Civil War Defenses of Washington Historic Resource Study

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF ENGINEER OF DEFENSES,
Washington, July 6, 1864.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:

SIR: In compliance with your instructions of yesterday I proceeded last evening to make an examination of Chain Bridge and Aqueduct Bridge, and this morning I sent Mr. Childs, our civil assistant in charge of the works south of the Potomac, to make an examination of the Long Bridge, and I now have the honor to submit the following report on the defenses and guards of the three bridges across the Potomac, viz:

Chain Bridge.–The defense of this bridge on the Virginia side consists, as you are aware, of a large tête-de-pont, comprising Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen, with a connecting line of intrenchments which extend also from the right of Fort Marcy and left of Fort Ethan Allen to the bank of the river above and below the bridge. Across the Leesburg pike, immediately on the right of Fort Marcy, there is a strong stockade with gates. This is a partial security against a sudden dash of cavalry in force, but is not a complete one, as there are paths, and, in fact, another road, passing to the left of Fort Ethan Alien leading to the bridge. The immediate defense of the bridge consists in a loop-holed gate which stands on the last pier next the Virginia shore, the whole river, except during floods, flowing between this pier and the adjacent abutment, the planks over a portion of tills span being laid down loosely so that they can be taken up at night. At this end of the bridge there is a battery armed with two mountain howitzers, intended to enfilade it, and on the hill immediately above and in rear is Battery Martin Scott, armed with two rifled 6-pounder guns. I found Lieutenant Grunwell, of the Twenty-second Regiment Veteran Reserves, with sixty-three men, in charge of the bridge. He has no command of the batteries at the east end of the bridge. These are in charge of Private Spink, One hundred and forty-seventh Ohio National Guard, acting ordnance sergeant. He knows nothing about ordnance or artillery. In fact, no one at the bridge knows how to load the guns. The business of Sergeant Spink is to clean the guns, air the ammunition, and sweep the platforms. In these duties he is assisted by a detail of six men from the One hundred and forty-seventh Ohio National Guard, changed daily. Lieutenant Grunwell closes the gates at the west end of the bridge and takes up eight or ten flooring planks in front of the gates every night at 9 o'clock.

If the enemy were to attack him suddenly he "would take up the planks and make a parapet or barricade of them, and close the gates" He understands that there is a magazine in one of the western piers, arranged for blowing up the bridge, and a small lead pipe reading to the magazine, and steps from the floor of the bridge leading down to where the pipe projects from the pier. In all of which he must be mistaken as I have never heard that the piers of the bridge are mined.

I remark:

First. That the defenses of this bridge are sufficient, but the guard is not. The charge of the bridge with the two batteries at this end should be under one head. One man should be responsible for everything. He ought to have an ordnance sergeant and sufficient artillerists to man the four guns.

Second. Precautions should be taken against fire. Two or three men could burn this bridge any night and without danger to themselves. Once on the fiats under the bridge they could lodge fire balls on the piers and under the flooring by means of poles. The guard would not know it until the bridge was on fire, and then, as things now are, they would have no means of extinguishing the flames. Hogsheads or barrels filled with water ought to be placed at intervals on the bridge with ropes, buckets, axes, &c.

Third. A couple of rope ladders down the side of the pier under the gate would enable the guard at this point to escape if too strongly attacked so that the batteries could instantly open without danger to our own men.

Fourth. Some twenty-five or thirty feet of the bridge flooring ought to be taken up every night. In case danger is apprehended the flooring of the sidewalks ought also to be taken up.

Aqueduct Bridge.–Beside the tête-de-pont of Forts Corcoran and Haggerty, there are three block-houses near the south end of this bridge, but the latter are not occupied. The immediate defense of this bridge consists of a stockade with gates across the approach to the bridge at the south or Virginia end. Captain Blanchard, of the Veteran Reserves, commands the bridge. Has one officer and thirty men at the south end, and two officers and twenty-five men at the north end. He has no means of putting out fire, no means of patrolling the river to prevent an enemy from floating down and firing the bridge from the under side. Has applied for boats and thinks he ought to have at least two. If a sudden attack was apprehended would close the gates and man the stockade. Did not know whether the bars for securing the gates were on hand or not; did not know whether the bars, if on hand, would fit the staples. Had never tried them. Upon examination, at my request, these were found to be in perfect readiness. No arrangements have been made for taking up the flooring of this bridge as it would involve cutting away the bottom sheathing of the aqueduct. This can be done at some little expense with time to do it, but could not be done promptly in a sudden emergency without previous preparation.

I remark:

First. That the guard ought to be increased so as to afford a patrol both on and under this bridge, and the same remark applies to both the other bridges. The guard should be supplied with one or two boats.

Second. Precautions should be taken to guard against fire. Hogsheads or barrels of water should be kept on the bridge, and perhaps an engine kept on hand and in readiness for this purpose.

Third. Additional security could be given to this bridge by putting up a battery for a section of artillery on the bank at this end of the bridge.

Fourth. The three block-houses at the south end could be better disposed by removing them nearer to the end of the bridge. They would then afford the necessary quarters for the guard, and the guard be in the right place at the end of the bridge, whereas now it is on the bridge.

Long Bridge.–Mr. Childs reports as follows: Captain Sims, of the Veteran Reserves, commands the guard at the north end of this bridge. He has sixty-four men. To guard against fire, barrels of water and buckets are placed on the bridge at intervals of thirty or forty yards. There is also a water-tank at the Washington end of the bridge, but is apparently not filled. The water barrels and buckets are under the charge of the railroad men or bridge tenders. Captain Sims has no boats. He thinks he ought to have them to guard against firing the bridge from the under side. The defense of the bridge is very imperfect, owing to the dilapidation and decay of Fort Jackson. The railroad cuts through the parapet and there are no gates except at turnpike entrance. The railroad crosses the ditch of the fort on a bridge which is not floored, but an enemy could soon cover it so as to make it passable. Cavalry could also ride around to the lower side of the fort and come in on the bridge.

I remark:

First. That I do not think the guard is sufficient. I think there should be two companies at this bridge.

Second. That although Fort Jackson may want some repairs, I am of opinion, even as it is, that fifty determined men in it could stop any cavalry raid.

Third. A section of artillery with artillerists at this end of the bridge would afford all the additional security that we require.

Respectfully submitted.

B. S. ALEXANDER,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Aide-de-Camp.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 83-85.

WASHINGTON, July 9, 1864.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK:

GENERAL: In view of any conceivable probability of an attack on Washington, I feel it my duty to say that the most important re-enforcement we could have, and one to be obtained at least expense in proportion to its importance to the Army of the Potomac, would be the heavy artillery regiments formerly serving here. The First and Second Connecticut Regiments are serving as artillery regiments with that army and should not be disturbed, but the others, or most of them, are very much reduced in numbers, and through loss of field officers and numerical weakness very much injured in efficiency as infantry regiments. They are at best worth only so much infantry to General Grant. To the defenses of Washington they would be of value not to be estimated. The militia regiments now garrisoning the forts scarcely know how to load or fire the guns. These artillery regiments are experienced and skillful gunners; know the guns and know the localities. The remnant of these regiments would furnish a full complement of experienced gunners to all the forts, and impart confidence to the militia troops now in the forts, and give to the defense a reliability which it cannot have, do what we may without them.

J. G. BARNARD,
Bvt. Maj. Gen., Chief Engineer, Defenses of Washington.

P. S.–I am aware that one regiment, the New York Ninth, has been ordered back, but would wish that the other and far better regiments should likewise come so as to have in each fort gunners and officers familiar with the localities.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 140.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, July 9, 1864.

Colonel TOWNSEND:

All officers and men of the Signal Corps in the Department of Washington will report to General Augur for such temporary duty as he may assign them to.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 140.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 80.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIV., 22D A. C.,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, July 9, 1864.

In compliance with orders from department headquarters, the brigade heretofore designated as the First Brigade of this division will hereafter be designated as the Second Brigade, and the Second Brigade of the division will be designated as the First Brigade.

By command of Brigadier-General Hardin:

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 141.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 168.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D A. C., July 9, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

2. Brig. Gen. M.D. Hardin, U.S. Volunteers, having reported, in accordance with instructions from the War Department, for duty with the Twenty-second Army Corps, is hereby assigned to the command of Haskin's division, headquarters in Washington City.

3. Col. J. M. Warner, First Vermont Heavy Artillery, is assigned to the command of the First Brigade, Haskin's division, headquarters at or in the vicinity of Tennallytown.

4. Lieut. Col. J. A. Haskin, aide-de-camp, is assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, Hardin's division, headquarters at Fort Stevens or Slocum, as he may select.

* * * * * * * * * *

By command of Major-General Augur:

C. H. RAYMOND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 141.

FORT STEVENS, July 12, 1864
(Received 1.30 p.m.)

Major-General AUGUR:

I think as a precaution the garrisons of Forts Foote and Washington should be increased to guard against any raids in that direction.

J. G. BARNARD,
Brevet Major-General, Chief Engineer.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 226.

MRS. McDANIEL'S, July 12, 1864–4.05 p.m.

Major-General AUGUR:

The enemy are just beyond Bladensburg. Fugitive citizens are coming in. I have carefully examined the line of works from Fort Bunker Hill to Fort Lincoln. More troops should be on this part of the line. I saw eight brass field pieces in Fort Lincoln not in use. They ought to be put in position, I think, with men to man them. I am not in command of the line in my front by any orders from you or any one else.

Respectfully,

Q. A. GILLMORE,
Major-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 233.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 12, 1864.

General BARNARD,
Chief Engineer, &c., near Fort Stevens:

Rifle-pits should be prepared between the forts south of the Eastern Branch. Please have it attended to. Designate some one here to supply requisitions for implements, shovels, &c.

C. C. AUGUR,
Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.

If General B. is not at Fort Stevens, please send it to Fort Reno.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 227.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
July 12, 1864.

General C. C. AUGUR,
Commanding Department:

Operator at Tennallytown says General Barnard is on his way to Washington.

D. H. BATES,
Chief Operator.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 227.

WASHINGTON, July 13, 1864,
(Received 10.25 a.m.)

Major-General GILLMORE,
Fort Lincoln, D.C.:

If there be no large force in your front get your troops ready to join General Wright, by the military road, toward Tennallytown, with eight days' small rations in wagons and four days' on the men. Beef will be driven on foot.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 270.

[ORDERS.]

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS,
July 13, 1864–1 p.m.

The corps will move at once along the Military road to Tennally-town, and thence by the River road, via Offutt's Cross-Roads, in the following order: First, First Division, with two batteries; second, Second Division, with one battery; third, Artillery Brigade; fourth, trains. General Getty will detail one brigade as rear guard and flankers for the artillery and trains. The cavalry force now here under Major Thompson will immediately move out upon this road, keeping well in advance of the infantry and covering the front. The cavalry force now on the Rockville road will move on that road, covering the right flank. The cavalry force now near Bladensburg will move at once along the road taken by the troops, and Colonel Lowell, commanding, will report at these headquarters at Tennallytown, as directed by Major-General Augur. The portion of the Nineteenth Corps now here will follow up the movement without delay. Its commanding officer will report at these headquarters on the road for further instructions. The troops will, as far as practicable, keep to the right, giving the road to the artillery and trains.

By command of Major-General Wright:

C. H. WHITTELSEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 286-87.

GENERAL ORDERS No. 2.

HEADQUARTERS MEIGS' DIVISION,
Defenses of Washington, July 14, 1864.

By direction of Major-General McCook, General Rucker's brigade is relieved from duty in the trenches and will return to Washington, where its members–who are civilians in the service of the Quartermaster's Department–will resume their usual duties. The brigade will march this evening as soon as Brigadier-General Rucker, commanding, can make the necessary dispositions. The position will be occupied by the Reserve Brigade. Brevet Major-General Meigs, Quartermaster-General, commanding the division, takes this opportunity to thank the soldiers and the civilians of the Quartermaster's Department for the alacrity and zeal with which they organized and moved to defend the capital, insulted by traitors. The rebel army, under tried and skillful leaders, has looked at and has felt of the northern defenses of Washington. These looked ugly and felt hard. They left their dead unburied, and many of their wounded on the way by which they retired. They will not soon again insult the majesty of a free people in their nation's capital. Under instructions of Major-General Augur, commanding the Department of Washington, the command of the remainder of the division is relinquished to Brigadier-General Paine, U. S. Volunteers, senior officer remaining,

M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster-General, Brevet Major-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 308.

HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Fort Stevens, July 12, 1864.

SIR: Agreeably to your verbal order communicated to me last night, I have the honor to submit the following observations with regard to the status of the forces within the command of Major-General McCook:

Headquarters are located in rear of Fort Stevens. From the right of Stevens to Fort Totten, inclusive, the line is held by forces under command of Major-General McCook, as follows:

From Fort Stevens' left to Fort De Russy troops of Major-General Wright and Major-General McCook are intermixed, those reporting to Major-General McCook, as follows:

No other artillery aside from guns in the forts.

An order has just been issued placing-Brigadier-General Meigs in command of the line from Stevens to Totten, inclusive, Brigadier-Generals Rucker and Paine and Lieutenant-Colonel Haskin reporting to him. The left cannot be so well organized, owing to the intermixing of troops under different commanders. I would respectfully suggest that any future trouble liable to arise with regard to commanders be averted by orders from headquarters.

To the left of Fort Totten there has been very little skirmish or picket firing. In front of Stevens and to the right and left of it firing is quite frequent.

The artillery firing has been from Stevens, De Russy, and Slocum for the purpose of shelling rebel pickets from cover of houses. No artillery or cavalry or any considerable body of infantry have been developed.

Two prisoners belonging to a Georgia regiment, captured by our advanced skirmishers in front of Stevens, say they were of Colonel Cook's brigade, Rodes' division, Early's (formerly Ewell's) corps, consisting of divisions of Rodes, Gordon, and Ramseur; these directly in front of Stevens.

The estimate placed upon this command, including Breckinridge's command, and the irregular Virginia troops is about 30,000, prisoners estimating from 25,000 to 50,000.

General Meigs reports squads of cavalry seen to the right of Totten, thinks the enemy. The enemy maintain a pretty stiff picketline and are not easily driven.

This part of the defense may be regarded as well organized. The line though not strongly defended is capable of resisting successfully a single line assault.

A rebel sharpshooter just wounded severely a soldier standing on the parapet of Fort Stevens.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

N. P. CHIPMAN,
Colonel and Additional Aide-de-Camp.

Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.

ORA, I, 37, Part 1 (serial 70), 234-35.

Report of Acting Rear-Admiral Lee, U. S. Navy, justifying his movement, without orders, for the protection of the capital.

FLAGSHIP MALVERN,
Potomac River, Below Washington, July 14, 1864–p.m.

SIR: Returning on board this afternoon after having reported my arrival in person at the Department, I received the Department's telegram of this date informing me that the Department disapproves my leaving my station without orders in an emergency like the present, and directing me to return to Hampton Roads without anchoring.

I am deeply concerned at this censure of the Department and beg leave to state the circumstances which appear to excuse my coming to assist in the defense of the capital.

It was known that a large rebel force was in Maryland and before Washington; that our forces had been defeated when attempting to repel this advance of the enemy; that the important military supplies at Baltimore and Annapolis had all been embarked ready for removal beyond the reach of the enemy; that the governors of States were trying to get out the militia for the defense of the national capital; that the communications had been cut off by the enemy between Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, and that the telegraph was not working. The Department's telegram of the 10th instant was not received by me at Hampton Roads until 6 p.m. of the 11th instant.

The defenses of Washington, 30 or 40 miles in length, owing to the reinforcements sent thence to the Army of the Potomac, were, it was understood, to depend upon a small garrison mostly of green troops. This defense had been strengthened by a detachment from the Washington navy yard, and as represented in the public prints, by a detachment from the New York navy yard also, sent to man the fortifications around Washington.

I had just sent a division of this squadron, consisting of four steamers with heavy batteries, to Washington, one of which was an ironclad.

In James River and Hampton Roads all was quiet. Obstructions were down in the river and the ironclads and gunboats were watching them and protecting, as for two months past, the communications of the army.

I had done all that was practicable to send cruisers from the roads after the Florida; also to dispatch the blockaders which had come in for coal and repairs to their stations off Wilmington.

I respectfully submit that the emergency appeared to be not there, but here at the national capital. I did not know until my arrival here that large reinforcements had come opportunely from New Orleans, owing to the fortuitous circumstance that the orders for their leaving found them already embarked for an operation in another direction.

Under these circumstances, but for the disapprobation expressed by the Department, I should have always felt that I had acted well in the matter.

The Malvern is now underway for Hampton Roads, where the other vessels from the squadron under my command are returning.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, yours,

S. P. LEE,
Actg. Rear-Admiral, Comdg. North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

NOR, Vol. 10, page 272-73.

361 ELEVENTH STREET,
July 15, 1864–9.30 a.m.

MY DEAR HALLECK: Order Barnard to send an officer of engineers to make a careful measured survey of the rebel trenches at Fort Stevens. McCook rode over the line with me, pointed out lines of battle, recognized by empty ammunition boxes, cartridge package wrappers, &c., and also camps, recognized by camp-fires and old hats, shoes, and the usual
debris of such occupation. McCook feels strongly on the subject, and will go with the officer. In view of the Intelligencer's articles it will be well to have them recorded in official form and get it engraved and published in papers of large circulation. The physical signs are of a large force lying in ambush hoping to tempt an attack by our weak garrison to overthrow and follow them into the lines.

M. C. MEIGS.

[Indorsement.]

JULY 15, 1864.

Major-General AUGUR:

Please direct General Barnard to make the proposed survey.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 333.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 15, 1864.

Major-General BARNARD,
Chief Engineer, Department of Washington:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding desires that you send a competent officer of engineers to make a measured survey of the position occupied by the rebels in front of our lines, especially the front covering Stevens, Slocum, and De Russy.

Very respectfully, general, your most obedient servant,

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 334

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 175.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
July 16, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

4. In accordance with instructions from the headquarters of the Army, Maj. Gen. A. McD. McCook, U.S. Volunteers, is relieved from duty in this department, and will report in person to the Adjutant-General of the Army.

5. Maj. Gen. A. Doubleday and Brig. Gen. H. E. Paine, U.S. Volunteers, are relieved from duty in the defenses of Washington, and will reassume their duties on the military courts of which they are members.

* * * * * * * * * *

By command of Major-General Augur:

C. H. RAYMOND,
Assistant Adjutant-General

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 352.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIVISION, 22D ARMY CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D.C., July 18, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of Washington :

I have the honor to make the following report concerning the amount of force I deem necessary to hold the defenses north of the Potomac against a coup de main or sudden attack such as we have recently been threatened with: One regiment of heavy artillery from Fort Sumner, Md., to Fort Reno, D.C.; one from Fort Reno, D.C., to Fort Stevens, D. C.; one from Fort Stevens to Fort Lincoln, D.C.: one south of the Eastern Branch, with three regiments of 100-days' men, or other infantry regiments, each 1,000 strong, and at least one company of mounted men to each brigade. These heavy artillery regiments should have now 1,000 men for duty. There is reason to suppose they would receive from 300 to 500 men in addition during the course of two or three weeks from different sources. There is a large amount of work to be done outside the line of forts within range of the guns, and a picket-line should be kept up throughout the line. There is little encouragement to teach 100-days' men the service of heavy guns, and they cannot be taught mechanical maneuvers in the time of their enlistment.

I am, colonel, your obedient servant,

M. D. HARDIN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 375.

HEADQUARTERS DE RUSSY'S DIVISION,
Arlington, Va., July 18, 1864.

Col. GEORGE W. GILE,
Commanding Brigade, Veteran Reserve Corps:

COLONEL: The following telegram has just been received:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
July 18, 1864.

Brigadier-General DE RUSSY:

General Augur directs that you send the Sixth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps to report to Colonel Wisewell, Military Governor District of Columbia. Please notify these headquarters of its departure.

C. H. RAYMOND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

You will carry out the above order and notify these headquarters when the regiment moves, and the general commanding wishes that one regiment be retained on duty on Columbia pike.

By command of Brigadier-General De Russy:

THOS. THOMPSON,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 375.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 19, 1864.

Brevet Major-General BARNARD,
Chief Engineer, Department of Washington:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say, in reply to your communication of this date, that it is not practicable to furnish a working detail of 1,000 men on the Eastern Branch front. Brigadier-General Hardin, commanding division, has been instructed to employ as many men as can be taken from the garrisons, in the manner indicated by you.

I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 385.

[CIRCULAR.]

CHIEF QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE,
Washington Depot, July 19, 1864.

The following extracts from letters of the Quartermaster-General, dated the 16th instant, relative to the continuation of the military organizations of the employés of the Quartermaster's Department, are published for the information and guidance of the officers and employés of the depot:

The organization of the clerks, workmen, and laborers of the Quartermaster's Department will be kept up; and to make it more efficient a certain time should be devoted to drill at regular periods.

The officers should have letters of appointment from the Quartermaster-General, upon your nomination, unless the Secretary should consent to sign the appointments. This will be submitted to him. All persons employed by the department should wear the Quartermaster's Department badge, for which you will please make the necessary arrangements. Those who actually took the field during the late demonstration against Washington should wear this badge of white metal upon a patch of red cloth, circular in shape, showing one-eighth or one-quarter inch around the edge of the badge. By devoting a little time to this matter, I am of the opinion that a force of 5,000 or 6,000 effective men for the aid of the garrison at Washington can be raised.

When tolerably familiar with the school of the soldier, they will be assembled in larger bodies and drilled occasionally by battalions and brigade. Those of the Quartermaster's Department should be organized into a brigade. The other Departments can probably furnish a second brigade, and the emulation between the two will have a good effect. Bugles, flags, and the necessary equipage for drill should be provided and placed in the armories. I prefer the bugle to the drum. Cooking equipage and sheltertents for as large a body as can probably be made movable should also be stored at some central armory, to be carried to the field when needed in wagons; knapsacks and blankets will not be wanted.

The Quartermaster-General directs that the military organization of the depot employes into companies and regiments to for/n one brigade to be commanded by you (General D. H. Rucker)be made as soon as practicable. Each company will consist of captain, one first lieutenant, five sergeants, five corporals, and 100 privates. Each regiment will have one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, one major, one adjutant (a lieutenant), one quartermaster and acting commissary of subsistence (a lieutenant), one sergeant-major, one quartermaster's sergeant, and one commissary sergeant. If a sufficient number of musicians can be found among the men each company will be allowed two. Suitable persons for the field and staff officers of regiments and for line officers will be recommended to the Quartermaster-General. Their appointments will be subject to the revocation of the Quartermaster-General. The appointment of non-commissioned officers will be made as prescribed in the Army Regulations.

Colonels will be selected from the commissioned officers of the Army and volunteers on duty at the depot; lieutenant-colonels in the same manner; majors from clerks and superintendents, captains from the superintendents, overseers, and wagon-masters, and lieutenants and non-commissioned officers from the same. All employés whose services can practicably and without detriment to the public service be spared will attend daily drills. Instructions will be given in Casey's Infantry Tactics, commencing with the school of the soldier; especial attention being given to the manual of arms, and that the men be habituated to load and fire with facility and accuracy. In view of furnishing uniform clothing to the brigade, a list of the sizes with number of each size of the following-named articles will be made and forwarded to this office as soon as practicable, viz: Flannel sack-coats, trousers (foot), and forage caps. The clothing will not be issued until the question of such issue is decided by the Secretary of War, to whom it is to be submitted. Report the location of the armories, and what arrangements can be made for the preservation and care of the uniforms should they be issued for drill. The War Department will be requested to order an officer of the Adjutant-General's Department to report to the Quartermaster-General to act as adjutant and inspector of the whole organization.

The organization of the companies and regiments to form the brigade as directed by the Quartermaster-General is intrusted to Capt. E. E. Camp, assistant quartermaster, to be assisted by Capt. Charles H. Tompkins, assistant quartermaster. These officers will enter upon this duty immediately and complete the organization with as little delay as possible. A list of the names of the regimental and company officers will be sent to this office as soon as the regiments are organized, together with a complete return of each regiment showing its strength and organization. The points at which the armories are located and where the several companies are directed to rendezvous will also be stated. Captain Camp is authorized to give all orders necessary to carry out the instructions of the Quartermaster-General and to perfect the organization required.

D. H. RUCKER,
Brigadier-General and Quartermaster.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 385-87.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 19, 1864.

Brig. Gen. M.D. HARDIN,
Commanding Division:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding desires that all men who can be spared from the garrisons of the works constituting the front, east, and south of the Eastern Branch, be employed in clearing the approaches of brush, &c., commencing on the crests, &c., where the enemy, in developing himself, would naturally establish sharpshooters and his skirmishers. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 387.

ALEXANDRIA, July 19, 1864.
(Received 8.45 p.m.)

Colonel TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: The patrols report all quiet to-day; it is reported that the pickets of the enemy were quite strong on Grove Creek yesterday.

H. H. WELLS,
Lieut. Col., Prov. Mar. Gen., Defenses South of the Potomac.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 387.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near Fort Buffalo, Va., July 19, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report all quiet in this vicinity, Two scouting parties came in to-day from the direction of Aldie and report nothing in that vicinity but small parties.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. M. LAZELLE,
Colonel Sixteenth New York Cavalry, Comdg. Brig.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 387.

HEADQUARTERS HARDIN'S DIVISION,
July 19, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the-following report of the operations of my command on the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th instant:

On the night of the 10th I was ordered to make my headquarters at Tennallytown. I learned before leaving the city that Major-General McCook was to command a reserve force to be stationed at Crystal Spring. I left the city about 11 p.m. The last report from Major Fry, commanding the cavalry on the Rockville road being that he was falling back and would make a stand just outside of Tennallytown, the enemy pushing him back rapidly. Upon arriving at Fort Reno, headquarters First Brigade, Colonel Warner commanding, I felt assured there was not so evident danger to the defenses as I was led to suppose from the cavalry reports. Everything was very quiet. Colonel Warner had made good dispositions of his troops, and the Veteran Reserves were coming up rapidly. Colonel Gile, with First Brigade of Veteran Reserves reported about midnight.

Colonel Lowell, Second Massachusetts Cavalry, having moved out at daylight Monday morning, in command of all the available cavalry, commenced skirmishing. About 6.30 a.m. the enemy's advance fell back several miles to their reserves, when they began forcing Colonel Lowell's command back. The enemy occasionally fired a small rifled gun near the road. Colonel Lowell remained on infantry picket-line. Cavalry scouts were sent out the River and Aqueduct roads. No enemy reported in that direction. Heavy clouds of dust and occasionally troops and wagons were seen from signal station at Fort Reno, moving apparently from Rockville in direction of Seventh-street pike. General McCook was notified, the skirmish line strengthened from Fort Reno to Rock Creek, and a proper disposition of the infantry supports made. Skirmishing was quite brisk on the right near Rock Creek until dark.

During the night of the 11th the pickets were very much strengthened from Brookeville road to Rock Creek: One company of Veteran Reserves, under Captain Clark, Sixth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, made a gallant effort to take a barn which the enemy were using to advantage against our skirmishers in front of Fort De Russy. Captain Clark was slightly wounded and many of his company were wounded. These very efforts and the determined way of holding the picket-line showed the enemy that he would have to make a desperate assault to carry this portion of the line, which I believe one of the weakest points on the front. This resistance on the picket-line and the advance of the Sixth Corps skirmishers it is considered made the enemy think we were prepared for an assault.

I respectfully call attention to the reports of the brigade commanders appended. Such telegrams as are in my reach are appended. Many, I think were carried off by the operators. My adjutantgeneral had to remain in the city. I sent my inspector-general, Captain Markle, to the Second Brigade. There did not appear to be sufficient attention paid to pickets on that front. He was put there to represent me as far as possible. I think the enemy would not have gotten so close to Fort Stevens if the picket-line had been strengthened as promptly as it was in the First Brigade upon the first appearance of the enemy's skirmishers. Upon personal application, I obtained a regiment from General McCook on Monday afternoon, after visiting Fort Slocum, to put out as a skirmish line, connecting with the Sixth Corps and reaching to the Eastern Branch. Before this nothing but a line of observation had been before that front. No report has as yet been received from Colonel Lowell, commanding the cavalry. The enemy fell back Tuesday night. They were promptly followed up the Rockville road by Colonel Lowell's cavalry.

Lists of killed and wounded are appended. Many wounded were sent at once into the city; it is very difficult to get accurate lists of them.

I have the honor to mention Col. J. M. Warner, First Vermont Artillery, commanding First Brigade, for his coolness and perfect understanding of his position; also Colonel Lowell, Second Massachusetts Cavalry, commanding the cavalry. The information given by him was always reliable. I am indebted to Colonel Gile, commanding First Brigade, Veteran Reserve Corps, and to the officers and men of that corps for our principal success.

I have the honor to mention my staff–Captain Chandler, assistant adjutant-general; Captain Markle, acting assistant inspector-general; Lieutenant Waterbury, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, acting aidede-camp; Lieutenant Carroll, Fifth U.S. Artillery, acting aide-de-camp; Captain Nesmith, assistant quartermaster, and Lieutenant Hough, Ninth New York Artillery, ordnance officer; in so long a line, were kept almost constantly in the saddle and most cheerfully performed all duties required of them.

Reports of firing in action are herewith inclosed.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

M.D. HARDIN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Lieut. Col. JOSEPH H. TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ADDENDA.

HEADQUARTERS HARDIN'S DIVISION,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS, DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
July 14, 1864.

Surg. R. O. ASBOTT, U.S. Army,
Medical Director, Department of Washington:

I have the honor to submit the following list of casualties on the line of defenses north of the Potomac, from July 11 to 14, inclusive, belonging to Twenty-second Corps:

ROBERT REYBURN,
Surgeon, U.S. Vols., Surgeon-in-Chief, Hardin's Division.

ORA, I, 37, Part 1 (serial 70), 236-37.

CITY POINT, VA., July 20, 1864.

Major-General MEADE:

A call is made for one more regiment of heavy artillery for the defenses of Washington. You may designate one, to be sent back as soon as the Sixth Corps begins to return.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

ORA, I, 40, Part 3 (serial 82), 345.

CITY POINT, July 20, 1864–2 p.m.
(Received 9.35 p.m.)

Major-General HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:

If General Barnard can be spared from Washington I would like to have him ordered back to the field. If he cannot be spared now send him as soon as he can be conveniently spared. I think immediate steps should be taken for completing and connecting the fortifications about Baltimore. The officers in charge of the works about Washington can take charge of those of Baltimore also. I have heard nothing of the determination come to on my recommendation about the merging of the four departments about Washington into one.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 400.

WASHINGTON, July 21, 1864–<11.30 a.m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,
City Point, Va.:

General Barnard is ordered to report to you. Engineer officers have been sent several times to Baltimore to lay out the works. Some are there now. I think, from personal examination, that they are better located than the defenses of Washington. It appears that Early sent a small force south with his plunder, and massed the rest near Winchester. General Averell had a skirmish there yesterday, and reports having killed and wounded over 300 rebels, taking 200 prisoners and 4 pieces of artillery. Nothing heard from Wright for three days. When he received your orders he replied that he would return as soon as assured of rebel retreat. Your telegram about merging departments is in the hands of the Secretary of War. I have no good reason for removing or superseding General Augur. He is capable and efficient. General Franklin would not give satisfaction. The President ordered him to be tried for negligence and disobedience of orders when here before, but General McClellan assumed the responsibility of his repeated delays in obeying orders.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.

ORA, I, 40, Part 3 (serial 82), 360.

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF ENGINEER OF DEFENSES,
Washington, July 22, 1864.

Maj. Gen. C. C. AUGUR,
Commanding Department of Washington:

GENERAL: In compliance with your directions, I have caused the ground occupied by the rebel troops to be surveyed and the locations of camps noted, and send you a sketch(*) herewith; also a report of Lieutenant Oberteuffer and Mr. Hergesheimer (U.S. Coast Survey) on the subject. No very definite statement of actual numbers was obtained, but it is certain that, besides the 1,500 cavalry which approached Tennallytown, on the Rockville road, and the cavalry which encamped at Silver Spring, very heavy bodies of infantry came up on the Seventh-street road, bivouacking from Silver Spring to Batchelor's, two miles distant. Twenty pieces of artillery are known to have been brought up to Silver Spring and five pieces were with McCausland's command. The belief that a very considerable force advanced from Rockville to Leesborough on Monday was founded by myself upon observations made from Fort Reno on Monday of dust; not upon any given appearance of dust at one moment, but upon the permanence of its exhibition at the same points, indicating the continued occupation of the road by marching columns. For hours such dust clouds appeared on the road from Rockville to Leesborough on Monday; indeed they were seen by me from about 8 a.m. till 2 p.m., and observed by others during the rest of the day.

The statement of persons in the vicinity confirm the observations from Fort Reno, as they generally give to the time the columns were passing given points, both in advance and retreat, a duration of nearly twelve hours. The line marked "rebel skirmish line" was marked by the hasty cover of fence rails, earth, &c., thrown up, as well as by the remnants of cartridges, ammunition-boxes, and other relics. On the other side of the road in the woods opposite Silver Spring a line of relics has been traced which has been supposed to have been a line of battle, but which Lieutenant Oberteuffer considered a mere line of communication with the cavalry camp.

I am, very respectfully, your most obedient,

J. G. BARNARD.

P. S.–By orders from headquarters U.S. Army, I leave tomorrow to report to General Grant. During my absence Colonel Alexander, it is presumed, will act as chief engineer of the defenses of Washington.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF ENGINEER OF DEFENSES,
Washington, July 21, 1864.

Maj. Gen. J. G. BARNARD,
Chief Engineer:

GENERAL: We respectfully report the following as the result of our examination of the ground lately occupied by the rebels, made in obedience to your orders: The rebel force approached Washington by two roads from Rockville–the Seventh-street road and the turnpike road through Tennallytown. The force on the Tennallytown road was McCausland's brigade of cavalry and mounted infantry, consisting of five regiments, three of which were the Twenty-second Virginia Mounted Infantry, Twenty-second and Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry; in all, about 1,500 men, including Jackson's battery of artillery, five guns. This force arrived about 8 o'clock on Monday morning and left during Tuesday night and were picketed along the road both sides of the fences, extending from Mr. Hawn's house to the old church. The main force, under General Early, passed down the Seventh-street road, the rear, consisting of Echols' and Wharton's brigades, reached and encamped on Mr. Batchelor's place about 6 o'clock Monday evening. Most of this force was encamped along the Seventhstreet road between Batchelor's and Blair's. Two small cavalry camps to the eastward, near the Sligo, were formed apparently as a rendezvous for roving bands of cavalry in search of horses, &c., and for observations on their extreme left.

The road marked on the accompanying sketch,(*) passing by Judge Dunlop's house near Rock Creek, was used as a line of communication between McCausland's and the main force, and by General Williams' brigade of infantry on the retreat Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Batchelor, who lives on the Seventh-street road about two miles above Blair's, states that the rebels commenced passing his house toward Washington about 9 o'clock Monday morning (July 11). All of the cavalry had not passed until about 12 m., when they were followed by a body of sappers and miners, or infantry with picks and shovels, and that the infantry and artillery continued to pass constantly until 6 o'clock in the evening, when the rear guard, consisting of the brigades of Generals Echols and Wharton, encamped or bivouacked near his house on the side toward Washington. The rear guard remained near his house till Tuesday evening about 7 o'clock, when they were the first to commence the retreat, carrying the wagons with them. Mr. Batchelor states that he remained on his front porch all night while the rebels were retreating; that in the retreat there were only three halts of about fifteen minutes each, and that the rear guard, consisting of about 2,000 cavalry, had not all passed until 5 o'clock Wednesday morning. Mr. Batchelor estimates the artillery at twenty pieces. Mr. Davis, who keeps the toll-gate at Silver Spring, saw the artillery pass his place to Blair's place, where it was parked, and estimates it at about twenty pieces. Mrs. Barnes, who lives at the upper end of Blair's place, was at home all the time the rebels were in the neighborhood. The first rebel killed by our pickets fell and was buried near her house. The rebels bivouacked around her house. She frequently heard their conversation, and from what she heard says their force was 30,000, and that their purpose was to make an attack early on Tuesday morning. Says she frequently saw Generals Early and Breckinridge, and was questioned by General Early as to the number and characters of the garrisons of the forts in front.

Very respectfully submitted.

J. H. OBERTEUFFER, JR.,
Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

E. HERGESHEIMER,
U.S. Coast Survey.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 414-16.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, VETERAN RESERVE CORPS,
Washington, D.C., July 22, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the First Brigade, Veteran Reserve Corps, during the late rebel invasion:

Pursuant to orders received from headquarters Military District, dated July 10, 1864, the Ninth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Lieut. Col. R. E. Johnston commanding, left Camp Fry, D.C., at 4 p.m. and reported to Major-General McCook, commanding at Crystal Spring, Md., at 8 p.m.. and bivouacked for the night, the rest of the brigade remaining in camp (with orders to be ready to move at short notice) until 6 p.m., when I received orders to report without delay to you. I immediately ordered the regiments of the brigade to rendezvous at Camp Fry, and at 9.15 p.m. the brigade took up the line of march, arriving at Tennallytown at 11.15 p.m., when, in accordance with your instructions, the following disposition was made of the command: The Twenty-second Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Lieut. Col. A. Rutherford commanding, was placed in the rifle-pits in front of Fort Sumner; the Sixth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Lieut. Col. F. S. Palmer commanding, in rifle-pits on the left of Fort Reno and directly in front of Tennallytown, its right resting on the Rockville pike; the First Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Lieutenant-Colonel Trotter commanding, on the right of Fort Reno in the rifle-pits; the Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth Regiments, commanded respectively by Col. O. V. Dayton and Maj. J. W. H. Stickney, massed in column of division directly in rear of Fort Reno.

The brigade bivouacked for the night, and at I a.m. July 11th the Ninth Regiment formed line of battle and remained in that position until 7 a.m., when they were ordered to occupy the rifle-pits on the left of Fort Stevens. The Twenty-fourth Regiment was then moved to Fort Mansfield, the remainder of the brigade remaining in the same position, excepting one company of the Nineteenth Regiment, which was thrown out on the Rockville pike as pickets, and shortly after taking its position was attacked by the enemy, but held its position until relieved, with a loss of 2 men wounded. At 2.30 p.m. orders were received making the following changes in the line: The First Regiment was sent from Fort Reno to rifle-pits on the left of Battery Smead; the Sixth and Nineteenth Regiments to Fort De Russy, the former, occupying the rifle-pits on the right of the fort and reaching to Rock Creek, the latter in the rifle-pits connecting Battery Smead and Fort De Russy. The Twenty-second Regiment moved from Fort Sumner to Fort Kearny and took possession of the rifle-pits in front of the fort. At 4 p.m. the Ninth Regiment was ordered to advance as skirmishers and relieve the Twenty-fifth New York Cavalry (dismounted). After a brisk engagement, in which the regiment lost 1 killed and 11 wounded, they succeeded in relieving the cavalry and advancing the line some distance to the front, and remained on the skirmish line until the advance of the Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac, which relieved seven companies, three companies remaining on the line. After 5 p.m. three companies of the Nineteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, one company of the Sixth and one company of the First Regiments were deployed as skirmishers in the front and on the flanks of Fort De Russy and Battery Smead, and succeeded in advancing the line some 1,500 yards to the front. The same hour the Twenty-fourth Regiment was ordered from Fort Mansfield to Fort De Russy, and shortly after arriving at that point was sent back to Fort Reno, occupying the rifle-pits on the right of the fort. At 7.30 p.m. the enemy was seen re-enforcing his lines. I accordingly sent the Sixth Regiment to strengthen the skirmish line on the right and Center, and six companies of the Twenty-second Regiment on the left of the line. Our skirmish line now extended from the Rockville pike on the left to about 2,000 yards beyond Rock Creek on the right.

At 3 a.m. July 12 the whole command was under arms. At 6 a.m. I ordered Col. F. S. Palmer, commanding the right of the skirmish line, to advance his line and take possession of a hill about a quarter of a mile in advance, then occupied by rebel sharpshooters, who were annoying our line very much. This was accomplished after considerable resistance from the enemy, with the loss of 1 man wounded. The left and center of the line, which was composed of three companies of the Nineteenth Regiment and six companies of the Twenty-second Regiment, also moved forward until the left of the line was nearly two miles in advance of the defenses. At 7 o'clock the Twenty-fourth Regiment moved from Fort Sumner to Fort Kearny. At I p.m. I relieved the Sixth Regiment, which was on the skirmish line, by the First Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps. At 2 p.m. I received orders to send one regiment to Fort Reno. My command at that time was in such a position that I was compelled to send the Sixth Regiment, which had just been relieved from picket. This regiment on arriving at Fort Reno was ordered to occupy the riflepits extending from Fort Reno to the left of the Rockville pike. In addition to this it furnished three commissioned officers and eighty-two enlisted men for picket. At 5 p.m. the First Regiment was relieved by the Twenty-fifth Regiment New York Cavalry (dismounted) and occupied the rifle-pits vacated by the Sixth Regiment. Having received information that the enemy were planting some artillery on the right of a building in front of our lines, at 5 p.m. I ordered Captain Clark, Company H, Sixth Regiment, to advance his company and ascertain if such was the fact, and if so, to burn the building occupied by the rebel sharpshooters. He obeyed the order promptly and drove the rebel skirmishers beyond the building, but was here confronted by a reserve of about 200; maintaining his position he made a personal observation and found the report to be incorrect, when in obedience to instructions from me he withdrew his force in a manner highly creditable to himself and men. Captain Clark and four of his men were wounded in this reconnaissance. At 7.30 p.m. the enemy sent forward a force to strengthen their line on our right. A sharp skirmish ensued in which the enemy was compelled to withdraw.

At 12 p.m. I received orders to have the command up and under arms at once, which order I complied with and remained in that position until 5 a.m. July 13, when I sent out one commissioned officer and ten privates to reconnoiter and ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy. They advanced several miles and found that they had withdrawn their picket-line and retreated during the night. This fact I immediately reported to headquarters. At 7.30 a.m. six companies of the Sixth Regiment were ordered to proceed about six miles on the Rockville pike, to support a section of artillery and Colonel Lowell's cavalry, then engaging the enemy. At 12.30 p.m. all troops of the brigade then on the skirmish line, except the Ninth Regiment, were relieved and took their former positions in the rifle-pits. At 2 p.m. the Sixth Regiment returned to Fort Reno. At 8.40 p.m. I received your order to report with my command without delay to General De Russy at Arlington. This order was obeyed as promptly as possible, and at 2 p.m. July 14 I reported with all my command, except the Ninth Regiment, to General De Russy.

Our loss during the skirmish in the defenses north of the city was:(*)

The conduct of officers and men of the various regiments of the brigade was unexceptionable. I should deem it unjust to particularize those whom opportunity made conspicuous, satisfied that all fully appreciated the great responsibility resting upon them, knew their duty, and performed it. Regimental reports+ herewith inclosed rehearse in detail the several duties performed by them during our brief campaign.

All of which is very respectfully submitted by very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. W. GILE,
Colonel, Comdg. First Brigade, Veteran Reserve Corps.

Colonel WARNER,
Comdg. Defenses of Washington near Tennallytown.

ORA, I, 37, Part 1 (serial 70), 343-45.

CITY POINT, VA., July 22, 1864–9 p.m.
(Received 7 a.m. 23d.)

Major-General HALLECK, Washington, D.C.:

Your dispatch of 10 a.m. today received. I telegraphed several days ago to retain Wright and the other forces until the retreat of Early was fully assured, and asked if Wright and Hunter were not strong enough to attack him. You need not send any troops back until the main force of the enemy is known to have left the Valley. Is Wright still where he can act in conjunction with Hunter? If the two can push the enemy back and destroy railroads from Charlottesville to Gordonsville, I would prefer that service to having them here.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 413-14.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 180.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
July 22, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

2. The tête-du-pont at Chain Bridge and the bridge is hereby attached to the First Brigade, De Russy's division. The commander of that brigade will detail a permanent guard of one company to take charge of the bridge and guns covering it.

3. Capt. George West, Veteran Reserve Corps, now on duty at Chain Bridge, is hereby relieved, and will report for duty with his detachment to Col. M. N. Wisewell, Military Governor of Washington.

* * * * * * * * * *

By command of Major-General Augur:

C. H. RAYMOND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 416.

HDQRS. SECOND REGT. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA VOLS.,
Camp near Fort Slocum, D.C., July 23, 1864.

GENERAL: In obedience to Special Orders, No. 9, dated headquarters Northeast Defenses of Washington, D.C., Fort Lincoln, July 11, 1864, I have the honor to forward the military history and operations of the Second Regiment District of Columbia Volunteers, commanded by Col. C. M. Alexander.

On the 10th instant we received orders to strike tents at Edsall Station, Va., where we were then stationed, and report to Maj. Gen. C. C. Augur. Having reported, the regiment was ordered to report to Major-General McCook, commanding reserve camp near Fort Stevens, D. C.

We arrived there about 9 a.m. on the 11th instant, and about 11 p. m. we manned the breastworks and rifle-pits on the right of Fort Stevens. At 1 p.m. of the same date a detail of 100 men was sent out as skirmishers, and at sunset they were relieved by a portion of the Sixth Army Corps.

On the 12th instant, about 4 p.m., we were relieved by the Second Provisional Regiment, and were ordered to move to the rear of Fort Slocum. The regiment laid there until 9.30 p.m., when we were ordered to report to Major-General Gillmore at Fort Saratoga. We encamped for the night near Fort Thayer.

On the morning of the 14th instant we were ordered to report to Brigadier-General Paine at Fort Slocum. At that time Colonel Alexander was placed in command of the First Provisional Brigade and the command devolved on Lieut. Col. William O. Drew.

On the 15th instant Colonel Farnsworth, then commanding Second Reserve Brigade, was ordered to report for duty at Alexandria, Va., and the command of the brigade was on Lieut. Col. William O. Drew, and from that date the regiment was and is commanded by Capt. William F. Steele. Although the skirmishing was very brisk there have been no casualties to our knowledge. The whole regiment signified their willingness to take position in the skirmish line, but owing to short range and inferior kind of arm the commanding general deemed it inexpedient for them to expose themselves unnecessarily.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. O. DREW,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Brig. Gen. M. C. MEIGS.

ORA, I, 37, Part I, (serial 70), 263-64.

DAYTON, OHIO, July 25, 1864.
Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff, Department of Washington:

COLONEL: Please find inclosed a hasty and succinct report of military operations in front of Washington, D.C., during the 10th, 11th, and 12th of July. The report is necessarily imperfect in detail, but it is deemed sufficient as a matter of record.

I am, colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. McD. McCOOK,
Major-General of Volunteers.

[Inclosure.]

DAYTON, OHIO, July 25, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit a succinct report of the military operations in front of Washington, D.C., pending the advance upon it by a portion of the rebel army commanded by General Early.

Reporting in person at the War Department on the morning of July 10, I was directed to report to Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck. U.S. Army, who assigned me to duty in the Department of Washington, to command a reserve camp to be located on or near Piney Branch Creek, about midway between Washington and Fort Stevens on the north. In company with Lieut. Col. B. S. Alexander, U.S. Engineers, I at once proceeded to examine the ground for the camp, also to make a hasty examination of the fortifications on the north of Washington. Returning at 6 p.m., and receiving my final instructions from Maj. Gen. C. C. Augur, commanding department, I proceeded to Piney Branch, where the Second Regiment District of Columbia Volunteers, Colonel Alexander, and the Ninth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston, Captain Gibbs' (Ohio) battery, and Captain Bradbury's (Maine) battery had already reported.

Monday morning discovered the fact that the only troops on the north of Washington were the small garrisons in the forts, small detachments of cavalry in the front, and the troops above mentioned. Hearing of the near approach of the enemy, the idea of a reserve camp was at once abandoned and every man was brought forward and posted in the rifle-pits to the best advantage, and as strong a skirmish line as was prudent established. During the morning several additional regiments of the Veteran Reserve Corps and several detachments of dismounted cavalry reported for duty. They were posted in the rifle-pits on either side of the main road leading to Silver Spring. Captain Berry, of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, being stationed with his company on the road leading from Silver Spring to Leesborough, dispatched a courier at 10 a.m. the 11th, informing me that the enemy was advancing in force on that road with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. At 12 m. a strong line of the enemy's skirmishers came in view, advancing upon our position. The picket-line at this moment was composed of 100-days' men of One hundred and fiftieth Ohio, and a portion of the Twentyfifth New York Cavalry (dismounted). Being satisfied that they could not contend favorably against the enemy's line, were ordered to fall back slowly, fighting, until they reached the rifle-pits. Fire was then opened at proper points upon our line, and the enemy was held in check until the dismounted of the Second Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, 600 strong, commanded by Maj. George G. Briggs, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, were made ready to go out, drive the enemy back, and re-establish our picket-line. This was handsomely done about 1.30 p.m., the enemy's skirmishers being forced back, and our line well established at 1,100 yards in front of the works. The enemy not developing any force other than their skirmish line, affairs remained in this condition until evening. About 3 p.m. Maj. Gen. H. G. Wright, U.S. Volunteers, commanding the Sixth Army Corps, reported to me at Fort Stevens, informing me that the advance of his corps would be up in a short time. I directed him to furnish a force 900 strong of this veteran corps for picket duty during the night, constant skirmishing being kept up between the lines until after dark on the 11th instant. At 9 p.m. Brig. Gen. M. C. Meigs, Quartermaster-General U.S. Army, reported at Fort Stevens with about 1,500 quartermaster employés, armed and equipped. They were at once ordered into position near Fort Slocum, placed on right and left in rifle-pits. At 10 p.m. Colonel Price reported with about 2,800 convalescents and men from hospitals, organized into a provisional brigade composed of men from nearly every regiment of the Army of the Potomac. They were ordered into position in rear of Fort Slocum, as information received led me to believe that the enemy would demonstrate farther to our right.

At 12.30 a.m. on the 11th the following telegraphic order was received:

Major-General Gillmore, U.S. Volunteers, with a portion of the Nineteenth Corps, is assigned to command the line from Fort Lincoln to Fort Totten. Brig. Gen. M. C. Meigs, Quartermaster-General, to command the line from Fort Totten to Fort De Russy. Brig. Gen. M.D. Hardin, U.S. Volunteers, to command from Fort De Russy to Fort Sumner, inclusive. The Sixth Corps, Maj. Gen. H.G. Wright, U.S. Volunteers, commanding, to be held in reserve, and the entire line, and troops to be commanded by Maj. Gen. A. McD. McCook, U.S. Volunteers.

This order was complied with, with the exception to hold the Sixth Corps entire in reserve. I deemed it absolutely necessary that the immediate front should be picketed by experienced men.

At dawn on the morning of the 12th the sharpshooters of the enemy opened fire upon our skirmish line, which had been intrenched during the night. This fire was kept up from both lines during the day. The enemy, on retiring their line on the evening of the 11th, seized and retained possession of a house on the right of the Silver Spring road, situated on an elevated piece of ground, surrounded by an orchard and large shade trees (Rives), which afforded excellent cover for sharpshooters, and commanded our advance line. They also posted sharpshooters in Mrs. Lay's house to the left of the road. From these two points our skirmish line was very much annoyed by the enemy, they killing and wounding about 30 of our skirmishers during the day. I determined these two points must be carried. General Wright was ordered to furnish a brigade to make the assault (as I had failed to carry these points with Captain Beattie's sharpshooters, of General Getty's division, Sixth Corps). Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton, U.S. Volunteers, was ordered to direct the movements of the assaulting troops. These troops having gained their position previous to assault at about 6 p.m., the two positions held by the enemy were vigorously shelled from Fort Stevens. Then at a signal Wheaton's troops dashed forward, and, after a spirited contest, gained the ground. This attack developed new forces of the enemy that had been concealed in a ravine beyond Mrs. Lay's house, and in the depression beyond the copse on the right of the road. The enemy's line was re-enforced by at least a brigade, the contest was kept up until after dark, we having gained all the ground desired, and rude intrenchments were thrown up upon it.

That night the enemy withdrew their forces from our front. At dawn on the 13th none of them could be seen. Two companies of infantry were at once deployed as skirmishers, their flanks covered by a few mounted men, and pushed forward to gain all the information possible. Going forward in person I found nothing but the deserted camps of the enemy, and a few stragglers; also a hospital at Sligo Post-Office, containing about 70 rebels wounded too severely to be moved, 11 of them commissioned officers, including surgeons and attendants–about 90 in all.

The prisoners taken between Fort Stevens and Leesborough numbered not less than 200, including the hospital. The number killed and wounded of the enemy I am unable to state, as all those who could be transported were taken away. Their loss must have been equal to, if not greater than, ours, our loss being about 250 killed and wounded. The Sixth Corps marching next day, I am unable to give the loss accurately.

A special report should be made by General H. G. Wright, commanding the corps, and it is left to him to do justice to the gallant officers and men of his command who behaved so well in this spirited affair–small, yet a very important one, as it was one of the causes that induced the enemy to abandon their idea of attacking Washington.

I am satisfied the rebel force which confronted Washington was not less than 30,000. Ewell's old corps (entire), consisting of three divisions, commanded respectively by Generals Rodes, Gordon, and Ransom, was encamped upon F. P. Blair, sr.'s, farm. Breckinridge's command, consisting of about 10,000 infantry, was farther back and in the vicinity of Leesborough. My estimate of their forces was made from the most reliable sources possible, and all evidences show their force to have been divided as follows:

Having instructions to hold the Sixth Corps in reserve, a further explanation may be necessary for the attack ordered on the evening of the 12th:

First. The points assailed were commanding ones when in possession of the enemy enfiladed and commanded a portion of the picket-line necessary to be maintained in front of the works.

Second. These points in our possession gave us observation over a ravine to the left and a depression of ground on the right of the Silver Spring road, not in view from the forts, and in which the enemy could mass a large force.

Third. It was believed that the veterans of this corps could do the work better, and with less loss of life, than the other troops under my command.

There are other and minor reasons, but these are deemed sufficient.

My thanks are due to Maj. Gen. H. G. Wright, U.S. Volunteers, for his earnest co-operation in every duty.

To Brig. Gen. M. C. Meigs, Quartermaster-General U.S. Army, commanding the line from Fort Totten to De Russy, my thanks are due for his willing and untiring discharge of duty.

Brig. Gen. D. H. Rucker, U.S. Volunteers, commanding quartermaster employés; Brig. Gen. H. E. Paine, commanding line on right of Fort Stevens, and Brig. Gen. M.D. Hardin, U.S. Volunteers, commanding the line from Fort De Russy to Sumner, have my thanks for their valuable assistance in properly maintaining the portions of the line intrusted to their care.

Lieut. Col. B. S. Alexander, U.S. Engineers, was of great service in furnishing maps and explaining lines and roads.

Capt. Charles Dupont, Thirteenth Michigan Battery, deserves great credit for the skill displayed in directing the artillery of Fort Stevens.

Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, One hundred and fiftieth Ohio (100-days' men), displayed efficiency and zeal during the 11th and 12th instant.

The officers and soldiers of the Veteran Reserve Corps deserve great commendation for the prompt and zealous discharge of every duty in their power to perform. I would respectfully recommend that this corps be armed with the improved muskets. The Second Regiment District of Columbia Volunteers is also armed with the old musket. A change is also recommended for them.

I regret that I cannot at this distant point recall the names of the commanders of detachments who reported to me, but I may hazard the remark, there never was before a command so heterogeneous, yet so orderly. The hale and hearty soldier, the invalid, the convalescent, the wounded, and the quartermaster's employés, side by side, each working with a singleness of purpose and willing to discharge any duty imposed upon him.

I am under obligations to the following officers, acting upon my staff, for untiring attention to duty: Col. N. P. Chipman, aide-de-camp; Maj. S. B. Hayman, Tenth Infantry; Maj. Caleb Bates, aide-de-camp; Maj. R. T. Auchmuty, assistant adjutant-general; Major Hastings, Berdan Sharpshooters; Lieutenant Snow, Maine artillery; Lieutenant Welles, First Connecticut Cavalry; Captain Wells, assistant quartermaster.

The following recommendations are respectfully made: First. That a monthly inspection be made by a competent engineer officer of all the defenses around Washington; that the ground in front of them be well cleared and kept so. Second. That a proper supply of assorted small-arm ammunition be kept constantly stored in the respective forts upon the line.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

A. McD. McCOOK,
Major-General of Volunteers, Comdg. Northern Defenses.

Lieut. Col. JOSEPH H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff, Department of Washington.

ORA, I, 37, Part 1 (serial 70), 230-34.

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, July 25, 1864.

COLONEL: On Saturday, the 9th of July, after consultation with the Secretary of War, I directed the clerks of the Quartermaster-General's Office, and the clerks and workmen employed by the officers of the quartermaster's department in the District of Columbia and in Alexandria to be organized and armed. On Sunday, the 10th, arms were procured from the arsenal; they were distributed on that day and on Monday. Such an organization had been made over a year since, but the arms then issued having been recalled, the organization in the departments of Washington and Alexandria had not been kept up. Lieutenant-Colonel Greene, chief quartermaster of the Military Department of Washington, however, under instructions from Major-General Augur, had retained the arms issued to the men employed under his direction, and had preserved the military organization.

Under orders of the Secretary of War, I reported to Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, late on the evening of the 9th, for such field services as would not too much interfere with my duties as Quartermaster-General, and was directed to provide for relieving the guards of the quartermaster's stores, and some of the public buildings by the organized clerks and operatives of the Quartermaster's Department. Finding that a movable force more than sufficient for this duty could be furnished by the Quartermaster's Department, I offered their services to Major-General Augur, commanding the Department of Washington, and on the 11th July, it being reported that the enemy was advancing upon the Seventh-street road, I was requested to send them to report to Major-General McCook, headquarters at Fort Stevens. The battalion of clerks of the Quartermaster General's Office, about 250 strong, relieved the guards of the storehouses, corrals, &c., of the depots and of the public buildings, enabling the soldiers there employed to go to the front. The arrival without wagons or horses of portions of the Sixth Corps from the Army of the Potomac, and of the Nineteenth Corps from New Orleans, requiring new outfits of transportation, made it necessary to leave in the city a large portion of the wagon-masters, operatives, and teamsters, and reduce the movable force in the Washington depot to about 1,900 men, of which 1,500 were placed under the immediate command of Brig. Gen. D. H. Rucker, and with them I reported to Major-General McCook about sunset on the 11th; and was directed to march to Fort Slocum and place the men as might be advised by Colonel Haskin, commanding the forts on the right.

Colonel Haskin supplied a staff officer to point out in the darkness the line of rifle-pits extending from Fort Stevens to Fort Totten; about one mile in length. The men were posted therein and lay upon their arms all night.

The next morning, 12th, I received Special Orders, No. 2, from Major-General McCook's headquarters, and assuming command of the troops in the intrenchments from Fort Stevens to Fort Totten, I proceeded to organize them into a division of three brigades as follows: First Brigade, Brig. Gen. D. H. Rucker, composed of the quartermaster's men of the depot of Washington, with a detachment of the Provisional Brigade, occupied the intrenchments on the right between Forts Stevens and Totten. Second Brigade, Brigadier-General Paine, composed of the Twelfth Veteran Reserves, the Second District of Columbia Volunteers, and three companies of the quartermaster's men of the depot of Washington, occupied the intrenchments on the left, between Forts Slocum and Stevens. Third Brigade, commanded first by Colonel Price, of the [Seventh] New Jersey Volunteers, then by Col. A. Farnsworth, Twelfth Veteran Reserves, and afterward by Colonel Alexander, of the Second District of Columbia Volunteers, a provisional brigade of these regiments, organized from the hospital and convalescent and distribution camps of the Department of Washington. It was placed in reserve and bivouacked in rear of Fort Slocum in the center of the line. The garrison of the two forts, Slocum and Totten, were a separate command, under Colonel Haskin, U.S. Army, and though at first ordered to report to me the order was soon afterward revoked. Finding, however, that the garrison of Fort Slocum was not as strong as it should be, I ordered Colonel Price, then commanding the Provisional Brigade, to ascertain the number of artillerymen in his command and to send them to report to Colonel Haskin at Fort Slocum. The garrison thus received a re-enforcement of 105 trained artillerists.

The division thus organized on the morning of the 12th July, had an effective strength present for duty of 4,914 men and officers with one section of light artillery, which was placed in one of the trenches on the left.

During the 12th the enemy made their appearance in front of Fort Stevens, and a portion of the command, which had been placed on the skirmish or picket-line, was engaged.

But two casualties have been reported to me among civilians of the Quartermaster's Department. A battalion of three companies of quartermaster's men of the depot of Washington had moved out to Fort Stevens under orders from Major-General Augur only on the 11th, and a portion of these were engaged in the skirmish in front of Fort Stevens on the 12th. John Rynders, a member of Company B, was slightly wounded in the arm, and a former employé of the Quartermaster's Department, who accompanied Company B as a volunteer, was shot through the body and almost instantly killed. He was buried with the others who fell in the skirmish, and I regret that I have not yet been able to ascertain his name; when found it will be placed upon his grave, now marked "unknown," in the cemetery set apart by order of the Secretary of War for those who fell in the defense of the capital on the 12th July.

Four hundred men were detached from the command on the 12th to be placed on the picketline by staff officers of Major-General McCook. The Twelfth Veteran Reserve and the Second District Columbia were relieved from duty in the trenches about 4 p.m. of the 12th July, by two regiments of the Provisional Brigade, and were themselves placed in the reserve until about 9 p.m., at which time, under instructions from General McCook, they were ordered to march to Fort Saratoga to report to Major-General Gillmore, who had asked for re-enforcements, and were encamped for the night near Fort Thayer, where they remained during the 13th. On the 14th these two regiments, by order of Major, General McCook, returned to my command. The forces of this division had been hastily organized and sent to the field in an emergency and without baggage. They were supplied during the 12th and 13th with shelter-tents, blankets, and such equipage as was necessary to their comfort and health while on duty in the trenches.

On the 14th, under orders from Major-General Augur, the enemy having retired from the front, the quartermaster's men were relieved from duty in the trenches, and I turned over the command of the remainder of the division to Brigadier-General Paine, and directed General Rucker to march the civilians to Washington and return them to their regular duties, but to keep up their military organization and drill.

Major Darling, of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, commanding cavalry outpost, with a force of about 460 cavalry, operated in front of the extreme right toward Baltimore turnpike and railroad. He sent me information on the afternoon of the 12th that his force had been driven in by a strong body of cavalry and artillery, which interrupted the travel for a time and injured the railroad to a small extent. The day was hot and dusty, and the movements of the cavalry could be traced from the forts by the columns of dust which they raised. The enemy came as far as the Maryland Agricultural College, and when they retired were pursued by our cavalry, who being in inferior force and without artillery, appeared to be repulsed in their attack. After relinquishing the command of the division to General Paine, I spent some hours in riding over the scene of the conflict and visiting the bivouacs and line of battle of the enemy in front of Fort Stevens. From the extent of ground occupied by them they appeared to have a strong force within supporting distance of the skirmishers, which alone seemed to be engaged. The three companies of the quartermaster's men, organized under Lieut. Col. E. M. Greene, chief quartermaster, Department of Washington, who were on duty during the affair of the morning of the 12th in the trenches between Forts Stevens and Slocum with General Paine's brigade, were ordered on the afternoon of that day to report to General Rucker. Through some misunderstanding two companies, B and C, marched to General Rucker's office in Washington. Company A reported at his headquarters in the field and remained on duty until the brigade was relieved.

The quartermaster's men of the Department of Washington, south of the Potomac, were organized into five companies, making a force of about 400 men. Companies E and F were, at the request of Brigadier-General Slough, commanding at Alexandria, detailed and placed on picket duty around that city. The other companies were placed in reserve at the wood-yard, drilling constantly, and held in readiness to defend the public property. The employés of Capt. J. G. C. Lee, assistant quartermaster, at Alexandria, were also organized and placed on duty. The whole civil force of the quartermaster's department on military duty on this occasion was about 2,700 men.

I have to express my satisfaction with the conduct of both the soldiers and civilians who were under my command. Though hastily organized and equipped they moved promptly at the call of danger. I had on no occasion to inflict punishment or administer reproof during the time they were under my observation, and their services were useful and important in the defense of the capital, seriously threatened by a considerable rebel army under skillful and experienced leaders. Those who were on duty in the city relieved at least an equal number of trained soldiers and enabled them to go to the front, while those who were placed in the intrenchments extended the line of battle fully a mile to the right of the center of attack, and by their presence and bearing, standing upon the parapets and exposing themselves, perhaps, more than more experienced soldiers would have done, they convinced the enemy that the fortifications of Washington were not unmanned.

I inclose such reports as I have received from subordinate commanders, and remain, very respectfully,

M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster-General, Brevet Major-General.

Lieut. Col. JOSEPH H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]
Extract from letter of Bvt. Maj. Gen. M. C. Meigs, dated Washington, D.C., July 16, 1864.

Twice while McClellan was on his way to the James, or there, they did by the Shenandoah put Washington in danger; but there were troops here then to defend it: now with an enterprising and uniformly successful commander, a larger army, trained to confidence and success through three years of doubtful conflicts and two months of most bloody, desperate, and successful fighting, the crippled army of Lee, relying upon the intrenchments of Richmond and the weakness of the Washington garrisons, sends again by the familiar road a column of 25,000 or 30,000 men, breaks communications north and east of Baltimore, defeats a veteran division of the Army of the Potomac (Ricketts') hastily thrown across the line of march, drives Wallace and Ricketts back upon Baltimore, and sending small parties to alarm and raise the neighborhood, to burn the house of the Governor, and prevent the troops of the north passing beyond, alarmed Baltimore, this column concentrates suddenly upon the north front of Washington. The invalids, now called Veteran Reserves, of the police garrison of Washington, are relieved from guard duty by the clerks of the Quartermaster-General's Office. The old soldiers in hospital and in convalescent and distribution camps are hastily organized into provisional regiments, dismounted cavalrymen, for whom horses are not here, are sent into the trenches to act as infantry, and the mechanics, agents, clerks and overseers, and laborers of the depot quartermaster, who can for a day or two in emergency be detached from their ordinary duties, are organized and armed, and marched to the trenches. The head of the column of the Sixth Corps of veterans from the Army of the Potomac arrives from Petersburg on the day that the head of the Nineteenth Corps reaches Washington from New Orleans, and on the very day that the rebels send their skirmishers within forty rods of the salient of Fort Stevens, and within sight of Fort Reno. The former on the Seventh-street road, and the latter on the Rockville or Tennallytown road.

On Monday morning at daylight our cavalry was sent out the Tennallytown road to force the enemy to develop himself in line of battle. A handsome skirmish showed at this point in front of Reno about 1,200 cavalry and a horse battery. Later in the day General McCook reported the rebels were advancing in force. I had offered the services of the quartermaster's men, of whom we had about 3,000 armed, who were disposable for this purpose, to General Halleck. He thought that it would be enough for them to guard the stores in the city against riot or incendiary attempts. I then offered them to General Augur, commanding the forces, and he gladly accepted them and requested that they be sent to Major-General McCook at Fort Stevens, on the Seventh-street road. I called the men out; 400, who were under General Augur's quartermaster, had been sent out in the morning, 700 more had gone to the lines in front of Alexandria, and I marched about 5 p.m. with 1,500 or 2,000 toward Fort Stevens. Reported to McCook just as it grew dark, and he sent an officer from Fort Slocum to point out the position he wanted us to occupy. We found it as well as we could in the darkness. The new moon gave a little light and our forces, which the next morning numbered 1,500, extended McCook's line just one mile to the right of the center of attack. We bivouacked on this line, part of the men in the trenches, the rest close in the rear. I slept in an orchard wrapped in a poncho, with my horse tethered to an apple tree.

The next morning I was ordered to take command of all the troops and defenses from Fort Stevens to Fort Slocum and thence to Fort Totten, and found myself in command of a division 5,000 strong, which I organized at once into three brigades, General Paine commanding the rifle-pits held by the left wing, General Rucker the right wing, and placing a provisional brigade under Colonel Farnsworth in the rear of Fort Slocum in reserve. We got up wagons, rations, shelter-tents, cooking utensils, intrenching tools, axes, and worked to perfect the defenses and clear the timber and brush from our front. During the day skirmishing was continuous in front of Stevens, where the advance of the Sixth Corps of veterans, under General Wright, engaged the enemy. I detached 400 men to a commander away to the left to go on picket. One hundred and five artillerists I found in the Provisional Brigade and sent them to report to Colonel Haskin, to strengthen Fort Stevens battery. The day wore away. I visited the lines to my right, in which no troops occupied the trenches or rifle-pits. The forts, however, which are about a mile apart and on commanding positions, were garrisoned. General Gillmore was at Fort Saratoga, several miles to the right, and toward evening telegraphed for re-enforcements, and I sent him 2,000 regulars, nearly the whole of my reserve, by order of General McCook. We received orders to have all our troops under arms at 3 o'clock next morning. Toward evening two houses which were occupied by the rebel sharpshooters on the Seventh-street road, some three-quarters of a mile in advance of the lines, were burned by shells from Forts Stevens and De Russy, and our skirmishers, after a sharp contest, costing each party 300 casualties, occupied their ruins and drove back the rebels and intrenched themselves.

I was up at 2 o'clock, my men were all under arms, and I rode to Fort Stevens and took position on the parapet to watch the breaking day. The gray dawn spread over the landscape widely extended in sight. An occasional shot from a suspicious picket and the low of a cow or the bray of a mule alone broke the stillness of the morning, and at last the sun arose and all remained quiet. Cavalry were sent out, who reported the rebel positions abandoned. The house of the Postmaster-General, Montgomery Blair, two miles out Seventh-street road, burned; old Francis P. Blair's house, on the farm, turned topsy-turvey, all his liquors consumed, and his papers ransacked, and the enemy in retreat toward Rockville and the fords of the Potomac. We remained in position till full daylight, and then sent the men to their breakfast and continued our work of clearing off obstructions to our fire and completing our intrenchments. I rode along the lines right and left. In the course of the day an officer from the War Department handed me a letter from the Secretary, notifying me that the President had appointed me a major-general by brevet in the United States Army, and I accepted and thanked the President and Secretary for the honor and confidence. The commission happened to find me exercising a full major-general's command. I had command of the right wing of that portion of the army which was directly in front of the enemy; my command extended in line of battle two miles, and was 5,000 strong.

The next night we had an alarm. Some fellow with the nightmare rushed screaming through camp, "the rebs, the rebs are on us!" The men caught up their arms and rushed into the trenches; they behaved well in this most trying of all circumstances–a night alarm. Horses were saddled, inquiry made, and all found quiet.

The next day the enemy having retired, the two regiments I had detached to Gillmore returned to me. Gillmore followed Wright in pursuit of the retreating enemy. I had orders to return to Washington and release my volunteer civilians and return them to their ordinary work. All this time the Quartermaster's Department was fitting out the troops which arrived from Petersburg and New Orleans with horses, wagons, or artillery. We mounted 2,000 or 3,000 cavalry; gave 1,000 or 2,000 horses to horse artillery batteries; supplied 15,000 men with a new wagon train, and mounted most of the general officers and started them, a wellequipped movable column in pursuit.

And so the campaign and siege are over, and the administration is blamed by the Copperheads and applauded by all true loyal citizens for turning back the tide of rebel invasion, and this without getting a single man from Maryland, supine Pennsylvania, or from the Governor of New York. Some of the men called out when the danger was pressing, are beginning to arrive, now that it is over.

M. C. MEIGS,
Brevet Major-General, U.S. Army.

ORA, I, 37, Part 1 (serial 70), 254-60.

Statement of Artificer Nelson A. Fitts, Company B, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, of the Confederate strength, &c.

Sunday morning, July 10, on the left of New Market, while retreating, I was taken prisoner by a squad of the Twentieth Virginia Cavalry, and was taken to the headquarters of that regiment and marched with them to Silver Spring, on Seventh-street road, getting there on Monday the 11th about 3 p.m. The cavalry joined the rest of the command between Rockville and Seventh-street road, and I passed the entire length of it; saw their troops and artillery. I also observed some of the inhabitants that gave them information in regard to the forces in Washington, and I could point out the places and men if I were to go back on the same road.

On the 12th, about sundown, we left Seventh street in a hurry, marched to Rockville, getting there at daylight on the 13th; halted half an hour, and then went on until 2 p.m., then stopped until dark. We followed the line of telegraph from Rockville to Poolesville, halted on the Maryland side until light (I saw their train and artillery parked), then crossed the Potomac at Edwards Ferry. The prisoners and infantry forded the river and halted, and then their artillery crossed. I counted forty-two pieces as they crossed. They had told me that they had sixty pieces, and I counted them to find out. The colonel of the Twentieth Virginia Cavalry told me that their force at Monocacy was 50,000, and judging from what I saw of the troops myself I should think their whole force was between 40,000 and 50,000. There was Ewell's corps, commanded by Early and Breckinridge, also a part of A. P. Hill's corps that went to Baltimore. After crossing the Potomac the prisoners left the troops and marched toward Leesburg, halting about three miles this side on the 14th about 2 p.m.; staid there until the 16th at 1 a.m. Whilst there, they were attacked in the rear; I could hear the artillery.

We left on the 16th and marched to Upperville; halted there until dark, then started to cross the mountains at Ashby's Gap, and there I made my escape to the mountains and staid on the mountain forty-two hours, and then left and joined our cavalry at Bloomfield on the 19th. By being with them and talking with them I have reason to believe their troops were old ones and well disciplined. They had with their artillery caissons to each piece, and an ammunition train. They claimed the object of their raid was to get horses and provisions, that they did not expect to take Washington and hold it, but thought they could raid through the city and capture the President, if there, and draw Grant's forces from Petersburg. They told me they were going to Winchester and then back to Maryland and Pennsylvania. I think that their whole force crossed at Edwards Ferry. They crossed the mountain at Snicker's Gap, all but the prisoners and beef-cattle and eight pieces of artillery, and I should judge about 300 cavalry with fifty or sixty wagons marked "ordnance" and loaded with hay. These crossed at Ashby's Gap. They had between 600 and 700 prisoners. So far as I know I am the only man who escaped after we crossed the Potomac.

N. A. FITTS,
Artificer Company B, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF ENGINEER OF DEFENSES,
July 25, 1864.

The within statement of Artificer Fitts is respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army.

I would remark that I have been acquainted with Artificer Fitts for the past year. For some time before his regiment joined the Army of the Potomac he was detailed on account of his intelligence and mechanical skill to act as foreman of carpenters on the defensive works north of the Potomac, and in this capacity he was thrown under my observation. I think the most implicit confidence may be placed in his statements. His estimate of the enemy's numbers may, perhaps, be received with a grain of allowance, but of the forty-two pieces of artillery at Edwards Ferry I have no doubt, a fact which it may be well to know.

Should any investigation into the conduct of the citizens of Maryland residing on the roads over which the enemy marched during his late incursion be made, Artificer Fitts might be a useful witness in certain cases.

B. S. ALEXANDER,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Aide-de-Camp.

ORA, I, 37, Part 1 (serial 70), 253-54.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
July 27, 1864.

Major-General AUGUR:

In addition to the batteries of field artillery which should be kept in readiness to move on the threatened point, I think it will be well to place in the forts some field pieces with ammunition, to bear upon the approaches when the enemy comes within short range. These guns can be worked by the same men who work the large guns, as both will not be equally effective at the same time. Consult General De Russy and Colonels Alexander and Haskin on this subject, and as to where the guns should be placed. This must not interfere with the organization of field batteries for use here or in the field.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 27, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Lieutenant-Colonel Haskin, chief of artillery, who, in consultation with General Do Russy and Colonel Alexander, will determine the number and kind of guns which can be properly used to advantage, as indicated by the major-general and chief of staff. This having been determined, requisitions will be at once made.

By command of Major-General Augur:

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 464.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 27, 1864.

Brig. Gen. M.D. HARDIN,
Commanding Division, Twenty-second Army Corps:

GENERAL : The major-general commanding directs me to inform you that the Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps will report for duty to you July 28, a.m.

I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 464.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIVISION, 22D ARMY CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D.C., July 28, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: In reply to your communication of the 27th instant, I have the honor to report, from my observation of the line yesterday, that the brush in front of Forts Sumner, Mansfield, and Reno has been nearly cleared, although more work should be done on that front. On Rock Creek and in front of Fort De Russy, and from Fort Slocum east to Fort Lincoln the brush is not cleared. A great amount of work remains to be done on that line. On account of the limited number of troops in this command it has been impossible to complete the work, although all my available force has been engaged on it. I most respectfully request 300 workmen, or as many as can be furnished, be sent at once to clear the brush now remaining, as above stated. The brush is from five to eight feet in height.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

M.D. HARDIN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 479.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 89.

HEADQUARTERS HARDIN'S DIVISION,
July 28, 1864.

1. The Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Lieut. Col. H. G. Thomas commanding, having reported to these headquarters for assignment to duty in this command, is hereby assigned to the Second Brigade, and will report to Colonel Hayward, commanding, for assignment to the posts in this command. This regiment will move at 5 o'clock to-morrow morning, July 29, and report as above.

By command of Brigadier-General Hardin:

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 479.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D.C., July 29, 1864.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff, &c.:

SIR: In compliance with your instructions of the 27th instant, I called together yesterday General De Russy, General Hardin, Lieutenant-Colonel Haskin, and Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander, for the purpose of consultation as to what additional armament of field pieces it may be desirable to place in the forts defending the city. We find that the armament of these works was settled by a board of officers convened for that purpose by orders from the Secretary of War, dated November 9, 1863.(*) The works have been arranged in accordance with the report of this board, and to make any material changes in the armament would require changes in the platforms or embrasures, involving considerable work, and be likely to produce confusion in the ammunition, besides introducing to the garrisons pieces with whose ranges they would be unacquainted. For these reasons we do not think it will be judicious to disturb the armament of the works at the present time, nor do I suppose that such was your intention in calling my attention to the fact that it might be well to place in the forts some additional field pieces, it being understood, however, that these pieces are to be used in almost every case in the exterior batteries to the right and left of the forts.

It is true that some of the forts, particularly Fort Reno, ought to have some additional field guns for use in the fort, when the enemy approaches within short range, but the theory upon which the defense line is arranged is that all, or nearly all, the additional guns that may be required in case of an investment, or even an assault, are to be placed in the batteries to the right and left of the forts, all the principal forts being supported and generally flanked on both sides by batteries placed in commanding positions. It has been supposed that these field guns would be brought into the defenses by an army retreating before superior numbers, but from our recent experience we have seen that the enemy may succeed in appearing before our works before this additional artillery, or even the troops, can get here. Such being the case, it may be well to inquire whether some of the more important batteries on the line of defense ought not to be armed at once, or field pieces, with ammunition, placed in the forts ready to arm them, and hold the enemy in check, for some days, at least, in order to give time to re-enforce the garrison of the city. Having the officers whom I have mentioned to advise me, I thought it well to look into the whole subject in order that we might have an understanding, :and put on record what additional field guns it will be well to have on hand, and where they should be placed on the approach of the enemy at any future time. The following is the result of the consultation on this subject:

LINE NORTH OF THE CITY.

Fort Sumner.–To have additional field pieces; two to be placed on the line of the conduit to hold the bank between Fort Sumner and the river; two in Battery Benson, on Powder Mill Branch, and two in Fort Sumner, or Battery Alexander, as may be required.

Fort Simmons.–Six field pieces to be added; two to be placed in Battery Bailey, on Powder Mill Branch; two in Battery Mansfield, and two held in reserve, or placed in the batteries between Fort Simmons and Fort Bayard.

Fort Reno.–Should have four additional field pieces to complete the armament. In case of attack two or three light batteries should at once be sent to this important post, taking position at first on the ridge between Tennallytown and Fort Gaines.

Battery Rossell.–Being an inclosed work with a magazine, and occupying an important position on the right of Fort Reno, should be armed with two field howitzers, 24 or 32 pounders, and four 12-pounder field guns.

Fort Kearny.–There should be four light field guns added to this fort to arm Battery Terrill.

Battery Smead.–There should be four field pieces added to this work; two of them to be placed in the battery on the left near Broad Branch.

Fort De Russy.–There should be six light pieces added to this work, to be placed in Battery Kingsbury, and in a battery now under construction, overlooking the bridge on Rock Creek.

Fort Stevens.–In case of threatened attack there should be two field batteries here (twelve pieces), one of them to be a mounted battery. These pieces are to arm the batteries between Rock Creek and Piney Branch, including Battery Sill.

Fort Slocum.–There should be six field pieces sent to this fort, to arm the batteries on the right and left of the fort.

Fort Totten.–The fort itself is sufficiently armed. The four light pieces are to arm the battery on the left. There ought to be two additional pieces to arm the battery on the right.

Fort Slemmer.–Four field guns are required to arm the batteries on the right and left.

Fort Bunker Hill.–There should be eight light pieces added to the armament of this work for the battery in front, and the batteries on the right and left.

Fort Saratoga.–There should be six light pieces added to this fort, to arm the batteries on the right and left.

The new redoubt (not named) between Fort Saratoga and Fort Thayer should be armed with four field pieces.

Fort Thayer ought to have four field pieces to arm the batteries between it and the railroad.

Fort Lincoln ought to have six additional field guns to arm the exterior batteries, beginning on the left at the railroad and ending on the right at Battery Jameson, on the Eastern Branch, making for the line north of the city, eighty-eight additional field guns.

Over the Eastern Branch.–The board to which allusion has been made had substituted field pieces for many of the barbette guns with which these forts had first been armed, and they are generally well supplied with small guns. Since that time, however, Fort Foote has been completed, and extensive additions have been made to Forts Stanton and Carroll. These being the most important works on this line, it seems proper that they should be sufficiently armed.

Fort Foote requires two 24-pounder, flank defense howitzers, one 12-pounder mountain howitzer, four 12-pounder Napoleons.

Fort Stanton requires one 32-pounder howitzer, two 4 1/2-inch rifled guns, four 12-pounder howitzers, two 12-pounder Napoleons.

Fort Carroll requires one 32-pounder howitzer, two 30-pounder Parrotts, six 12-pounder howitzers, making for the line over the Eastern Branch twenty-five additional pieces.

SOUTH OF THE POTOMAC.

Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen.–There ought to be six field pieces added to the armament of each of these works, to be used in the adjacent batteries in case of threatened attack. Two additional (mounted) batteries should be sent to this position in case the enemy appears in force.

Fort C. F. Smith is sufficiently armed, but in case of a threatened attack the batteries on the north side of the river, flanking this work, should be armed, the north battery with two 10-pounder Parrotts, and the south battery with two Napoleon guns.

Fort Craig ought to have four long guns, 30-pounders, or 4 1/2-inch guns for the batteries on the right and left, and six Napoleon guns for the battery at the Columbia turnpike and the adjacent batteries on the right and left.

Fort Barnard requires two 12-pounder Napoleons for the exterior battery.

Fort Ward.–There should be added to this work twelve light guns. Four to guard the Leesburg turnpike north of the fort, and the remainder for the batteries toward Fort Worth.'

Fort Williams ought to have eight additional light pieces to arm the batteries, two on the right and two on the left.

Fort Willard requires four additional field guns for the adjacent batteries to the right and left of the work.

Fort Jackson, at end of Long Bridge, ought to have two light guns, making for the line south of the Potomac fifty-four additional guns, and for all the works around the city 167 additional guns. It is not supposed that all of these guns can now be obtained. I propose, therefore, only to send requisitions for those which seem to be in-dispensable–say field guns.

For Fort Reno and Battery Rossell, 10 guns; Fort De Russy, 6 guns; Fort Stevens, 6 guns; Fort Saratoga and the new redoubt, 6 guns; Fort Lincoln, 6 guns; Fort Stanton, 9 guns; Fort Carroll, 9 guns; Fort Foote, 7 guns; Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen, 6 guns: Fort Craig, 6 guns; Fort Ward, 6 guns; Fort Williams, 4 guns; Fort Willard, 2 guns; Fort Jackson, 2 guns; making 75 guns.

As the enemy cannot approach the city in all directions at the same time, it is hoped with due watchfulness that we may with the additional field guns now asked for so arm any point of attack as to hold the enemy in check until the city can be re-enforced with the necessary additional troops and batteries. In this conviction I cannot withhold the remark that our works are strong in themselves and strong in their armaments, but forts and cannon, even if Gibraltars, cannot of themselves defend a city against an enemy. In case the enemy attack us we will also require soldiers.

[C. C. AUGUR,
Major-General, U.S. Volunteers, Commanding.]

ORA, I, 37, Pt. II, 492-95.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIVISION, 22D ARMY CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D.C., July 28, 1864.

Colonel HAYWARD,
Second Brigade:

I send you order assigning the Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps to Second Brigade. General Hardin desires that it shall be distributed as follows: Two companies at Fort Stevens, two companies at Fort Slocum (headquarters Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps), one company at Fort Totten, one company at Fort Slemmer, two companies at Fort Bunker Hill, one company at Fort Saratoga, one company at Fort Thayer, two companies at Fort Lincoln. No change will be made in the Ohio National Guard (One hundred and fiftieth), as this new regiment will require to be instructed by the companies of your regiment. You will direct that requisition be made for heavy artillery tactics, and that this regiment shall commence at once to learn the drill. Their morning report will be consolidated at regimental headquarters and sent to your headquarters, as is usually done, and all papers will come through brigade headquarters. General Hardin desires that you will detail a force to cut brush on Rock Creek, in front and to the left of Fort Stevens, about one-half a mile to the front. All the available force that can be spared from your brigade should be detailed for this purpose until the brush is cut.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

P. S.–The Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps has been ordered to move at 5 a.m. to-morrow, and halt at Fort Stevens to receive orders from you. It will probably be there at about 7 a.m. I have directed the commanding officer to report to you.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 480.

[CIRCULAR.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D.C., July 29, 1864.

To do away with misapprehension on the subject of passes, the following is published for the information and guidance of all concerned. The officers named below are authorized to issue passes as herein limited:

Lieut. Col. H. H. Wells, provost-marshal-general, Defenses South of the Potomac, generally within the limits of his territorial jurisdiction, to officers and soldiers, with permits from their commanding general, and to citizens, to visit Washington and return; to grant permits to well known loyal citizens, resident outside our picket-lines, to come in for limited family supplies to Alexandria and to pass out with them. His deputies at Fort Albany, Fort Ethan Allen, and Falls Church will do the same for the same class of persons in their vicinity. Those resident beyond the picket-line, who come to Washington, must have their passes or permits approved at department headquarters. Neither Colonel Wells, nor his deputies, will grant passes or permits to persons living north of the Potomac.

Col. M. N. Wisewell, provost-marshal-general Defenses North of the Potomac, generally within the limits of his territorial jurisdiction, to officers and soldiers, with permission of their commanding officer, and to citizens, to cross the Potomac and Eastern Branch within limits of defenses and return. He will give no passes or permits to persons living south of the Potomac, the rule being that all persons are to obtain their passes and permits from the authorities on their side of the river.

Brigadier-Generals Slough and De Russy, the commanding officers of the cavalry brigade at Falls Church and Camp Stoneman, the commanding officers at Giesborough and the Rendezvous of Distribution, are authorized to grant passes to men in their commands to visit Washington and Alexandria and return. Lieut. Col. E. M. Greene, chief quartermaster of the department, can alone give passes to citizens to visit Freedmen's Village and Mason's Island.

The chief quartermaster of this department, the quartermaster and commissary in charge of depots here and at Alexandria, can give passes to their employés while in the performance of their duties. All passes to visit the fortifications on either side of the river; to go beyond the lines, except in cases of resident citizens provided for above; to places on the river above and below the defenses, and for colored persons to leave the city, must be issued from these headquarters. A copy of this circular will be furnished to the guards on the different bridges and ferries within the department, and they are to be carefully instructed in its requirements.

By command of Maj. Gen. C. C. Augur:

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Pt. II, 495-96.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIVISION, 22D ARMY CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D. C., August 1, 1864.

Colonel MARBLE,
First Brigade:

The Second District of Columbia Volunteers has been ordered to Tennallytown and on the Rockville pike. Give Colonel Alexander any information you may possess, and keep your command in shape repel an attack if one is made. Have your pickets strengthened and vigilant on all the roads.

Very respectfully,

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 562.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIVISION, 22D ARMY CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D. C., August 1, 1864–10.30 p.m.

Colonel ALEXANDER,
Second District of Columbia Volunteers:

The general commanding directs that you move at once with your regiment to Tennallytown, and remain during the night to repel any cavalry which may attempt to approach. Post your men on the Rockville pike and vicinity, and throw out pickets to the front. Colonel Marble will give you any information about the roads which you do not possess. It will be necessary for your regiment to move as soon as possible, as cavalry is reported approaching.

Very respectfully,

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 562.

HDQRS. HARDIN'S DIVISION, 22D ARMY CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D. C., August 1, 1864–11 p.m.

Colonel HAYWARD,
Second Brigade:

It is reported that rebel cavalry is approaching on the Rockville road. The general commanding directs that you strengthen your pickets in front of Stevens and Slocum from the Seventh Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, and that your command be vigilant and ready to repel any attack during the entire night. Have the men in shape to be ready at a moment's notice.

Very respectfully,

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 562-63.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
August 1, 1864.

Major WAITE,
Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Comdg. at Muddy Branch:

MAJOR: In your report of July 31 you say: "When eighteen of my men were fighting Mosby's whole command yesterday, I am informed Major Thompson was within supporting distance." The major-general commanding desires that you ascertain the truth of this report, and in your communication state specifically the distance of Major Thompson or his command from the scene of the skirmish, and the means within his control of knowing the true state of affairs.

I am, major, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

How badly wounded is Lieutenant De Laney? We all hope not seriously.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 563.

OFFICE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, August 1, 1864.

Capt. JOSEPH H. SPENCER,
Signal Officer, U.S. Army:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of this detachment's operations for the month of July, 1864: Nothing very important transpired except the ordinary business of the corps until the 10th, when Capt. E. H. Russell and party were ordered to report to me for duty. The enemy had already made their appearance in considerable force in front of Fort Reno, on the Rockville pike, and also in front of Fort Stevens, on the Seventh-street road. I received verbal orders from General Augur to station my officers so that communication could be had with all principal forts on the north of the Potomac. Accordingly, Lieut. P. H. Niles was placed on the Soldiers' Home, from whence he could communicate with all the forts on the line north of Potomac. This station proved to be of much importance, as communication could be held direct from provost-marshal's building in the city to any of the forts through it. Lieut. Asa T. Abbott was stationed at Fort Stevens; Sergeant Kintner at Fort Slocum, and Corpl. William Wallace at Fort De Russy. Later in the day Lieut. R. P. Strong reported for duty, in obedience to orders from office signal officer, and was ordered to Fort Totten. Sergt. H. A. Sofield was taken from Fort Smith and put in charge of station at Fort Bunker Hill. Capt. Thomas J. Sawyer reported on the 11th, in obedience to orders from signal office, and was sent to open a station at Fort Lincoln, so that with Sergeant Richards at Fort Sumner and Captain Dillingham at Fort Reno the line was complete from the Potomac to the Eastern Branch. On the 12th Lieuts. F. S. Benson and E. H. Wardwell reported from Baltimore, and were placed in charge of the stations at Forts Slocum and De Russy, which were in charge of Sergeant Kintner and Corporal Wallace. During the 10th, 11th, and 12th the officers were continually engaged in sending messages of an important character. On the 14th Colonel Haskin applied for an officer to be placed at Fort Marcy, Va.; accordingly Corporal Wallace was taken from Fort De Russy and ordered to Fort Marcy. On the 16th, by request of Major-General Doubleday, General Augur directed me to send an officer to Fort Baker, D.C. I accordingly sent Lieutenant Benson from Fort Slocum, and Lieutenant Strong was ordered from Fort Totten to Fort Slocum, the latter fort being farthest in advance and more important. On the 20th Lieutenant Strong was ordered to Fort Reno and Captain Dillingham to Fort Slocum. This change was thought proper, as Lieutenant Strong had recruiting papers at Signal Camp that needed his attention. On the 21st Captain Russell and Lieut. A. T. Abbott were directed to resume their duties at Signal Camp, the exigency having passed, and their services were not needed in the field as much as in camp.

The officers and men were prompt in the discharge of their duties, and I take pleasure in recommending to your notice Lieut. Asa T. Abbott, whose station was continually under the enemy's fire, and who many times narrowly escaped being struck by the enemy's bullets, but maintained his position and continued to work his station, under fire, for nearly two days.

* * * * * * * * * *

The health of the detachment is very good.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. B. ROE,
Captain and Chief Signal Officer, Dept. of Washington.

ORA, I, 37, Part 2 (serial 71), 564.

HEADQUARTERS HARDIN'S DIVISION,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS, DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D.C., August 5, 1864.

Colonel HAYWARD,
Second Brigade:

By inclosed order, No. 192,(*) another regiment of Veteran Reserve Corps is assigned to our division, and by orders, No. 92, assigned to Second Brigade. General Hardin thinks you had better assign the Seventh Regiment of Veteran Reserve Corps to Stevens and Slocum, and this new regiment Veteran Reserve Corps to Totten, Slemmer, and Bunker Hill, in the proper proportion. The provisional battalion under Captain Pope will move to First Brigade as per orders, 92, inclosed. Please see that the proper disposition is made, and send report of the same as soon as practicable. This new regiment will be at Fort Totten about 2 p.m.

Very respectfully,

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORA, I, 43, Part 1 (serial 90), 696.

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, D.C., November 3, 1864.

Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to submit the usual annual report of the operations of the Quartermaster's Department during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 1864:

SOLDIERS' CEMETERIES.

Careful records of the burials of soldiers in the cemeteries in the neighborhood of Washington have been kept.

The grounds near the Soldiers' Home, north of the city, having been filled by the burial of nearly 8,000 persons, by your direction a portion of the Arlington estate has been appropriated as a national cemetery. The grounds have been carefully surveyed and suitably laid out and inclosed. Already nearly 3,000 interments have taken place in this national cemetery. The graves are carefully sodded, and at the head of each is planted a neat headboard, painted white, on which are inscribed in black letters (the number referring to the burial record) the name of the soldier, his company and regiment, and the date of his death.

I transmit herewith an extract from the report of Capt. James M. Moore, assistant quartermaster, who has, during the greater part of the fiscal year, had charge of interments of soldiers dying in Washington.

The bodies of the loyal officers and soldiers who fell in the sortie from the defenses of Washington, which drove off the rebel army in July last, have been buried in a piece of ground selected for the purpose in the midst of the battle-field and in sight of Fort Stevens. It is hoped that Congress may see fit to cause a monument to be erected to the memory of these patriots who fell in the defense of the capital itself.

In other cities around which hospitals are collected, under general orders and regulations, careful records of burials are kept, which should ultimately be transmitted to Washington and there preserved for future reference.

ORA, III, 4 (serial 125), 891-92.

HEADQUARTERS HARDIN'S DIVISION,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS, DEPT. OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D.C., November 27, 1864.

COMMANDING OFFICER SECOND BRIGADE:

In the disposition of the troops of the Second Brigade General Haskin desires that you will station the Fourteenth Company Massachusetts Artillery at Fort Bunker Hill when it arrives. Section 5, Special Orders, No. 143, gives the disposition of the troops without giving the particular companies. General Haskin also desires that the Eighth Company Massachusetts Artillery when it reports will be assigned to Fort Stevens, and that the Eleventh Company be assigned to Fort Slocum. Let the Eleventh Company remain as it now is, at Slocum and Stevens, until the Eighth Company reports, when the whole Eleventh Company will be sent to Slocum.

Very respectfully.

R. CHANDLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

The Fourteenth Company has just reported and been sent to Fort Bunker Hill.

ORA, I, 43, Part 1 (serial 91), 677-78.