. m.] General BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff: About 1 p. m. a squadron of my cavalry, sent from Gainesville toward New Baltimore, fell into an ambush 2 miles beyond Buckland Mills; were driven to within 2 miles of Gainesville, with a reDee loss of 30 men. The attacking force was about a regiment of cavalry. Our cavalry, however, I have no doubt picket to within a mile of New Baltimore, as a squadron sent on the road from here to New Baltimore had a skirmish with the enemy near the junction of this road and the Warrenton pike, and held its ground. – WINF’D S. HANCOCK, Major-General. (Received 7 p. m.) Major-General Hancock : Your dispatch received. The general thinks that you had better not send in any train until General Stahel’s command comes in, and, then move with them. A party of about 100 men of the enemy are inside our lines, and have to-day attacked a train on the route to Aldie. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, and Chief of Staff. (Received 7 p. m.) Major-General HANCOCK : Direct General Stahel to return without delay, to dispose his forces so as to catch the party inside our lines, if possible. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, and Chief of Staff. (Received 7 p. m.) General HANcOcK, Thoroughfare Gap: General Ingalls will have a train at Gainesville to-morrow at 12 o’clock, with forage and subsistence for your command.

DANL. BUTTERFIELD,