HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 20, 1864.

Major-General SEDGWICK:

Have heard nothing in regard to the report of General French last night. Have just telegraphed General Pleasonton inquiring.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 20, 1864.

Major-General SEDGWICK:

General Pleasonton reports that the reconnaissance sent out this morning report the woods on fire, but no enemy are to be seen or found.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

FEBRUARY 20, 1864-11 a. m.

Captain PAINE:

The officer in charge of picket reports a large column of smoke seen yesterday at 11 a. m. 6 miles in his front, on Sperryville pike; also, at 9 p. m., saw several large fires 4 miles to right of Sperryville pike and about 8 miles from Culpeper. Did Bartley see either of the above? If not, look this a. m. for smoke where the fires were last night. Report upon this immediately. There may be some scouting party of the enemy in that neighborhood.

NORTON.

CULPEPER, February 20, 1864.

Colonel C. R. SMITH,

Chief of Staff, Cavalry Corps:

The reconnaissance sent out to find out the cause of fires seen to the left of General Birney's line reports fires caused by burning of grass in that neighborhood in direction Slate Mills and Amissville. No force of enemy there, nor signs of any. A few mounted men, and nothing more, seen.

W. MERRITT,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, February 20, 1864.

Brigadier-General KELLEY,

Cumberland:

GENERAL: The Secretary of War directs that you report your losses of men, animals, transportation, ordnance, quartermaster's and commissary stores in the last two movements of the rebel forces in West Virginia, and also, so far as you have means of knowing, the captures from and losses of the enemy in these operations.