HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION,
February 8, 1865.

Captain A. F. HAYDEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Headquarters:

CAPTAIN: I sent out last night a party of seventy-five men, under command of Captain Howe, of the First Virginia, to the neighborhood bordering on the Shenandoah, between Castleman's Ferry and Shepherd's Mill, returning by way of Salme Church. They bring in as prisoners one Confederate captain (Marchall) and seven men, who are forwarded to headquarters cavalry, through provost-marshal. The party were guided by a deserter who came into my lines evening before last, and whom I desire to keep for a few days for similar purpose. All the captures were made in dwelling-houses.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. H. CHAPMAN,

Brigadier-General.

ALEXANDRIA, February 8, 1865.

(Received 11.15 a. m.)

Colonel TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: The train of carts captured yesterday belonged to Colonel Ludington, quartermaster Department of Washington. There were eleven carts; only the horses were taken. One of the bosses stated that the drivers were armed, and that there were eight or ten armed employes with them, in addition to the drivers.

H. H. WELLS,

Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General.

CITY POINT, VA., February 9, 1865-11.30 a. m.

(Received 11.45 a. m.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Washington:

I start in a few minutes for Washington. If there is any difficulty to be apprehended from ice please telegraph me to Fort Monroe.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 9, 1865-12.45 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,

Fort Monroe:

General Rucker thinks you will have difficulty with ice in the Potomac. If you come by Annapolis, you had better telegraph to Captain Blodgett, as trains are very irregular.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CITY POINT, VA., February 9, 1865-10 a. m.

Major-General MEADE:

The Committe on the Conduct of the War have published the result of their investigation of the mine explosion. Their opinions are not

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