have returned and report a picket of the enemy near that road below White's Tavern, and that tracks of half a dozen men who have passed down since the rain can be observed. I have no men in my command who can do the duty of scouts satisfactorily, but selected the best I could find. They noticed the fire mentioned in a previous note, but could not ascertain what it was, nor whether any important change has taken place in the enemy's line.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. W. EVANS,

Colonel First Maryland Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.

NORFOLK, VA., March 14, 1865.

Major General E. O. C. ORD,

Army of the James:

GENERAL: Refugees state that my expedition to Murfree's Depot might have gone to Weldon, nothing intervening to stop them. Perhaps you may like to send a force there, at least to destroy the Nottoway bridge.

GEORGE H. GORDON,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
March 14, 1865-9 p.m.

General GEORGE H. GORDON,

Norfolk:

How many cavalry can you spare to try it, and where should those sent you rendezvous so as not to attract attention?

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.

YORKTOWN, March 14, 1865.

General LUDLOW,

Fort Magruder:

GENERAL: Three hundred cavalry and 1,500 infantry, with gun-boats, have gone up the York River this morning. They proceed to White House, on Pamunkey, and will throw forward a cavalry force to meet Sheridan. Colonel Roberts commands party.

THOS. MULCAHY,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal.

CITY POINT, VA., March 14, 1865.

Commodore RADFORD,

U. S. Navy:

(Care of Major-General Ord.)

Will you please have a few gun-boats, say six, including four already gone, sent into the York and Pamunkey Rivers to keep open firee navigation between White House and the mouth of York River. I have a large force now on its way to White House. When it is withdrawn, the navy can withdraw also.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.