George G. Meade to A. J. Alexander, June 5, 1863

Col. A. J. ALEXANDER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps:

I have just received information, which I consider reliable, that all of the available cavalry of the Confederacy is in Culpeper County. Stuart, the two Lees, Robertson, Jenkins, and Jones are all there. Robertson came from North Carolina, Jenkins from Kanawha, and Jones from the Valley. Jones arrived at Culpeper on the 3d, after the others. Since the Chancellorsville fight, their cavalry has been very much increased from the infantry ; 800 Texans from Hood’s command have been recently mounted upon horses from Richmond. My informant—a refugee from Madison County—says Stuart has 20,000 ; can’t tell his instructions, but thinks he is going to make a raid. Dispatch in cipher received.

Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND Corps, June 5, 1863. General S. WILLIAMs :

The officer in charge of the pickets on the left of this corps reports that the enemy in front of his line below the city have withdrawn about one-half mile, and appear to have formed a new line.

The officer of the day of the corps reports that it appears that the enemy are massing their reserves in the city, as several squads have come down from their left within the last hour. They maintain their line of pickets along the river immediately in front of the

town. WINF’D S. HANCOCK, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CoRPs, June 5, 1863. General S. Wiuuiams, Assistant Adjutant-General:

About the close of the firing on the left, the enemy threw a regiment or two of infantry into the rifle-pits, first and second lines, about the mill opposite Falmouth. Two companies were behind the mill. They have three guns in the grove behind the rifle-pits. Some time before, a battery of artillery moved along the first range of hills to our right, and appeared to take post in those defenses commanding the fords by Falmouth. I suppose the arrangement was entirely a

defensive one. WINF’D 8S. HANCOCK, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS FirtH Corps, June 5, 1863—12.15 p. m. [General WILLIAMs ?]

GENERAL: I send herewith to the provost-marshal-general a deserter from the Tenth Alabama (Wilcox’s brigade), who swam the river this morning just before daylight. He reports only Wilcox’s brigade (five regiments) at Banks’ Ford; says their pickets connect at the mouth of Mott’s Run with Longstreet’s pickets; believes the have infantry and cavalry at United States Ford; says there is artillery at Banks’. He does not seem very intelligent, however, or to know much beyond regimental matters.

General Sykes reports the enemy in his front to be pretty much in the same condition as when he first arrived. He thinks yesterday their pickets were doubled; to-day reduced to what they were the first day. He sees no signs of infantry at United States Ford or indications of large camps in its vicinity.

No particular report has as yet been received from General [James] Barnes excepting a dispatch at 9 a. m., stating all was apparently quiet. I expect to hear specifically as to the pickets in his front.

Major-General Sykes agrees with me in the view that the enemy, if determined, can force a crossing at Banks’ Ford, owing to their artillery commanding the ground on this side in its immediate vicinity. Every Sisbosion has been made to prevent them at the immediate crossing place, and, in addition, a line of rifle-pits and abattis, with places for the batteries, arranged a short distance back, extendin across the tongue of land at which the command will be rallied an the enemy, if possible, repelled.

Respectfully, yours,