be sent to Maryland. The dragoons now there, in my opinion, is a sufficient force to arrest all deserters attempting to make their escape from service in that direction. If, however, it should be determined to send a regiment of infantry from my command to Maryland, I desire that it may be understood that such regiment is not removed from my command .

The Ninth Corps will be shipped as rapidly as the transportation is furnished for that movement. The same will be the case with the Reserves. One brigade of the former embarked to-day. I have the honor to inclose a copy of General Orders, No. 6, breaking up the grand divisions and consolidating the cavalry of this army.

Very respectfully, &c.,

JOSEPH HOOKER,

Major-General, Commanding.

[Inclosures.]

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

No. 35.
February 4, 1863.

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II. The Ninth Corps, under Major General William F. Smith, will embark for Fort Monroe without delay. Major-General Sedgwick will relieve Major-General Smith of the command of the Sixth Corps, and will enter upon this duty on the receipt of this order. Staff officers on duty with these corps will be governed by the provisions of General Orders, No. 212, War Department, December 23, 1862. On arriving at Fort Monroe, Major-General Smith will report to Major-General Dix for further orders. The troops will embark with three days' rations, sending all invalids of a serious type to Washington City, and those of a slight character will accompany the commands to which they long. The chief quartermaster will furnish the necessary transportation.

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By command of Major-General Hooker:

JOS. DICKINSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

No. 36.
Camp near Falmouth, Va., February 5, 1863.

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II. The Pennsylvania Reserves, Third Division, First Corps, will embark at Belle Plain without unnecessary delay for Alexandria, and report to Major General S. P. Heintzelman. The chief quartermaster will furnish the necessary transportation.

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By command of Major-General Hooker:

JOS. DICKINSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D. C., February 6, 1863.

Brigadier General G. W. CULLUM,

Chief of Staff, Headquarters of the Army:

SIR: Mr. William P. Trowbridge, engineer agent at New York, reports in a letter received to-day that the bridge train of sixty bateau