GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 131. Washington, July 28, 1865.

By direction of the President of the United States the following army corps are discontinued as organizations:

Second, from June 28, 1865; Fourth, from August 1, 1865; Fifth, from June 28, 1865; Sixth, from June 28, 1865; Seventh, from August, 1, 1865; Eighth, from August 1, 1865; Ninth, from July 27, 1865; Tenth, from August 1, 1865; Fourteenth, from August 1, 1865; Fifteenth, from August 1, 1865; Seventeenth, from August 1, 1865; Twentieth, from June 1, 1865; Twenty-third, from August 1, 1865; Twenty-fourth from August 1, 1865.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Richmond, Va., March 16, 1865.

The PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES:

SIR: I have the honor, by direction of the governor, to inclose herewith a copy of the joint resolution of the Virginia Legislature "in relation to the employment of slaves and free negroes as soldiers, or otherwise, for the public defense," and to remain your obedient servant,

BELL SMITH,

Aide-de-Camp.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That it shall be lawful for all free negroes and slaves, who may be organized as soldiers, now, or at any time hereafter by the State or the Confederate Government, for the public defense during the present war with the United States, to bear arms while in active military service, and carry ammunition as other soldiers in the Army.

2. All acts, and parts of acts, in conflict with the foregoing, are hereby repealed.

3. This shall be in force from its passage.

A copy from the rolls [secret].

Teste:

WILLIAM F. GORDON, JR.,

Clerk House of Delegates.

Passed March 6, 1865.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, March 16, 1865.

Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR,

Richmond:

SIR: I have received the papers recently forwarded by me, with the instructions to return them to General Grant, and the letter of the Secretary of State directing the terms in which I am to convey the decision of the Government. At the time General Grant sent the papers to me I only acknowledged the receipt of them without saying what disposition I would make of them. I hoped that this would render it unnecessary to take any further notice of the matter, but as it is