[Inclosure.]

WASHINGTON,

February 8, 1863-11.50 a.m.

Major-General BUTTERFIELD,

Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

Colonel Percy Wyndham has been ordered to leave camp early on the morning of February 9, with about 1,000 cavalry, and thoroughly scout the country between his present position, near Fairfax Court-House, as far as, and connecting with, the right wing of the Army of the Potomac, and return.

S. P. HEINTZELMAN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 8, 1863-1 p.m.

Major-General S. P. HEINTZELMAN,

Commanding Defenses of Washington:

Your dispatch, concerning a reconnaissance to be made by Colonel Wyndham to-morrow, received 12.30 p.m. to-day. A cavalry force, with artillery, sent out from this army, returned yesterday from a successful reconnaissance to Rappahannock Station. They reported the roads generally in a very bad condition.

DANL. BUTTERFIELD,

Chief of Staff.

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 8, 1863.

Major General JOSEPH HOOKER, Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Yours of the 6th is just received. The order abolishing grand division and concentrating your cavalry into a single corps are steps in the right direction.

General Heintzelman has been ordered to furnish General Schenck an infantry regiment for the Maryland shore. He will also send you Pennsylvania regiments to replace the Reserves.

The Adjutant-General's Office has been employed for several weeks in preparing a full list of recommendations for brevets. I hope it will be acted on this week.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

February 8, 1863.

In compliance with the instructions received from headquarters Army of the Potomac,* Brigadier-General Griffin will make the necessary detail from his command, and carry out the provisions of the instructions aforesaid. General Griffin will direct the commanding officer of the detail to report to General Woodbury, at headquarters Army of the Potomac, at 4 p.m. to-day.

By command of Major-General Meade:

FRED. T. LOCKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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* See Butterfield to Meade, February 7, p. 59.

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