[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, February 23, 1864.

Major-General PLEASONTON,
Commanding Cavalry Corps:

Signal officer at Pony Mountain reports a large column of smoke seen west of Thoroughfare Mountain and just north of Madison. The major-general commanding directs that a reconnaissance be sent out to Thoroughfare Mountain to ascertain if any movement of the enemy is going on in that direction. Some one should ascend the mountain.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, Chief of Staff.

FEBRUARY 23, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel C. ROSS SMITH,

Chief of Staff:

The reconnaissance to the Thoroughfare Mountain to-day developed no movement of the enemy. The smoke arose from a fire in the woods west of Cedar Mountain.

W. MERRITT,

Brigadier-General.

FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, February 23, 1864. (Received 5. 12 a. m.)

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff:

The cavalry sent out last night have returned. They followed the route of the rebel cavalry as far as Goose Creek. Mosby had about fifteen hours' start, and was moving rapidly toward Snicker's Gap. Seven wounded men and the bodies of 8 killed have been brought in. About 70 men are still unaccounted for. I will telegraph more fully to-night.

R. O. TYLER,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, D. C., February 23, 1864-3 p. m.

Brigadier-General KELLEY,

Cumberland:

The Fourteenth New Hampshire Volunteers will be returned to this city.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Cumberland, Md., February 23, 1864.

Major General S. P. HEINTZELMAN,

Commanding Northern Department, Columbus, Ohio:

GENERAL: Yours of the 19th came duly to hand, inclosing a slip cut from a newspaper, giving the views of a correspondent of the New York Herald upon the subject of an anticipated raid into West