HEADQUARTERS DE RUSSY'S DIVISION,
Arlington, Va., July 13, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel SAMUEL MCKELVY,

Commanding Rendezvous of Distribution:

The provisional battalion referred to in your communication of the 12th instant will be transferred to the Fourth Brigade of this division, Major Meservey commanding, near fort lyon. Captain Charles W. Morgan, aide-ce-camp, will conduct them to that post, where officers will be assigned to command them.

By command of Brigadier-General De Russy:

THOS. THOMPSON,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DETACHMENT EIGHTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY,
Offutt's Cross-Roads, Md., July 13, 1864-11. 30 p. m.

Major-General AUGUR:

SIR: I have the honor of reporting that previous to receiving your orders to-day I received orders from General hardin to move my command to the front, and along the River road as far as possible, and I have complied with his orders by moving as far as Muddy Branch (commonly known as Major Thompson's camp), and meeting with none of the enemy I have returned to my camp. The enemy's rear guard had left Muddy Branch about one-quarter of an hour before my arrival at that place, and on my return I reported what information I had gained to General Wright, whom I found at Offutt's Cross-Roads.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. G. PIERCE,

Captain, Commanding Detachment.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

July 13, 1864-4. 35 p. m.

Major General H. G. WRIGHT,

Tennallytown:

By command of the President you are assigned to the chief command of all the forces moving from Washington or elsewhere against the enemy now retreating from Washington, this assignment embracing the Nineteenth Corps, under command of Major-General Gillmore, and any forces that may join you from the command of Major-General Hunter, Major-General Ord, or elsewhere.

By command of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

P. S. -Please acknowledge the receipt of this order.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

July 13, 1864-4. 30 p. m.

Major-General WRIGHT, Tennallytown:

I send you by courier a copy of a dispatch* from General Grant. General Emory, with 1,500 of the Nineteenth Corps, has arrived.

---------------

*See Grant to Townsend, July 12, p. 222.

---------------