F. E. Sigel to Jos. Dickinson, February 2, 1863

Lieut. Col. Jos. Dickinson, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

COLONEL: Pursuant to orders of the 28th instant, I have the honor eee that the troops of the Reserve Grand Division are located as

The extreme right is formed by a brigade of cavalry, under Colonel Di Cesnola, numbering about 1,000 men, stationed at Allcock, near Hartwood Church. This brigade draws its supplies from the Falmouth Depot, and by foraging toward the west and northwest. The left of this brigade connects with the right of the Third Division, Eleventh Corps, Brigadier-General Schurz commanding, stationed between Hartwood Church and Maria, drawing its supplies over the same roads as the Cavalry Brigade from Falmouth.

The lett of the Third Division connects with the right of the Second Division of the same corps, Brigadier-General Steinwehr commanding, stationed at Falmouth, in the immediate vicinity of the supply depot.

One brigade of the First Division, Eleventh Corps, is stationed at Brooke’s Station, and the other brigade of the same division at Belle Plain, both brigades being supplied by the depot at their respective stations.

The greater portion of the Twelfth Corps, consisting of one division and one brigade, are stationed near Stafford Court-House, fronting west, drawing their quartermaster’s supplies from Hope Landing, a distance of 5 miles, over a passable road, and their commissary supplies from Brooke’s Station, a distance of 4 miles, over a road partly corduroyed.

One brigade of the Second Division of the Twelfth Corps is stationed at Aquia Creek Landing, within a very short distance of the principal supply depot, and the other brigade at Dumfries, being supplied by the river from Otterback’s Wharf, about 4 miles from Dumfries. The road leading to the landing is at times impassable, but constant exertions keep it in such repair that the force now stationed at Dumfries can be easily supplied. In addition to the infantry and artillery, there are about 300 cavalry at Dumfries, for patrolling and scouting purposes.

A regiment of cavalry (Seventeenth Pennsylvania), under Colonel Kellogg, is stationed between Aquia Church and Stafford Court-House. Six companies of this regiment are guarding our front, patrolling principally to the west. Three companies are with Colonel Cesnola, and three at Occoquan City.

The accompanying diagram, marked A,* shows the location of the different commands of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps.

Commencing again on the extreme right, the cavalry at Allcock has its pickets to the front and right, especially connecting on the lett with the infantry pickets of the Third Division near Hartwood, the latter having their pickets to the front, right, and left, connecting on the left with those of the Second Division, near Falmouth.

The brigades at Brooke’s Station, Belle Plain, and Aquia Creek Landing are picketing their own position; the brigade at Brooke’s Station guarding the railroad, and the Potomac Creek railroad bridge besides. The main position of the Twelfth Corps is extending its line of infantry pickets from Potomac Creek to Aquia Creek, parallel to and 1 mile west of the Telegraph road, connecting with the pickets of General

Meade’s command. ae ee arm ee

The cavalry regiment, under Colonel Kellogg, near Aquia, furnishes pickets stationed on a line extending from Stafford Store, on the right, to Potomac Creek, on the left. ; ;

The command at Dumfries has a chain of infantry pickets for its own safety about half a mile from the village, cavalry pickets being stationed at prominent points from 2 to 3 miles from the command.

Under the control and supervision of an officer of the day of the corps, who is assisted by the officers of the day of divisions and brigades, the pickets are posted as directed by the general commanding the Grand Reserve Division, with the usual instructions according to the position of our own troops and those of the enemy. Officers of the day of the corps are relieved every five days, and officers of the day of divisions and brigades are relieved daily. The former visit the pickets once a day, and the latter once during the day and once in the night. The chief of staff has the general superintendence over all outpost duty.

The system used in picketing by the Grand Reserve Division is a chain of sentinels, single or double posts according to circumstances, who are relieved by the pickets stationed from 100 to 200 yards in the rear of the chain of sentinels. The relieving pickets, which are, when possible, stationed on the roads, number from 15 to 36 men, and have consequently from 4 to 11 sentinels to be relieved by them, after deducting, in every case, 1 sentinel who is posted near the main picket. Special pickets are stationed on important points, principal roads, fords, and bridges, or for the purpose of connecting the relieving pickets, and to support them in case of necessity.

In the immediate presence of the enemy, a general reserve of one or two regiments of infantry, with one or two sections of artillery and some cavalry, are posted in a central location, prepared to support the pickets at any moment. This reserve is on duty from sunset to sunrise, and under the direct orders of the corps commanders or the commander of the Grand Division patrols and scouts. Regular patrols are sent from Allcock to the different fords on the Rappahannock River, below Richards’ Ford, and below Kellysville, about 6 miles below the crossing of the railroad. The cavalry regiment near Aquia Church, besides patrolling the different roads toward Stafford Springs, Rock Hill Church, and Spottsville, sends a constant patrol over the Telegraph road toward Dumfries. The cavalry at Dumfries send patrols toward Wolf Run Shoals, Independent Hill, Brentsville, and Stafford Springs, and a constant patrol over the Telegraph road toward Stafford CourtHouse and Occoquan City. The cavalry at Occoquan City patrol toward Wolf Run Shoals, Maple Valley, and Greenwood, with constant patrol on the Telegraph road toward Dumfries. The patrols consist of from 5 to 25 men, under the usual instructions. Special patrols are sent out now and then, accompanied by scouts, the former serving as support of the latter. :

The number of scouts attached to these headquarters varies from 15 to 25 and 30, according to circumstances. They are sent west and northwest as far as they can go without returning upon the sight of a pata tiar es and by passing the rebel patrols and detachments on byroads.

Camp guards are organized as usual; each regiment has its own camp guard and regimental officer of the day. Besides this means of keeping the men within the encampment, outposts are not permitted to pass soldiers without authority from corps headquarters. Provost-marshals of the grand division of corps, divisions, and brigades have their guards and patrols out all the time, with instructions to arrest all stragglers, who are punished at once by a field officer of their regiment, under authority of General Orders, No. 91, from the War Department.

The police duty of the camp is especially assigned to the regimental officer of the day, commanding the camp guard. He is responsible for the order and discipline and the cleanliness within the camp, whilst commanders of regiments, brigades, and divisions lay out and arrange the camps and exercise the general superintendence in regard to order and discipline.

Inspections of companies are held Sundays, and ordinarily a written report of every company commander has to be sent in by regimental commanders directly to these headquarters, to ascertain that the inspection was really made.

I have the honor to remain, your obedient servant,