General Whiting concurs in reference to naval attack, but dreads effort to assail by land.

J. A. S. [SEDDON,]

Secretary.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 226. Richmond, September 23, 1863.

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XXIII. Major General George E. Pickett, Provisional Army, C. S., is assigned to the command of the Department of North Carolina, headquarters at Petersburg, Va.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, No. 89. September 24, 1863.

The commanding general announces to the army, with profound gratitude to Almighty God, the victory achieved at Chickamauga by the army of General Braxton Bragg.

After a fierce and sanguinary conflict of two days, the Federal forces under General Rosecrans were driven, with heavy loss, from their strong positions, and, leaving their dead and wounded on the field, retreated under cover of night on Chattanooga, pursued by our cavalry.

Rendering to the Great Giver of Victory, as is most justly due, our praise and thanksgiving for this signal manifestation of His favor, let us extend to the army that has so nobly upheld the honor of our country the tribute of our admiration for its valor, and sympathy for its suffering and loss.

Invoking the continuous assistance of Heaven upon our efforts, let us resolve to emulate the heroic example of our brethren in the south, until the enemy shall be expelled from our borders and peace and independence be secured to our country.

[R. E. LEE,]

General.

DUBLIN, September 24, 1863.

Major General SAMUEL JONES:

I have heard nothing from you since the 18th. In reply to Colonel Wharton's request I sent the Sixtieth [Virginia Infantry] to him last night. As I delayed it on his statement that such was your order, I presume you had also instructed him when to call for it.

Nothing yet heard from Colonel Ferguson. I have directed General Echols to be ready to garrison the Narrows in the event of an advance by Scammon. McCausland is ordered to cover Rocky Gap and the approaches through Tazewell and Wyoming to protect the railroad. I shall use the home guards of the county as circumstances seem to require. The arrival of Ferguson's regiments is