HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
June 23.

Flag-Officer GOLDSBOROUGH,

Commanding Naval Station, Fort Monroe:

Quite a number of vessels loaded with provisions and forage will leave the Pamunkey River within a day or two for James River. The general commanding desires that these vessels be convoyed up the James, and be placed in charge of the gunboats now in that river near City Point or at some secure place near there.

STEWART VAN VLIET,

Brigadier-General.

NORFOLK, June 25-9.30 a.m.

Brigadier-General VAN VLIET:

Your telegram dated 23rd was received last night. Its wording is so mandatory that I desire to ask you if it is intended as an order from your general commanding to me.

L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Camp Lincoln, June 25, 1862.

Flag-Officer GOLDSBOROUGH, Norfolk:

Your telegram just received. I am you should consider my telegram as mandatory, as it was certainly not so intended. The commanding general merely desired your co-operation in carrying out an important duty. The general is now in front, where a sharp fight is going on, or I should submit your telegram to him to be answered.

STEWART VAN VLIET,

Brigadier-General.

I would state that it was not my intention to give an order to Flag-Officer Goldsborough, but merely to request his co-operation in carrying out a measure upon the success of which the safety of this army might depend.

As the flag-officer appears so ready to take exceptions to my requests I beg that he may receive positive orders not only to convoy those supply vessels up James River, but also to co-operate with this army so far as is in his power.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

WASHINGTON CITY,

June 26, 1862.

Major-general McCLELLAN:

I am informed by General King, at Falmouth, that some of McCall's cavalry, are still there, and expect to leave there to join you to-morrow. A dispatch from King, containing the statement of a contraband just received, has been forwarded. Please inform we where you directed McCall's force to be landed and to what point you desire any other force to be sent.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

June 26, 1862-7.10 p.m.

General GEORGE B. McCLELLAN:

The re-enforcements will be sent to the place you request. We shall have every confidence in your ability to drive Jackson back, and will