Henry W. Halleck to Winfield S. Hancock, March 23, 1865

Major-General HANCOCK, Winchester : I am very much gratified by your energy in organizing and administering the military affairs of your important command. Your dispatch* of this evening to General Halleck vindicates my judgment in assigning you to that position, and that you could not in any other render service so valuable and urgent to the Government. I would be glad to have a detailed report of the force and its location—a thing I have never before been able to procure. For what you have already done you have the thanks of this Department. Secretary of War. Washington, D. C., March 23, 1865—1.30 p.m. Major-General HANCOCK, Winchester, Va. : Whole number of new regiments under orders for your department is twelve. If these will be sufficient for your purpose I shall advise * See p. 92. that.all others be sent to the James River, on account of less facilities for desertion. Have youa supply of cavalry horses, so that we can send all received here to General Sheridan? Please answer.

H. W. HALLECK,