SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. OF THE ARMY, ADJT. GEN'S OFFICE,

No. 223. Washington, September 5, 1862.

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III. By direction of the President of the United States, Major General Joseph Hooker is assigned to the command of the Fifth Army Corps. The Sixth Army Corps is temporarily attached to the Third, under Major-General Heintzelman.

Major-General Fitz John Porter and William B. Franklin and Brigadier General Charles Griffin are relieved from their respective commands until the charges against them can be investigated by a court of inquiry.

The Armies of the Potomac and Virginia being consolidated, Major-General Pope will report to the Secretary of War as a witness on a court of inquiry.

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By command of Major-General Halleck:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS,

Numbers 2. Washington, September 5, 1862.

Colonel Henry J. Hunt, aide-de-camp, is announced as chief of artillery at these headquarters, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

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By command of Major-General McClellan:

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HARPER'S FERRY, VA.,

September 5, 1862 - 10.15 a. m.

Major-General WOOL, Baltimore:

I have already telegraphed you this morning, but fear that the enemy has possession. This will be sent in cipher, and also via Wheeling. Colonel banning reports A. P. Hill's division (30,000) crossed the Potomac before dark last night; kept crossing all night, and are now crossing at a higher ford, about 3 miles from Point of Rocks. They have cut the canal at Seven-Mile level. As Banning's force would be cut off if he staid longer, I have ordered him to retreat slowly.

D. S. MILES,

Colonel Second Infantry.

BALTIMORE, MD., September 5, 1862.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Colonel Cram, whom I sent up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to ascertain, if possible, the truth of the various rumors and reports, informs me by telegraph that 1,000 cavalry crossed the Potomac 2 1/2 miles east of Point of Rocks, at 4 a.m. Two companies of Colonel Banning's command, at Point Rocks, this morning, about 8 o'clock, fired into a rebel picket of some 200, this side of the river. He is informed that two pieces of artillery have crossed. Colonel Miles, at Harper's Ferry, reports that a large force is crossing 3 miles east of Point of Rocks. The telegraph