WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City,l May 18, 1864-8.30 p. m.

WILLIAM P. SMITH, Esq.,

Superintendent, &c., Baltimore and Ohio R. R. Baltimore:

The order to send the pontoons by canal is countermanded, and they are ordered to be forwarded by rail. It is for you to give dispatch to the movement.

E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

CAMDEN STATION, May 18, 1864.

(Received 9.10 p. m.)

Honorable E. M. STANTON:

Greatly obliged for your prompt and satisfactory dispatches about pontoon. We will certainly hurry it through. Water continues high at the Ferry.

W. P. SMITH.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Cedar Creek, Va., May 18, 1864.

Major-General STAHEL,

Commanding Cavalry Division:

GENERAL: The commanding general directs you to order 300 cavalry to relieve the 100 now with Colonel Wells on the Strasburg and Woodstock road. They must leave camp before 6 a. m. to-morrow. Colonel Wells has been ordered to take his position with infantry, cavalry, and artillery, near Strasburg. He also directs that a cavalry picket of 150 men be stationed near the mouth of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, not for from the Winchester and Front Royal turnpike, opposite Front Royal, and a picket of 100 cavalry at Cedar Creek. These two detachments must keep connection by patrols with the cavalry at Strasburg, picketing our front, and must scout the country around their stations with vigilance.

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

T. MELVIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS OF MAJOR-GENERAL STAHEL,
OFFICE DIVISION PROVOST-MARSHAL,

May 18, 1864.

Lieutenant THOMAS H. WELLSTED,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: I have the honor to report that Harris and Welsh, scouts sent to Wardensville, have just returned this 4.30 p. m. Harris reports having gone on the Back road until he struck the Wardensville pike, and thence to Wardensville and Lost River. They gained no information and heard of but four rebels, who were making their way back to Imboden with four of our horses. Lost River was not fordable.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. H. HARKINS,

Major and Provost-Marshal, Division.