ALEXANDRIA, February 29, 1864-10. 20 p. m.

Colonel TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL; It is reported that Mosby and 5 men are inside the lines beyond Falls Church. Two companies of cavalry from Vienna are in pursuit, and all my men are out to intercept him, if possible.

H. H. WELLS,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 80.
Washington, February 29, 1864.

Major General Franz Sigel, U. S. Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the Department of West Virginia.

By order of the President:

W. A. NICHOLS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

FORT MONROE, VA., February 29, 1864-6 p. m.

(Received 6. 30 p. m.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Dispatch received. * I will advance to New Kent Court-House 2,000 infantry, a battery, and 1,000 cavalry, under an experienced officer, starting on the evening of March 1, to reach New Kent at 3 p. m. Wednesday, to aid in case of disaster, to receive prisoners, or to cover retreat. Is this approved?

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General.

WASHINGTON, February 29, 1864-9 p. m.

Major-General BUTLER,

Fort Monroe, Va.:

Act as you deem best under the circumstances. The telegram sent to you was the first notice received here of General Kilpatrick's movements.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

FORT MONROE, VA., February 29, 1864.

(Received 9. 40 p. m.)

Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Flag-of-truce boat is in. Our defeat in Florida is confirmed by official dispatch. General Bragg is appointed to Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Army. They claim a repluse of Grant from Tunnel Hill after severe fighting, and that all expectation of a general engagement is over.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

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

*Meade to Halleck, same date, p. 615.

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