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

March 23, 1865—4 p.m. (Received 6.30 p. in.) Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington:

I do not understand exactly what you mean by the troops sent me being sufficient for my purpose. If I am simply to protect the railroad and remain on the defensive my force is very liberal. If I am to make a campaign the nature of it will determine the number of troops lL ought to have. My idea is that there are too many troops here to have no definite offensive object in view, and I have been expecting some intimation of the object in concentrating them; whether I am to make a mobile army, or whether they are here as a reserve for instruction, it would be well for me to know as far as may be proper, because there is much to be done in the way of reorganizing commands, as intimated in my dispatch asking the status of the Nineteenth Corps. The Eighth Corps is also in question. I could in May move nearly 25,000 pretty good infantry and 3,000 or 4,000 cavalry, and still leave a liberal force in block-houses along the railroad and to look after such irregular cayalry aS a movement would not drive up the Valley. There are in the Remount Camp here about 6,100 dismounted cavalry, mostly belonging to the divisions Sheridan took with him. He also took a brigade of West Virginia cavalry. I cannot answer your question concerning cavalry horses until [ know what cavalry organizations are to remain here and what to remain with Sheridan. He has a good many men belonging to organizations still here. The hoof rot prevails among the horses to the extent of several hundred cases, which will affect the question ofsupply. The organized cavalry actually with me will require several hundred horses; I am unable to say just how inany at this moment. I have about 2,000 serviceable for duty in this army, nearly 3,000 in the western part of the State, and General Augur has a brigade. I have gone somewhat into detail for your fullinformation. I propose to communicate my views more fully by mail.

WINF’D S. HANCOCK, Major-General.

GENERAL ORDERS, Hpgrs. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, No. 34, : Winchester, Va., March 23, 1865.

The following orders prescribing the means of transportation and camp and garrison equipage allowed for the armies of the Middle Military Division are published:

I. For the headquarters of the major-general commanding, such wagons, light spring carriges, saddle-horses, and camp equipage as may be deemed necessary by the commanding general.

If. For the headquarters of an army corps, three wagons for baggage, &c., one two-horse spring wagon, four army wagons for subsistence, forage, &c., and ten extra saddle-horses for contingent wants.

Ill. For the headquarters of a division, three wagons for baggage, forage, mess, &c., one two-horse spring wagon, and five extra saddlehorses for contingent wants.

I. V. For the headquarters of a brigade, two wagons for baggage, forage, subsistence, &c., ove two-horse spring wagon, and two extra saddle-horse for contingencies.

V. For each battery of artillery, gne wagon for baggage, tents, forage for private animals, &c.

V. I. For each regiment of infantry, cavalry, or battalion of heavy artillery of 500 men, one wagon; more than 800 men, two wagons.

VIL. For artillery and small ammunition, the number 12-pound guns. multiplied by 122 and divided by 112, the number of riffled guns multiplied by 50 and divided by 140, will give the number of wagons allowed; the number of guns in horse batteries multipled by 100 and divided by 140. For every 1,000 men present, armed and equipped for duty, cavalry, infantry, and heavy artillery, for small-arm ammunition, three wagons.

VIII. General supply train: For each 1,000 men, cavalry, infantry, and heavy artillery, for subsistence, seven wagons, sufficient to carry eight days’ supply. Forage for the teams must be carried in each wagon.

I. X. For the cavalry corps: For each 1,000 cavalry horses, twelve wagons exclusively for grain. To each battery, for its proportion of subsistence, forage, &c., four wagons. For each horse battery, for the same purpose, four wagons. For each brigade of cavalry, infantry, or heavy artillery, not less than 1,500 men, for hospital supplies, three wagons; for every additional 1,000 men, one wagon. For each brigade of cavalry, infantry, or heavy artillery, for commissary sales to officers, one wagon. For ambulance train of each division, two wagons; less than a division (except batteries), one wagon. For each infantry corps, eight wagons for intrenching tools. For each division, for armorers’ tools, parts of arms, extra arms, and accouterments, one wagon. Each wagon and ambulance will carry the necessary forage for its own animals. The unit of organization for the supply train will be by division. Division quartermasters will be responsible for them. Brigade quartermasters will be responsible for brigade teams, and regimental quartermasters for regimental property.

X. Regiments or detachments, when on duty separate from their divisions, will apply to the division quartermaster for their proportionate amount of the supply train.

X. I. If corps, division, or brigade commanders take their guards and escorts from the commands already furnished with their allowance of transportation, their proportion of transportation will be taken with them.

XII. Officers of the quartermaster’s department will attend in person to the drawing of necessary supplies, and will habitually accompany their trains on marches.

XIII. All transportation in excess of the allowance specified in this order will be immediately turned in to the department quartermaster.

XIV. Allowance of camp and garrison equipage: For headquarters of the army, such camp and garrison equipage as the commanding general may deem necessary. : :

X. V. For headquarters of an army corps, division, or brigade, one wall-tent for commanding general; one wall-tent for each two officers of his staff. For the colonel, field and staff, of a full regiment, three wall-tents. For all other commissioned officers, one shelter-tent for

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each. One hospital tent will be allowed for office purposes at corps headquarters, and one wall-tent for similar purposes at headquarters of a division or a brigade.

XVI. A report of all property captured from the enemy or seized for the public service will be made monthly to the chief of the department to whichit pertains at these headquarters.

XVII. It has been shown by experience that the advantage of keeping up regularly organized pack trains is not commensurate with the expense. One hundred pack-saddles will be carried on the wagon train of each corps. Whenever it becomes necessary to pack officers’ baggage, provisions, or ammunition for short distances over rough roads and broken country pack trains will be made up temporarily by taking mules from the wagons, not to exceed two to any one wagon.

By command of Major-General Hancock: