of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad beyond Fairfax Station. the commanding officer at alexandria will be instructed to guard the part of the road between Fairfax Station and Alexandria. Please acknowledge.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Warrenton, March 29, 1862.

General WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Seminary:

Your telegram has been received and the necessary orders issued to the commanding officer at Manassas to insure protection to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.

E. V. SUMNER,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Second Corps.

ALEXANDRIA, VA., March 29, 1862-9 p. m.

General E. V. SUMNER,

Warrenton Junction:

You are authorized to make the movement on Warrenton proposed to-morrow and occupy the town.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
March 29, 1862.

Major General GEORGE B. McCLELLAN,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL:

I inclose a copy of my Special Orders, Numbers 5, of March 23, 1862, and of a letter from Brigadier-General Woodbury of this date, in reference to the means of landing my command on the Lower Chesapeake.

It will be seen from General Woodbury's letter that the means on which he has been relying are beyond his reach and under an office not subject to his or my control It will therefore be necessary to make such arrangements at the Headquarters of the Army of the potomac as shall effect the object indicated in my special order, herewith, and that the means be so placed, or the person in charge of them so ordered, that there shall be no failure when the First Corps shall have occasion to land.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

IRVIN McDOWELL,

Major-General, Commanding First Army Corps.

[Indorsement.]

STEAMER COMMODORE,

March 31, 1862.

The fact that an order of the purport of General McDowell's Special Order, Numbers 5, had been issued by him was communicated to the com

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