GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Numbers 7.
March 3, 1864.

I. Article 1, paragraph IV, of General Orders, Numbers 11, of February 11, 1863,* from these headquarters is so far amended as to read as follows:

Such sales shall not at any one time exceed the quantity necessary to sustain the applicant and the members of his family, including servants, five days.

Article 2, paragraph IV, of the same order will read as follows:

Issues to destitute citizens may be made under the same restrictions, upon returns approved by the provost-marshal-general of this army, such issues to be of the parts and amounts of the ration established by General Orders, Numbers 30., War Department, January 25, 1864, as hereafter to be issued to adult refugees and adult colored persons, commonly called contrabands, &c.

II. The privileges granted by General Orders, Numbers 11, within referred to and modified as above, will not be allowed to any person, or the family of any person, remaining in the service of a disloyal master.

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. F. BARSTOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
March 3, 1864. (Received 12. 10 p. m.)

Major-General PLEASONTON:

The major-general commanding directs that General Custer make a reconnaissance to-morrow morning to ascertain whether the enemy are holding Ely's Ford in any force, and, if so, whether with infantry or artillery.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
March 3, 1864

Major-General PLEASONTON,

Commanding Cavalry Corps:

The following dispatch just received. The major-general commanding considers that Colonel Thorp, should take command at Stevensburg, or hold his command ready to support Major Dake, commanding cavalry detachment Third Division:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, March 3, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

Colonel Thorp came while I was at headquarters, and reported that he was at Stevensburg with 500 cavalry from Merritt's division, and had no instructions and did not know what to do. He relieved the cavalry that was there to-day, but received no directions from its commander. I will forward any instructions you send.

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

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*See Vol. XXV, Part II, p. 67.

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