MAY 31, 1863-10 a. m.

Major-General DIX,

Fort Monroe:

Agreeably to your request, directions have been given for the dismounted men of Colonel Kilkpatrick's cavalry to report to you. Will you please have me furnished with a map of the position of your forces at West Point, and also the position and approximate strength of the enemy's forces in that vicinity? We have concurrent evidence that Hood's division is posted between Gordonsville and Louisa Court-House, and Pickett's at Taylorsville (near Sexton's Junction). Longstreet is in front of me. I conclude that General Lee must be absent, as I have received no communication from him in reply to mine since a week ago yesterday.

JOSEPH HOOKER,

Major-General, Commanding

FORT MONROE, May 31, 1863.

Major-General HOOKER:

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

It has been decided to withdraw form West Point, and throw the force three up the Peninsula toward Whit House. I can get no satisfactory information as to the enemy's force. There was last week a considerable body massed north of Richmond, on the railroad, ready to support Lee at Fredericksburg or Wise at White House. I can hear nothing of them since Wednesday. I will advise you of all my movements. My force is small.

JOHN A. DIX,

Major-General.

Abstract form tri-monthly return of the Army of the Potomac, Major General Joseph Hooker, U. S. Army, commanding, for May 31, 1863; headquarters, near Falmouth, Va.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

General and staff 55 -- 55

Provost-guard, 111 1,704 2,624

Brigadier General M.

R. Patrick

Engineer Brigade, 61 1,584 2,459

Brigadier General H.

W. Benham

Signal corps, Captain 5 28 49

B. F. Fisher

Guards and orderlies, 2 42 75

Brigadier General R.

Ingalls

Artillery Reserve, 146 3,752 4,770

Brigadier General r.

O. Tyler

First Army Corps, Major 871 12,651 212,585

General J. F. Reynolds

Second Army Corps, 838 11,715 22,284

Major General D. N.

Couch

Third Army Corps, Major 738 12,588 23,022

General D. E. Sickles

Fifth Army Corps, Major 607 9,844 16,810

General G. G. Meade

Sixth Army Corps, Major 912 16,274 26,973

General John Sedgwick

Eleventh Army Corps, 496 10,459 17,601

Major General O. O.

Howard

Twelfth Army Corps, 436 8,261 14,698

Major General H. W.

Slocum

Cavalry Corps, 566 9,626 20,417

Brigadier General A.

Pleasonton

Batteries at Aquia 7 240 286

Creek

Total 5,851 98,768 173,715

Command. Aggregate Aggregate last Pieces of

present and return. artillery.

absent.

General and 66 --

staff 62

Provost-guard, 2,624 1,415 --

Brigadier

General M. R.

Patrick

Engineer 2,459 2,463 --

Brigade,

Brigadier

General H. W.

Benham

Signal corps, 49 183 --

Captain B. F.

Fisher

Guards and 75 91 --

orderlies,

Brigadier

General R.

Ingalls

Artillery 4,770 4,738 151

Reserve,

Brigadier

General r. O.

Tyler

First Army 21,58 23,727 28

Corps, Major

General J. F.

Reynolds

Second Army 22,284 22,343 24

Corps, Major

General D. N.

Couch

Third Army 23,022 23,039 30

Corps, Major

General D. E.

Sickles

Fifth Army 16,810 17,345 26

Corps, Major

General G. G.

Meade

Sixth Army 26,973 27,895 50

Corps, Major

General John

Sedgwick

Eleventh Army 17,601 17,436 24

Corps, Major

General O. O.

Howard

Twelfth Army 14,896 14,731 20

Corps, Major

General H. W.

Slocum

Cavalry Corps, 20,417 21,572 22

Brigadier

General A.

Pleasonton

Batteries at 286 -- 12

Aquia Creek

286

Total 173,715 177,044 387