WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, March 20, 1865.

Major-General ORD:

Your order respecting conscripting loafers, jobbers, &c., is approved.

EDWIN M. STANTON.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 20, 1865-9.10 a. m.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS,
Chief of Staff, City Point:

The effective strength of my cavalry is 2,678 men.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES, March 20, 1865-8.50 p. m.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS:

Deserters from Bratton's (South Carolina) brigade, between New Marked and Darbytown roads, report that day before yesterday, with Benning's brigade, they moved to the vicinity of Savage Station, returning yesterday about noon. On the Charles City road yesterday they say General Pickett and staff and their headquarters wagon was being unloaded. Hunton's and another brigades had stacked arms and appeared as if in bivouac. The division wagon train had come over from the Williamsburg road and was going up the Charles City road in direction of Richmond. The men said the rest of the division was on the Williamsburg road.

E. O. C. ORD,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 20, 1865-5.07 p. m.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS,

Chief of Staff, City Point:

Twenty-three deserters have been received at these headquarters from the enemy since 4 p. m. yesterday.

THEODORE READ,

Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, ARMY OF THE JAMES, Numbers 79.
BeforeRichmond, Va., March 20, 1865.

* * * *

13. Brigadier General R. S. Mackenzie, U. S. Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the Cavalry Division, and will relieve Brigadier General A. V. Kautz, U. S. Volunteers.