CHARLESTON, April 8, 1864.

(Received 8. 50 a. m., 9th.)

Major-General STAHEL:

We will take the Fifth and Seventh Virginia Cavalry instead of the Twentieth Pennsylvania. Please orders them and the balance of the Third Virginia at once.

Respectfully,

WM. P. RUCKER,

Major and Aide-de-Camp.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. CAVALRY, DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Cumberland, Md., April 9, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded for the information and decision of the commanding general of the department.

JUL. STAHEL,

Major-General, Chief of Cavalry.

FORT MONROE, VA., April 8, 1864.

(Received 7 p. m.)

Honorable P. H. WATSON,

Assistant Secretary of War:

We are about going into the field. I have got one battalion of Baker's cavalry, and two unmounted battalions are at Washington. I must have them within ten days. Please see that they are equipped. I apply to you because then I always get what I want.

B. F. BUTLER,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SUB-DISTRICT OF NEW BERNE,
New Berne, N. C., April 8, 1864.

Captain J. A. JUDSON,

Asst. Adjt. General, Army and District of North Carolina:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit a statement in detail of the strength of and disposition of the forces under my command, as requested in your note of the 7th instant:

Cavalry.

Third Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel George W. Lewis (twelve companies):

Companies A, B, C, E, F, G, I, K, L, and M, stationed at Camp Peck. 417men

Companies D and H, at Rocky Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495

Twelfth Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry, Colonel James W. Savage (seven companies):

Companies C, G, H, I, and L, stationed at Camp Palmer. . . . . . . 263

Company K, stationed at Brice's Creek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Company M, stationed at Batchelder's Creek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371