HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Fort Stevens, July 13, 1864.

Brigadier-General MEIGS:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that the commanding general has directed General Gillmore to return the Second District of Columbia and Twelfth Veteran Reserve regiments to your command.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. T. AUCHMUTY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MEIGS' DIVISION,
Near Fort Slocum, July 13, 1864.

Major AUCHMUTY,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: I have the honor to request that six medical officers and a division commissary and three brigade commissaries be assigned to this division, consisting of 5,000 men, and in which I cannot find an officer of the commissary or medical departments.

By order of Bvt. Major General M. C. Meigs:

WM. PAINTER,

Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, MEIGS' DIVISION,
July 13, 1864.

Major WILLIAM PAINTER,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: Does my command embrace Fort Stevens? I suppose not, for although that might result from a literal construction of General Meigs' order, Numbers 1, yet it was not so while I reported to General McCook, and in my interview with General Meigs yesterday he expressed no such wish. Please inform me, to avoid mistakes.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. E. PAINE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS MEIGS' DIVISION,
Near Fort Slocum, July 13, 1864.

Brigadier General H. E. PAINE,

Commanding Second Brigade, Meigs' Division:

GENERAL: Your command does not embrace Fort Stevens. The forts are under command of General Hardin.

By order of Bvt. Major General M. C. Meigs:

WM. PAINTER,

Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Fort Stevens, July 3, 1864.

Brigadier General M. C. MEIGS, Commanding Division:

GENERAL: The commanding general desires to be informed whether your front from Fort Slocum to Fort Totten is picketed. If

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