WASHINGTON, D. C., July 31, 1862.

Major-General McCLELLAN,

Berkeley, Va.:

General Pope again telegraphs that the enemy is reported to be evacuating Richmond and falling back on Danville and Lynchburg.

H. W. HALLECK.

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

July 31, 1862

Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

Your three dispatches relative to allowing officers in the regular regiments to receive appointments in the volunteer service have been received.

As very many of the best officers in the regular regiments have already been transferred to volunteer commands, thereby leaving a majority of the officers young and inexperienced and requiring the instruction and example of the few remaining older officers, I do not think the officers you allude to could be spared without manifest detriment to the service-at all events in the present uncertain state of affairs.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN.

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
Harrison's Landing, Va., July 31, 1862

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: I extract the following from a report of one of the medical officers lately from Richmond:

Three small schooners, one little black steamboat, and two hulks fitting up for some purpose comprised the entire navy on the river within view.

Very respectfully,

F. J. PORTER.

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[Indorsement.]

AUGUST 1, 1862

Copy furnished Commodore Wilkes, commanding James River flotilla.

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH ARMY CORPS,
Fort Monroe, Va., July 31, 1862

Honorable E. M. STANTON.

Secretary of War:

SIR: It becomes my duty to remind you that the term of service of three of my regiments expires before the close of next month, one on the 25th of August and the others a few days later. These regiments are the Eighth, Thirteenth, and Twenty-fifth New York State Militia.