Seth Williams to Joseph Hooker, June 24, 1863

General HooKER::

T have had all the fords within 10 miles of Edwards Ferry examined. Young’s Island Ford, 3 miles below Edwards Ferry, is the best one, and can be crossed with trains. White’s Ford, 2 miles above Edwards, is next in point of practicability, but is very difficult, and I would not dare to attempt crossing a train atnight. Theriver is quite high.

H. W. SLOCUM, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, June 24, 1863—4.50 p. m. General S. W. CRAWFORD, Upton’s Hill:

The commanding general directs that you order the batteries of your command to join at once the Artillery Reserve, commanded b General Tyler, encamped near Fairfax Court-House. Batteries will be assigned to you as occasion may make it necessary for you to have

them. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General..

Washington, June 24, 1863—5 p. m. General HooKER, Fairfax Court-House:

Don’t know what you mean by Jeff.* Have heard or said nothin about any Jeff. I go on to Baltimore by the 6.30 p. m. train; wil be at the EKutaw House. General Halleck’s order only places the Ls outside of Washington and Baltimore under your orders. Will report from Baltimore to-night or early to-morrow morning

DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff.

CENTREVILLE, June 24, 1863.

Received 5 p. m. General Hancock: ( p. m.)

GENERAL: I have been ordered by General Hooker to report to you with a brigade, consisting of four regiments. I hope to able to

move to-morrow. J. J. ABERCROMBIE, Brigadier-General.

EDWARDS FERRY, June 24, 1863—5.15 p. m. Major-General HooKER, Commanding Army of the Potomac: Which side of Goose Creek do you wish the second bridge—north or south ? The present bridge is on the north side of Goose Creek, with one bridge over Goose Creek at its mouth.

Please answer at once. CHAS. N. TURNBULL, Captain of Engineers.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND Corps, June 24, 1863. General FRENCH, Gainesville :

Two stray rebels captured to-day a wagon loaded with telegraph wire at Hay Market. It is understood that there are other wagons of the same train at Hay Market, and they have been ordered either in the lines of your command or of this.

The soldier of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, captured at the same time, and the driver of the wagon, were recaptured on the Warrenton road by the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry. It is hoped the rebels were also captured.

The general would like to know if you can ascertain how this wagon got started without an escort, as he had directed it brought up with Colonel [Richard N.] Batchelder’s guarded train.

There were two citizens with the wagon, one of them a sutler.

C. H. MORGAN, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Chief of Staff.

JUNE 24, 1863—5.30 p. m. Major-General BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff: There are ten days’ rations on hand in this command from tomorrow morning. WINF’D 8S. HANCOCK

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, June 24, 1863. Commanding Officer Cavalry Corps:

I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 22d instant, and am directed by the major-general commanding to state, in reply, that every possible effort is being made to keep your numbers good, and to keep you supplied with horses. It was hitherto supposed that before this your losses had been made good. It was reported to the general that 750 horses were forwarded to you yesterday.

Captain McKee is under orders to report to you to-day with his whole command.

If you have not done so, the general directs that you keep an active and capable officer in Alexandria, to forward men and horses the

288 N. ©. V. A. W. V. A. M. D., P. A., ETO. [Cuar, XXXIX.

moment they arrive in that city. He desires that you hold your command in readiness to march at all times. He will retain as much of your command under your immediate charge as practicable. It will, however, be necessary to call upon you for regiments to serve at corps headquarters, wine holding advanced positions like those of the Second and Twelfth Corps, at this time. In his opinion, they can nowhere render this army more service.

Major-General Stahel’s whole command is ordered to cross into Maryland to-day. Yours, therefore, is the only cavalry with the Army of the Potomac proper.

Colonel Duffié has been,made a brigadier-general, and it is the

resent intention of the general to assign him to duty with General Rtahel. His regiment, as soon as in readiness, will return to you. Should you learn of any other of your command still absent, send orders for them to report to you at once. .

I am further directed to state that the general is of the opinion that you very much overestimate the strength of the rebel cavalry in your front, though, no doubt, his largest force is there. He had at the beginning but 12,000, and his losses certainly cannot have been less than your own. Of this, a heavy force is in Maryland, Hampton’s brigade on the Rappahannock, and lesser forces scouting everywhere.

The general desires me to inquire if anything can be done with the rebel cavalry in your front a detaching an infantry force, either from the Second or the Twelfth Corps, and cutting their line of retreat. Will it be possible to find any one in your vicinity to cross the Blue Ridge and look into-the Valley of the Shenandoah? By avoiding the traveled roads, it seems this service ought to be rendered with impunity. It is also of importance to know whether infantry cannot cross those mountains excepting through the gaps.

Very respectfully, &c.,