25 yards long each, and that a North Carolina regiment was on picket there. These rifle pits were dug on the 13th.

My pickets below, at King George, captured last night a major and sergeant, who have been sent to your headquarters by provost-marshal. The negroes again reported the enemy's cavalry having crossed below, and I shall send out to day and see.

Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,

A. PLEASONTON,

Brigadier-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, January 16, 1863.

Major General AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, U. S. Volunteers,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: I am instructed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th ultimo, in reference to sending the Third Division, First Army Corps, to the State of Pennsylvania for recruitment. The same is answered by the following indorsement of the General-in-Chief:

JANUARY 3, 1863.

There are numerous applications of this kind on file in regard to regiments from other States, which have been greatly reduced in recent battles. If granted in one it must be in al similar cases, which would the armies in the field as not only to prevent any further operations for three or four three or four months, but to endanger important positions now held by us. The War Department has uniformly refused applications of this kind, and I cannot, at the present time, advise a different policy.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

Approved.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

The attention of the State authorities has been invited to the evils resulting from the present system of selecting officers for the organization.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS M. VINCENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
January 17, 1863.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

If I order General Slocum's corps to join me, can his place be supplied by some of General Heintzelman's command?

A. E. BURNSIDE

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
January 17, 1863-8.40 a.m. (Received 8.45 a.m.)

Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

I am very anxious for an answer to my dispatch in reference to General Slocum.

A messenger will leave here to-day with dispatches for you, giving you information of my movements.

A. E. BURNSIDE,

Major-General, Commanding.