Henry W. Halleck to Samuel P. Heintzelman, March 31, 1863

Maj. Gen. S. P. HEINTZELMAN, Commanding Department of Washington:

GENERAL: I herewith send a tabular statement* of armament, garrisons, &c., of the forts constituting the Defenses of Washington. Also a statement of the length of lines of rifle-pits.* Also a statement giving a list of batteries for field guns, indicating their location and the number of guns they will receive.* Drawings will be made and sent to you, which will indicate the position of these rifle-pits and batteries, as also of all the forts.

It will be seen that the total of full garrisons for all the forts is 26,725 men, of which 10,305 consists of artillerymen and 16,420 of infantry.

These garrisons are apportioned as follows:

Location. Artillery. Infantry. Total. Fort Lyon position. ……..–.—.–00 0+ scncce cance cnnsscnnescsnccnns 890 1, 260 2, 150 From Fort Ellsworth to Fort Corcoran. ……….-2-ces+—eeee eeeeene 8, 315 4, 730 8, 045 Chain Bridge position –…..-..2–.2…sccsccesencccenes s-oncs-seennne 600 1, 000 1, 600 Potomse tonMastern Branches. 2s occcce ces cenercesencacesenancceeercse 8, 500 5, 700 9, 200 Ovorikaatornis bane cee

It is a matter of some difficulty to say with any precision what additional troops are necessary to hold Washington, as it would depend much upon the circumstances and force of the attack, and also upon the condition of the Potomac. J ;

It may be stated, in the first place, that besides the full garrisons at the Chain Bridge, there should be, when the enemy is, or can be, near enough and strong enough to attack in any force, an additional infantry force there (with some cavalry) of about 2,000 men, making, say, 3,600 in all. With this force, the rifle-pits can be sufficiently manned to resist a strong attack. Should an attack be protracted, or should an enemy appear before the position in force, about 4,000 more men, and at least three field batteries, would be required for a protracted resistance.

The rifle-pits of the position are 3,500 yards (say 2 miles) long, but here, as elsewhere, it will be never necessary to man the whole length. A considerable portion of those between Fort Ethan Allen and the Potomac, for example (behind the ravine), would be sufficiently guarded by two companies, as it is almost unassailable, and needs only to be carefully watched.

At Fort Lyon and outworks there should be permanently, I think, a force equal to the full garrisons (2,150 men), and, if the enemy’s movements or positions are such that he can throw himself in force upon this seenersiged ite wets Crls poeinbs eens ret 2 ON Sie ee

12 R R—VOL XXV, PT Il position, 1,000 men, in addition, should be added to guard the rifle-pits (about 1 mile long); and this latter number may need to be increased from the reserves in case of a prolonged attack.

The artillery garrisons of all the forts should be kept full. I have calculated for three reliefs of gunners for all the guns. This provides for contingencies, and the artillerymen are counted as part of the garrison, as all not serving guns would be subject to man the parapets in case of assault; 10,305 men are necessary for this purpose. ‘

There should be at least infantry enough to fill up all the garrisons of all the works south of the Potomac; to supply an additional 1,000 men at Fort Lyon, and 2,000 at the Chain Bridge, and a reserve of 15,000 men, besides 2,000 or 3,000 cavalry and eight or ten batteries of artillery, making 35,000 men in all, besides cavalry and field artillery ; and this is the very lowest estimate for defense, under the most favorable circumstances, as will be seen hereafter.

If the enemy was in front of Washington in force, and the Potomac was low, we might expect him to threaten both sides, and it would be necessary to have the works between the Potomac and Eastern Branch fully garrisoned. ;

Finally, should he establish himself in force on the north side of the Potomac, we might expect formidable assaults upon the works over the Eastern Branch, unless they were fully garrisoned. In general, however, the defenses of part of the works might be safely trusted to their artillery garrisons.

The following extract from the report of the commission ordered last autumn by the Secretary of War to report on the Defenses of Washington may be interesting:

The total infantry garrison required for their defense, computed at 2 men per yard of front perimeter, and 1 man per yard of rear perimeter of works, is about 25,000. The total number of artillerymen (to furnish three reliefs for each gun) required is about 9,000. It is seldom necessary to keep these infantry supports attached to the works. The artillerymen, whose training requires much time, having learned the disposition of the armament, and computed the distances of the ground over which attacks may be looked for, and the ranges and service of their guns, should not be changed ; they should remain permanently in the forts.

The 25,000 infantry should be encamped in such positions as may be most convenient to enable wher in case of alarm, to garrison the several works, and a force of

3,000 cavalry should be available for outpost duty, to give notice of the approach of any enemy.

Whenever an enemy is within striking distance of the capital, able by rapid march to attempt a coup de main, which might result in the temporary occupation of the city, the dispersion of the Government, and the destruction of the archives, all of which could be accomplished by a single day’s possession, a covering army of not less than 25,000 men should be held in position, ready to march to meet the attacking column. Against more serious attacks from the main body of the enemy, the capital must depend on the concentration of its entire armies in Virginia or Maryland. They should precede or follow any movement of the enemy seriously threatening the

You will observe that from Hunting Creek north to the Potomac there are about 11,000 yards of rifle-pits. As observed elsewhere, it will never be necessary to man the whole at once. Take that part between Hunting Creek and Four-Mile Run, for example. There are 5,100 yards of rifle-pits connecting the works, but the actual front before which the enemy could arrange his line of battle will not be more than 2,100 yards. He will not mass his men in the valleys, or on the slopes of the valleys of these streams, where they would be seen and cut up by plunging and cross-fires of our forts. He may try their flanks with small columns, favored by darkness, &c., and they would be resisted by

the fire of the forts, and by a few men holding the pits until reserves could be brought up.

Let it be supposed that the total of 35,000 men were provided, and that the enemy attacked our lines on the south side; of these 35,000, there would be appropriated as artillerymen for all the works, 10,300; for complement of infantry, to make up full garrisons for all the works south of the Potomac, 7,000; for additional supports to Fort Lyon and Chain Bridge position, 3,000; making a total of 20,300. This force would hold our two flanks at Fort Lyon and the Chain Bridge strongly, and would distribute along the line of forts from Ellsworth to Corcoran, as artillerymen and supports, 8,045 men, of which the infantry supports would be posted near the works, and need not be shutup in them except in case of actual assault. There would remain 15,000 men, of which 4,000 might be in reserve at Arlington, 2,000 men where the Military road crosses Four-Mile Run, and 4,000 or 5,000 near the toll-gate, on Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike, leaving but 4,000 or 5,000, and such portions of the cavalry not employed in patrolling, and portion of the field artillery as a general reserve north of the Potomac, the works of which would only be held by their artillery garrisons.

It will be seen, therefore, that a force of this magnitude would not furnish a satisfactory defense against a powerful and prolonged attack. It would be necessary to sustain it by arming all the able-bodied men

_in the District, and putting them upon the lines and in garrisons in the northern forts, and even then the defense would be weak.

If the river was low, and the enemy held both shores, the necessity of more troops would be still more apparent, and it would be unsafe to mentivn a less number than 50,000 or 60,000 men as sufficient to make a good defense, and this last number coincides nearly with what the commission thought necessary to hold and cover the city in case an enemy is within “striking distance,” and even then they would rely only upon the concentration of our entire armies “for ultimate security against more serious attacks from the main body.”

The tabular statement of armament, garrison, &c., gives the number, caliber, and character of guns in the works.* In those few cases where the guns are not on hand, the figures are entered in red; so also are the names of two or three forts not actually commenced, or as yet not materially advanced. Most of the guns wanting can be supplied at short notice from the Arsenal, as soon as the works are ready to receive them.

It should be remembered that the commission recommended a strong work on Rozier’s Bluff, opposite Fort Lyon, to defend water batteries on the left bank of the Potomac; a water battery on Jones’ Point, below Alexandria, and two works in advance of the Arlington lines, none of which are included in the statement. They would probably require in all 2,000 more men.

The figures representing actual garrisons at this date are the numbers of ‘enlisted men” present at the work. While in some few cases (as at Fort.Corcoran) there are more than required as artillery garrisons, in others there is a deficiency.

The rifle-pits south of the Potomac require but a very short period of good working days to be completed, with the force now detailed for that purpose. At the Chain Bridge they are completed; at Fort Lyon, nearly so. From the Potomac to Kastern Branch the line has been run through, but it is proposed ultimately to enlarge the part from Rock Creek to the Eastern Branch. This, with good weather, would require a regiment a couple of weeks to do.

I understand from General Barry that there are on hand in the

* This statement not found.

180 N. V. A., W. V. A. M. D., AND P. A. (Cuar. XXXVIL

forts 100 rounds of ammunition per gun, and sometimes more, except for the 100-pounders, for which ammunition is now being supplied.

The statements as to number of guns required for new or old works are not regarded as final and exact. There is indetermination on these points and others in some few cases.

Abstract from consolidated morning report of the Army of the Potomac, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker commanding, for March 31, 1863; headquarters, camp near Falmouth, Va.

= 5 Present for duty. ; g 5 s 4 . a = a) PB DQ o i] oO .-) 2 ~~ m ee nD ~ aa x Command. 3 53 3 £3 £ res 3 a’s 3 = n on OL 5) =] o oD dD a [-*) . Qo ° = Ep ED & o E= 2 oo oo oO 2 fo) a

Generaltand stalfinc- sce.) ecccs see se ee se seea Detachment Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Capt. James Starr.* Provost-guard, Brig. Gen. M. R. Patrick…-.. Regular Engineer Battalion, Capt. C. B. Reese. Volunteer Engineer Brigade, Brig. Gen. H. W. Benham. U. 8. Signal Corps, Capt. S. T. Cushing…..-… Artillery Reserve, Capt. G. A. De Russy First Corps, Maj. Gen. J. F. Reynolds Second Corps, Maj. Gen. D. N. Couch Third Corps, Maj. Gen. D. E. Sickles. – Fifth Corps, Maj. Gen. George G. Mead Sixth Corps, Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick. Eleventh Corps, Maj. Gen. C. Schurz — Twelfth Corps, Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocu: Cavalry Corps, Brig. Gen. George Stoneman…

Total corre. cose ciscccs scone cescrcsteceewae 7,316 129,408 163,005 214, 767 216,718 410 Present for duty equipped. Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Command. ee B ihaes lg :

Esl oO E= © 8 Co)

3} a io) i) General and istafl

James Starr.* Provost-guard, Brig. Gen. M. R. Patrick….– 130 1, 839 2 SOl Ce osceas enemas Rogular Engineer Battalion, Capt.C.B.Reese. * 2 S51) Seems s ceeseee eece acl saemeeme Volunteer Engineer Brigade, Brig. Gen. H. W. 28 PEF BSbctirealle eo secc boancon’ BOSQoee, Benham.

U.S. Signal Corps, Capt. S. T. Cushing. …… ……… BOR OCOCIOEOG) BERDOnAD Cone cerd hee cisol Screaboe Artillery Reserve, Capt. G. A. De Russy…… 4 88y) ee wack Reierieide 45 1, 274 First Corps, sap Gen. J. F. Reynolds .-…… 911 14, 270 4 103 27 1, 004 Second Corps, Maj. Gen. D. N. Couch……../ 943 14, 833 4 19 21 930 Third Corps, Maj. Gen. D. E. Sickles ……-.. 933 TG 196 ee eene acs ciate 30 1, 156 Fifth Corps, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade….-. 810 14 O06 eeereectere beetles 17 864 Sixth Corps, Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick ……. 1, 155 20, 847 3 109 87 1,173 Eleventh Corps, Maj. Gen. C. Schnrz…….— 604 12, 315 4 32 14 588 Twelfth Corps, Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum….-.. 688 TS SOT Als Ee Seep lkapese ters 15 595 Cavalry Corps, Brig. Gen. George Stoneman .. ……… …-….-.-. 535 9,947 8 472 Wotaliif.c..eas–2 pinto scla cle meisis ieeaierers 6, 208 108, 185 552 10, 295 214 8,

* Now included in provost-guard.

Abstract from return of the Department of Washington, Maj. Gen. S. P. Heintzelman come manding, for the month of March, 1863; headquarters, Washington, D. C.

Present for 2] % Pieces of duty. ® 2 , artillery. 3 Ae Bo Hees; Command. g se a & So . 8 A e ea coals 3 FI bb & a & g S ap 8p 3 iC} o 4 < 4 a Generallibead quarters! ....-c.cs-ese csceacjooenccsccecee «seas 16 4 633 04) pceaee asa District of Adeandvians. .52en

Troops in the Departmentof Washington, Maj. Gen. Samuel P. Heinitzelman commanding, March 31, 1863.

5th New York Cavalry, Company I, Capt. George C. Morton.

1st District of Columbia, Lieut. Col. 153d New York, Maj. E. P. Davis, Lemuel Towers. 11th Rhode Island, Col. George E

26th Michigan, Col. J. S. Farrar. Church. ARTILLERY DEFENSES OF ALEXANDRIA.”

1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Col.H. 24 New York Heavy Artillery,t Lieut.

L. Abbot. 19th Connecticut, Col. L. W. Wessells. 3d New York Artillery Battalion, Lieut. 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery,t Col. Col. A. Senges. Thomas R. Tannatt. Wisconsin Heavy Artillery (one company), 34th Massachusetts, Col, George D. Wells. Capt. C. C. Meservey.

Second Brigade. Third Brigade.

127th New York, Lieut. Col. S. L. Wood22d Connecticut, Col. George S. Burnford.

ham. 40th Massachusetts, Lieut. Col. Jos. A. 142d New York, Col. N. M. Curtis. Dalton. 143d New York; Col. D. P. De Witt.

141st New York, Maj.J. W. Dininny. 144th New York, Col. R. S. Hughston. 16th Virginia, Col. J. T. Close.

* Comprising Forts Barnard, Blenker, Ellsworth, Lyon, Richardson, Scott, Ward,

and Worth. ; + These regiments constituted a heavy artillery brigade, under Col. M. Cogswell.

tNear Fort Albany, and at Arlington, Cloud’s Mill, Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy, Minor’s Hill, Upton’s Hill, and Vienna.

9th Massachusetts Battery, Capt. J. Bigelow. 4th New York Heavy Artillery, Lieut. Col. H. H. Hall. 17th New York Battery, Capt. G. T. Anthony.

First Brigade. Second Brigade.

25th Maine, Lieut. Col. C. E. Shaw. 12th Vermont, Lieut. Col. Roswell Farn: 27th Maine, Col. Mark F. Wentworth, ham. 13th Vermont, Col. F. V. Randall. 14th Vermont, Col. W. T. Nichols. 15th Vermont, Col. Redfield Proctor.

16th Vermont, Col. W. G. Veazey. Third Brigade.

39th New York, Lieut. Co]. Charles Schwarz. 111th New York, Col. Clinton D. MacDougall. 125th New York, Col. George L. Willard. 126th New York, Col. Eliakim Sherrill.

2d Connecticut Battery, Capt. J. W. Sterling.

11th Massachusetts Battery, Capt. E. J. Jones.

Keystone (Pennsylvania) Battery, Capt. M. Hastings.

1st Rhode Island Artillery, Battery H, Capt. Jeffrey Hazard.

First Brigade. Second Brigade.

ist Rifles, Col. C. F. Taylor. 3d Infantry, Maj. William Briner. Ist Infantry, Capt. William C. Talley. 4th Infantry, Col. R. H. Woolworth. 2d Infantry, Capt. Richard Ellis. 7th Infantry, Capt. L. B. Speece. 6th Infantry, Capt. James Carle. 8th Infantry, Maj. S. M. Baily.

Third Brigade.

5th Infantry, Lieut. Col. George Dare.

9th Infantry, Lieut. Col. James McK. Snodgrass. 10th Infantry, Maj. J. B. Knox.

11th Infantry, Lieut. Col. Samuel M. Jackson.

12th Infantry, Col. Martin D. Hardin.

* At Centreville, Chantilly, and Union Mills, Va. t The Second Connecticut and First Rhode Island Batteries with Second Brigade; the others with Third Brigade. _+ Transferred February 5-12 from the First Army Corps. Encamped at Fairfax Station, Minor’s Hill, and Upton’s Hill.

Cuap, XXXVII.J First Brigade.

5th Michigan, Lieut. Col. Ebenezer Gould. 6th Michigan, Col. George Gray. 7th Michigan, Col. W. D. Mann.

Second Brigade. Col. R. BUTLER PRICE.

1st Michigan, Col. Charles H. Town.

1st Ohio (two companies), Capt. N. Jones. 2d Pennsylvania, Lt. Col. J. P.Brinton. 1st Vermont, Col. Edward B. Sawyer.

Third Brigade. Lieut, Col. ROBERT JOHNSTONE.

5th New York. 18th Pennsylvania. 1st West Virginia.

Artillery. 9th Michigan Battery, Capt. J. J. Daniels.

2d District of Columbia, Col. C. M. Alexander.

10th New Jersey, Col. W. R. Murphy.

118th New York, Lieut. Col. O. Keese, jr.

152d New York, Lieut. Col. Alonzo Ferguson.

169th New York, Col, Clarence Buell.

27th Pennsylvania, Company F, Capt. Chauncey Spering.

150th Pennsylvania, Company K, Capt. David V. Derickson.

157th Pennsylvania (four companies), Pennsylvania Infantry (six companies. ) t 11th New York Cavalry (six companies), Col. J. B. Swain. U. 8. Ordnance Detachment, Lieut, lst U. S. Cavalry, Company L, Capt. C. R. Fisher. 2d U.S. Cavalry, Company M, Capt. C. W. Canfield. – 5th U. 8. Cavalry, Company M, Capt. William McLean.

ist Delaware Battery, Capt. B. Nields. 10th Michigan Battery, Capt. J.C. Shuetz. lst New York Artillery (Battery A),

12th New York Battery, Capt. George F. McKnight.

16th New York Battery, Capt. F. L. Hiller.

19th New York Battery, Capt. William H. Stahl. 7th New York Battery, Capt. J. B. Eaton. Independent Pennsylvania Battery, Lieut. E, H. Nevin, jr. lst West Virginia Artillery (Battery A),

DEFENSES NORTH OF THE Potomac. t{

First Brigade.

3d Maine Battery, Capt. James G. Swett.

2d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Col. A. A. Gibson.

lst Vermont Heavy Artillery, Col. J. M. Warner.

Second Brigade..

lst Maine Heavy Artillery, Col. D. Chaplin.

7th New York Heavy Artillery, Col. Lewis O. Morris.

9th New York Heavy Artillery, Col. J.

Welling. 9th New York Battery, Capt. Emil Schubert. 117th New York (Battalion), Lieut. Col. A. White.

* Near Fairfax Court-House.

Stahel assigned to command March 21.

t Drafted men attached to the Second District of Columbia. t Advance battery, Battery Jameson and Forts Alexander, Baker, Carroll, Lincoln, Pennsylvania, Ripley, Simmons, and Slocum.

Third Brigade.

5th New York Heavy Artillery (Battalion), Maj. G. F. Merriam.

10th New York Heavy Artillery, Col. Alex. Piper. 117th New York (Battalion), Col. William R, Pease.

CORPS OF OBSERVATION.* Col. A. B. JEWETT. 23d Maine, Col. William Wirt Virgin. 11th New York Cavalry, Companies E, F,

39th Massachusetts, Col. P. S. Davis. and I, Lieut. Col. 8. H. Wilkeson.

14th New Hampshire, Col. Robert Wilson. 10th Massachusetts Battery, Capt. J.

10th Vermont, Lieut. Col. William W. Henry Sleeper.

M, Capt. Charles W. Deane.

RAILWAY BRIGADE. t 109th New York, Col. B. F. Tracy.

16th Indiana Battery, Lieut. Charles R. Deming. 4th U.S. Artillery (headquarters).

Abstract from return of the Middle Department, Maj. Gen. Robert C. Schenck, U. S. Army, commanding, for March 31, 1863; headquarters, Baltimore, Md.

é a=) A Present for < 8 x Pieces of duty. 2 ee = illery. 2 ae 2 a $ = d Command. g gs 8 8 a oo ws & Q B 4 2) .) >) iS of S = 3) bb 3] 3 = ES o yi) oo on o AY ro) a 4 4 4 mo) & Department) stalfmac- 526. scr teers wean sensess ce P77 Berooene 22 22

First Division (Kelley)… Second Division (Milroy)

886 7,775 9,596 11,323] 5, First Separate Brigade . . 123 2,255 2,592) 2,838] 2,098 Second Separate Brigade… cc 102 2,275 2,941] 8,311] 8,394 . Third Separate Brigade ……..-..–..–..-26– 159 2,925 3,679 4,087] 4,251 Hourth’Separate Brigade (noireport))-: «02-2 e5s o-sshes- sesscee = ene oe seen cee PATINA O18 Gee eee eee cee aateaaeacen es nee 30 491 583 636 713 Philadelphiawcesc-sck-oose tee eer erecccesces 11 173 237 275 263 Nort; Dolawarel.osc< cscisseccamaasenscensecucec es 18 558 722 747 549 Campi@hesebrough=s.-..cceeene. cee eecetee tee, 3 97 185 347

Ota eases ccceccievaunceicctercensemacdere 1, 417 28,747 35, 502 40,146 36, 557 92 From the Ist to the 11th March, Brig. Gen. B. F. Kelley commanded the troops in and around Harper’s Ferry, Va., and the Defenses of the Upper Potomac and the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On the 11th March, he was relieved of this command, and assigned to the command of the Third Division, transferring his headquarters to Cumberland, Md. March 16, Brigadier-General Kelley assumed command of

*At Edwards Ferry, Poolesville, and White’s Ford. t Headquarters at Annapolis, Md.

Guar, XXXVIL CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION.

the Third Division, relieving Brig. Gen. B. S. Roberts, assigned to the command of the Fourth Separate Brigade, comprising a portion of the troops of Western Virginia, transferred to this department by General Orders, No. 66, War Department, 1863, the troops of the Third Division being assigned to the First Division, Brigadier-General Kelley commanding. The remainder of the troops in Western Virginia, Brig. Gen. E. P. Scammon commanding, constituted the Third Division of this department, and will be reported in next monthly return.

The First Separate Brigade is engaged in preventing illicit traffic between the lower counties of Maryland and Eastern Virginia. The Second Separate Brigade is engaged in garrisoning the forts around Baltimore, and guarding the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. The Third Separate Brigade is doing guard duty in and around Baltimore, and guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as far as eons Junction. They are also doing guard duty in and around Frederick

The troops at Annapolis farnish guards for the general hospitals and the camp of the paroled prisoners. The troops at Philadelphia are doing guard and provost duty.

The troops at Fort Delaware are engaged in garrisoning the fort. The First Connecticut Cavalry are engaged as provost-guard and furnishing orderlies for the headquarters.

Abstract from return of the District of the Kanawha, Brig. Gen. E. P. Scammon, U.S. Army, commanding, for March 31, 1863.

Present for A 8 Bb

2 eh EI ge leet a

B asa alle:

ro) a 4 < a General headquarters ej cse< sc csvecccossascnsemevscavesceseercee re eee 4 7 eS AUTetrbrigaden(AVGSs)eeecaces te nccsccslcecaccisseleiccccssccecceiccs 44 9538 1,215 1,414 ]...... Second Brigade(w-hite)i: ot eeen ms suse eines acdc cass ce cclesicmels 71 1,708 2,090 2,386 ]...... DEDIVOSUIVIROIDIA were na cen ccseesc coansccerassceecascheeenescees 32 453 625 CHOY ees @avaleys (Disivict)sessade scene cloce soc cen ceevoomscecsacecnecece == 32 698 808 S26) eeses PATA AMOLY erectn erates non - eee cn ccivcaanieesuciadcash se accsciacnisestse 6 227 270 336 14 Motalestrrcetes scehere seecsctaeccarss classes scat eskee se 189 4,039 5,012} 5,836

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, April 1, 1863—2.30 a. m. General Stocum, Twelfth Corps:

General Sickles, commanding Third Corps, reports that he has just received word from his outposts that the enemy have appeared in force in his front. The commanding general therefore directs that you have your advance guards well on the alert, and your troops in readiness to meet this threatened demonstration.

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, April 1, 1863. Major-General SLocum: The following is forwarded for your information, by order of MajorGeneral Hooker: Potomac CREEK—Midnight. Major-General BUTTERFIELD: I have just received the following from the commanding officer of my picket toward Hartwood: ‘The colonel commanding infantry pickets has sent here a report that the cavalry vedettes on our right have been driven in by a large force of the enemy’s cavalry, supported by six guns. I have received no report of this from my line, but will take measures to ascertain the truth, and report at once.

I have given the necessary orders, and am ready and waiting for further information. Ww. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General, Commanding. W. M. L. CANDLER, Captain and Aide-de-Camp.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HpQRS. OF THE ARMY, ADJT. GEN.’S OFFICE, No. 149. Washington, April 1, 1863. ** * * * * * *

V. I. Brig. Gen. Thomas G. Pitcher, U. S. Volunteers, will report in person, without delay, to Major-General Hooker, commanding Army of the Potomac.

By command of Major-General Halleck: