HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
February 9, 1865. (Received 11.48 a. m.)

Honorable GIDEON WELLES:

Cannot Ensign Arnold Harris remain on duty with the army gun-boats under General Charles K. Graham? Ensign Harris is of great use here-familiar with these waters, and is now operating in conjunction with the navy.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, ARMY OF THE JAMES Numbers 21.
Before Richmond, Va., February 9, 1865.

I. Brigadier General George F. Shepley, U. S. Volunteers, is hereby relieved from duty as commander of the District of Eastern Virginia and as military governor of Norfolk. As soon as the court-martial of which he is president is dissolved he will report to Major General Godfrey Weitzel, commanding Twenty-fifth Army Corps, for assignment to duty.

II. Brigadier General George H. Gordon, U. S. Volunteers, is temporarily assigned to the command of the District of Eastern Virginia, and will relieved Brigadier General George F. Shepley, U. S. Volunteers.

By command of Major-General Ord:

ED. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
February 9, 1865.

Governor ARTHUR I. BOREMAN,

Wheeling, W. Va.:

I am directed by the major-general commanding to say, in reply to your dispatch of this date, that General Crook has sufficient troops at Cumberland to re-establish the post at Beverly and give ample protection to the line that he commands. General Sheridan saw Lieutenant-General Grant about the Tenth West Virginia Infantry, and he was not willing to let it come. General Crook will be telegraphed to concerning the occupation of Beverly.

JAS. W. FORSYTH,

Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
February 9, 1865.

Colonel M. A. RENO,

Commanding Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry:

A report has just been received from Brigadier-General McMillan, commanding Stephenson's Depot, to the effect that a band of 150 to 200 guerrillas have been concentrated at Kabletown, or on the opposite side of the Shenandoah, for the purpose of operating on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The major-general commanding directs that you send a force from your command and ascertain if such is the case. If such a force is found the party sent out by your must attack and disperse them.

JAS. W. FORSYTH,

Chief of Staff.