Averell; also a copy of General Averell's communication. For the execution of this programme, and General Averell's plan of operations, the general commanding desires that you detail the brigade and the three regiments of infantry asked for, and direct the commanding officers to report in person to General Averell for instructions. General Averell will confer with you, and the commanding general requests that every assistance be rendered him to secure the success of the expedition.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers G. PARKE,

Chief of Staff.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, December 28, 1862.

Brigadier-General AVERELL,
Commanding Cavalry Brigade:

GENERAL: The commanding general directs that you organize an expedition, composed of 1,000 picked men and officers, with four pieces of horse artillery,and proceed to carry out the plan of operations proposed by you, which is fully understood and approved. The orders for all the details that you may require will be given from these headquarters.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers G. PARKE,

Chief of Staff.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, December 28, 1862.

Major General AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE,
Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Pursuant to the instructions I had the honor to receive from you to-day, I beg leave to submit the following proposed cavalry operations for you consideration and orders, viz:

I propose to take 1,000 picked men, made up as follows: First U. S. Cavalry, 150 men, 6 officers; Second U. S. Cavalry, 150 men, 4 officers; Fourth U. S. Cavalry, 50 men, 2 officers; Eighth New York Cavalry, 200 men, Colonel Davis and 8 officers; Fifth U. S. Cavalry, 100 men, 4 officers; Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, 150 men, 6 officers; Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 100 men, 4 officers; First Rhode Island Cavalry, 75 men, 3 officers; First Massachusetts Cavalry, 75 men, 3 officers; total, 1,000 men and 36 officers, and four pieces of Pennington's battery, with three days' cooked rations and 12 rounds of forage each, and proceed, via Kelley's Ford, on the Rappahannock, and Raccoon Ford, on the Rapidan, and the bridge at Carterville, on the James River, and south of Petersburg, to Suffolk, or to the forces under the command of Major-General Foster, in North Carolina, as circumstances may determine me after I shall have crossed the James River. I propose to leave this camp on Tuesday morning and cross Kelly's Ford on Wednesday morning. In order to have my horses as fresh as possible, I desire to go to the vicinity of White Ridge or Morrisville, beyond Hartwood, on Tuesday, sending forward from that place on Tuesday evening a

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*See Parke to Averell, December 30, 1862,p.902.

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