WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, July 21, 1863-2. 15 p. m.

Major-General COUCH, Chambersburg, Pa.:

All troops in the field of your department, and that of General Schenck, were placed under the orders of General Meade without regard to department lines. General Meade's orders to you in regard to Harper's Ferry must be obeyed. It will be time enough to regulate department lines when the enemy is driven away from the Potomac.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 21, 1863-3. 35 p. m.

Major-General COUCH, Chambersburg, Pa.:

It is reported that the cavalry at Gettysburg have been ordered away. There must be a cavalry force to collect and guard public property there. See to this immediately.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH ARMY CORPS, Baltimore, July 21, 1863.

Major-General COUCH, Harrisburg, Pa.:

I will look after and guard as far as possible the Northern Central Railroad up to the Pennsylvania line. I have now two companies of the One hundred and seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on that road, and this evening I will send four companies of Maryland infantry. They will be stationed at the Relay House, Cockeysville, Gunpowder, Phoenix, and Parkton. An engineer officer goes at the same time to superintend the building of blockhouses and palisade defenses of bridges by the troops and railroad operatives.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK,
Major-General, Commanding.

DEFENSES OF MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., July 21, 1863-8 p. m.

Major-General SCHENCK,

Commanding Middle Department, Baltimore, Md.: I am informed by note from Colonel McReynolds, Sharpsburg, that Lee was last evening at Bunker Hill; Longstreet at Bucklesville; Ewell at Martinsburg; Stuart at Smithfield; Fitzhugh Lee near Shepherdstown. General Kelley fell back to Cherry Run. Ewell was moving toward North Mountain. General Meade's ad-

47 R R-VOL XXVII, PT III