SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 291.
Richmond, Va., December 8, 1863.

* * * * * *

XVI. Brigadier General S. M. Barton will proceed with his brigade to Petersburg, Va., and report to Major General G. E. Pickett, commanding.

* * * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

CAMP, December 9, 1863.

General STUART:

GENERAL: I am called to Richmond this morning by the President. I presume the rest will follow.* My heart and thoughts will always be with this army. Please look out for positions for the cavalry, where they can be foraged, and be not too far away from the field of operations. I have set Colonel Corley to work. I expect to be back.

Very truly,

R. E. LEE.

Abstract from field return of the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, December 10, 1863.

Present for duty.

Aggrega Aggrega

Aggrega te pre- te pre-

Command. Offi- Men. te pre sent sent la

cers. sent. and st fie-

absent. ld re-

port.

General 40 325 633 790 166

headquarters a.

Second Army Corps 1,551 15,447 19,969 37,018 20,011

(Ewell).

Third Army Corps 1,535 17,872 22,202 35,061 21,756

(A. P. Hill).

Cavalry Corps 614 7,481 9,381 17,239 8,915

(Stuart).

Artillery Corps 244 4,371 5,233 6,925 5,240

(Pendleton).

Total. 3,984 45,596 57,418 97,033 56,088

aIncluding provost guard, scouts, guides, and couriers.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, NORTH CAROLINA,

Raleigh, December 11, 1863.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War:

DEAR SIR: Referring to your letter of the 29th of October in relation to the petition of the First and Third Regiments North Carolina Infantry to be put into a North Carolina brigade, in which you

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*See Lee to Davis, December 3; Davis to Lee, December 5, and Lee's reply, December 7.

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