It is designed to relieve General Hooker by one regiment, say 850 men, leaving, with some 500 cavalry, 1,350 men on the Lower Potomac.

To recapitulate:

Men.

At Warrenton there are to be............................ 7,780

At Manassas, say........................................ 10,859

In the valley of the Shenandoah......................... 35,467

On the Lower Potomac.................................... 1,350

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In all.................................................. 55,456

There would thus be left for the garrisons and the front of Washington under General Wadsworth some 18,000 men, exclusive of the batteries under instruction.

The troops organizing or ready for service in New York I learn will probably number more than 4,000. These should be assembled at Washington, subject to disposition where their services may be most needed.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

E.

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON,
Washington, D. C., April 2, 1862.

Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR:

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following condensed statements of the forces left under my command for the defense of Washington:

Infantry................................................ 15,335

Artillery............................................... 4,294

Cavalry (six companies only mounted).................... 848

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20,477

Deduct sick and in arrest and confinement............... 1,455

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Total present for duty.................................. 19,022

I have no mounted light artillery under my command. Several companies of the reserve artillery of the Army of the Potomac are still here, but not under my command or fit for service.

From this force I am ordered by General McClellan to detail two regiments (good ones) to Richardson's division (Sumner's corps) as it passes through Alexandria, one regiment to replace the Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers in Heintzelman's old division, one regiment to relieve a regiment of Hooker's division at Budd's Ferry; total, four regiments. I am also further ordered this morning by telegraph to send 4,000 men to relieve General Sumner at Manassas and Warrenton, that he may embark forthwith.

In regard to the character and efficiency of the troops under my command, I have to state that nearly all the force is new and imperfectly disciplined; that several of the regiments are in a very disorganized condition from various causes which it is not necessary to state here; several regiments having been relieved from brigades which have gone into the field in consequence of their unfitness for service; the best regiments remaining having been selected to take their place. Two heavy artillery regiments and one infantry regiment, which had