The question was submitted to the honorable Secretary of War, whose decision is indorsed on the paper as follows:

APRIL 24, 1863.

The opinion of General Lee approved.

By order of the Secretary of War:

J. A. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Secretary of War.

I request therefore, that all orders from the chiefs of staff departments may be considered as emanating directly from me, and executed accordingly.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, you obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

No. 60.
May 8, 1863.

In consequence of the great number of desertions among the substitutes in this army, and since few men who are exempt from military duty by reason of their age, or from other cause, can be equal to the soldier who has been tried in the field, captains of companies and colonels of regiments will conform strictly to the orders of the War Department, and accept no substitute unless him normal, physical, and soldierly qualifications are clearly equal to those of the soldier for whom he is offered, and then only on the authority of the commanding general.

By order of General R. E. Lee:

R. H. CHILTON,

Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

No. 125.
May 8, 1863.

I. Paragraph I, Special Orders, No. 120, current series, from these headquarters, is hereby revoked. Major General Edward Johnson is assigned to the command of Major-General Trimble's division of the Second Army Corps, and will report accordingly to Major General A. P. Hill, commanding corps.

II. Major General R. E. Rodes is assigned to the command of the division of the Second Army Corps formerly commanded by Major General D. H. Hill, and will report accordingly to Major General A. P. Hill, commander of corps.

* * * * * *

By command of General R. E. Lee:

W. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA,
Dublin, March [May] 8, 1863.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

GENERAL: I have been unable as yet to obtain any very reliable information in regard to the position, condition, and numerical strength of Brigadier-General Marshall's command. It is so closely connected