CEDAR MOUNTAIN, February 24, 1864.

COMMANDING GENERAL FIRST ARMY CORPS:

The smoke along Lost Mountain keeps constantly changing in position. I think it must be fire in the woods. Deserters report Lomax' cavalry brigade as being disbanded to recruit. No other change.

WIGGINS,

Signal Officer.

HEADQUARTERS DIVISION, February 24, 1864.

Lieutenant-Colonel TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

A party of about 50 men, sent out to-day to bring in stray horses and stragglers, has returned. They discovered a strong picket on the road above Dranesville, and bring back the report that the enemy are 600 strong on Goose Creek. I shall send all the cavalry I can raise from Vienna to-morrow to scout in that direction. I think it probable that the enemy's force is considerable. Could not an arrangement be made with the Army of the Potomac to send a force above Goose Creek to try and cut them off from the mountains?

R. O. TYLER,

Brigadier-General.

FAIRFAX STATION, VA., February 24, 1864-6. 55 p. m.

Colonel FLOOD,

Burke's Station:

A large number of the enemy's cavalry have shown themselves on the south side of Devereux. As this latter place is pretty well protected, it may be likely they will visit some other part of the railroad. You will therefore exercise unusual vigilance.

Respectfully,

MATHEW MURPHY,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, February 24, 1864. (Received 9. 55 p. m.)

Colonel J. H. TAYLOR,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

I have the honor to report that a dispatch was received about 7 p. m., from Colonel Murphy, commanding brigade, to the effect that a number of rebel cavalry was seen a short time before on the road south of Devereux. The regimental commanders along the line of the railroad have been notified. Up to this hour all is quiet.

R. O. TYLER,

Brigadier-General.

HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA.,

February 24, 1864-10. 30 p. m. (Received 11. 20 p. m.)

Brigadier-General CULLUM,

Chief of Staff:

Lieutenant-Colonel Quirk, of the Twenty-third Illinois, commanding detachment at Greenland Gap, reports that he has information that a rebel force is at Franklin, in Pendleton County, estimated at