Joseph Hooker to BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff, May 1, 1863

May 1, 1863—1.30 p. m. General BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff: The following just received from the right of my picket line: Information has just been received from the right of the picket line of this brigade

that the enemy’s vedettes and supports have been withdrawn away from the river front, and are now entirely out of sight. JOHN O. SCOTT,

Captain, Commanding Brigade Picket.

JOHN GIBBON, Brigadier-General.

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, V. A., May 1, 1863. General JOHN GIBBON:

The commanding general directs that you exercise the utmost vigilance to learn the earliest movements of the enemy on the opposite side of the river, and tako all possible measures to prevent them. If the absence of the brigade you have been ordered to send to Banks’ Ford should weaken you too much, which the general hopes will not be the case, you must eall on General Sedgwick for assistance. Observe all the movements of the enemy, and communicate them to these headquarters by telegraph.

By command of Major-General Hooker :