HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
March 7, 1865

Brevet Major-General CUSTER,

Commanding Third Cavalry Division:

GENERAL: I am instructed by the major-general commanding to inform you that the attempt made by Colonel Capehart's brigade to destroy the railroad was not successful, as the fires were not large enough nor properly kept up. The general commanding directs that Colonel Capehart's brigade renew work on the road in the morning, and directs that you give this work your personal attention.

Very respectfully,

JAS. W. FORSYTH,

Chief of Staff.

CUMBERLAND, MD., March 7, 1865-11 a.m.

(Received 1 p.m.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

Detachment returned to Winchester from Strasburg last night. Nothing heard or seen of an enemy. A sergeant captured from Sheridan at New Market, afterward escaped and returned to our lines last night, says the people told him of Early's defeat.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

ALEXANDRIA, VA., March 7, 1865.

(Received 8 p.m.)

Col J. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: The pickets report that they were fired on at Accotink and on the Broadus road last night. The provost-marshal of Fairfax Court-House reports an attack on the patrol near Vienna to-day.

H. H. WELLS,

Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General.

FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, VA., March 7, 1865-3 p.m.

(Received 4.10 p.m.)

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. TAYLOR:

COLONEL: Half an hour ago about fifty of Mosby's men attacked the escort of the Sixteenth New York Cavalry between here and Vienna. I have sent two companies of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry-one to the right, the other to the left, through the woods-to intercept, them; also signaled to Colonel Sweitzer to send one squadron to the right, another to the left, from his post through the woods also. Will telegraph result as soon as I hear it.

W. GAMBLE,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.