WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, December 3, 1862.

General KELLEY,

Cumberland, Md.:

Send me, in round numbers, your effective force in Western Virginia, exclusive of the Kanawha Valley; also their positions. Be prepared for orders to move.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

CUMBERLAND, MD., December 3, 1862-6 p.m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Your telegram received. My effective force is as follows: At New Creek, W. Va., 23 miles west of Cumberland, three batteries, 600 cavalry, and 8,000 infantry. At Cumberland, Md., one battery and 1,600 infantry. Two regiments between New Creek and Ohio River, guarding railroad. Between Cumberland and Hancock, in General Morell's division, there is one regiment of cavalry and one of infantry guarding railroad. At least one regiment should be left at New Creek and one at Cumberland, to guard railroad and stores, in case troops are ordered to move east.

B. F. KELLEY,

Brigadier-General.

CUMBERLAND, December 3, 1862-8 p.m.

Major BASCOM,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Charleston, W. Va.:

Nothing new. General Halleck to-day inquires my strength, and directs me to hold myself in readiness for orders. I had intended General Milroy should occupy Petersburg, in Hardy County, with a portion of his force, for the purpose of preventing a raid into Randolph or Tucker by guerrillas, but will now, of course, have to wait till I hear from General Halleck.

B. F. KELLEY,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 4, 1862-10 a.m. (Received 10.30 a.m.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Cannot Colonel Tyler come down with two of his companies to serve the 4 1/2-inch guns for a few days? They should bring very light baggage, and can be sent back in four hours, if needed. We have the guns and ammunition here.

A. E. BURNSIDE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, December 4, 1862.

Lieutenant Colonel JOS. DICKINSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that the scouts sent out last evening toward Catlett's Station have just returned. They report having