HEADQUARTERS, May 7, 1862.

General D. H. HILL:

MY DEAR GENERAL: Please place Rodes' brigade about half way between Diascund Bridge and Burnt Ordinary, with his battery - one regiment a mile in advance of the brigade, with a section of artillery. This is necessary to guard our rear on that road.

Please direct General Rodes to select the best position that he can find both for his three regiments and his regiment on advance guard, and instruct them that our cavalry will retire by that road, so that they may not fire on them. A position must be selected which can be held, and must be held.

Most respectfully,
JAMES LONGSTREET,

Major-General, Commanding.

[Indorsement.]

General RODES:

I send you directions from General Longstreet, which please read and return. The order must be promptly executed.

D. H. HILL,

Major-General.

PETERSBURG, VA.,

(Received May 8, 1862.)

Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War:

Your dispatch received. Must I left cotton and tobacco be sent away or must I go and get it ready for burning, should it become necessary?

WILLIAM PANNILL,

Provost-Marshal.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,

No.-.
May 8, 1862.

The command will move to-morrow morning as soon as the trains have passed, Longstreet's division in front. Major General D. H. Hill will designate a brigade and a battery as rear guard, which will not move from this position until the rear guard of to-day has passed. The order of march of Longstreet's division will be as follows:

1st. Artillery.

2nd. Hill's brigade.

3rd. Anderson's brigade.

4th. Pickett's brigade.

5th. Pryor's brigade.

6th. Colston's brigade.

7th. Wilcox's brigade.

By command of Major-General Longstreet:

G. MOXLEY SORREL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.