about four miles from Fort Fisher; but the deserters say that since they left Wilmington they were informed that Hoke was falling back toward Wilmington.

H. SPLAINE,

Lieutenant Colonel Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, Commanding Camp.

HEADQUARTERS PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, DEFENSES SOUTH OF THE POTOMAC,
Alexandria, Va., January 26, 1865.

Colonel TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I have sent a squad of cavalry to look after some guerrillas said to be in the vicinity of Occoquan; otherwise all is quiet to-day.

H. H. WELLS,

Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General, Defenses South of the Potomac.

SAINT INIGOES, January 26, 1865.

Commander F. A. PARKER:

Information is obtained through General Barnes that an expedition is being fitted out in Westmoreland, Lancaster, and Northumberland Counties for the purpose of capturing schooners and tugs in this vicinity. It is through it will be ready as soon as the boats from Richmond arrive. The expedition is said to consist of 400 men, and are living at the different farm-houses in squads of three or four. It is expected to start from Poor Jack's Bay, opposite Blackistone's Island.

JAMES TAYLOR,

Acting Master, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
January 26, 1865.

Major-General CROOK,

Commanding Department of West Virginia:

It was impossible for me to go to Cumberland to-day. Have you got the report of the Beverly affair yet? The force which made the attack was 400 men under Rosser. Harry Gilmor has just gone over into the Lost River Valley with the Second Maryland Battalion, and will have command of McNeill's and Woodson's companies, numbering in all about 150 or 175 men.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
January 27, 1865-11 a. m.

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS:

No changes in the disposition of the troops of this command since last report. One private from the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers deserted to the enemy last night.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General.

18 R R-VOL XLVI, PT II