HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April 1, 1864.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:

GENERAL: Your circular of March 23 with reference to partisan rangers has been received. The organizations of partisan rangers serving with his army are the fourth and Fifth North Carolina Cavalry (Fifty-ninth and Sixty-third Regiments), now absent in North Carolina; Lieutenant-Colonel Mosby's battalion, serving in Fauquier; Captain Kincheloe's company, serving in Prince William; Captain McNeill's company and Major Gilmor's battalion and Major O'Ferrall's battalion, serving in the Valley Department. Of these, the Fourth and Fifth North Carolina Regiments have been serving as regular cavalry, and will come under act Numbers 19, published in General Orders, Numbers 29, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, current series, being continued in their present organizations as regular cavalry. I am making an effort to have Colonel Mosby's battalion mustered into the regular service. If this cannot be done I recommend that this battalion be retained as partisans for the present. Lieutenant-Colonel Mosby has done excellent service, and from the reports of citizens and others I am inclined to believe that he is strict in discipline and a protection to the country in which he operates. Gilmor's battalion I have already recommended to be disbanded and the companies brought under section 2 of act Numbers 19. I renew the recommendation, and recommend the same course to be pursued with Kincheloe's company, O'Ferrall's battalion, and McNeill's company. Experience has convinced me that it is almost impossible, under the best officers even, to have discipline in these bands of partisan rangers, or to prevent them from becoming an injury instead of a benefit to the service, and even where this is accomplished the system gives license to many deserters and marauders, who assume to belong to these authorized companies and commit depredations on friend and foe alike. Another great objection to them is the bad effect upon the discipline of the army from the constant desire of the men to leave their commands, and enjoy the great license allowed in these bands. With the single exception mentioned. I hope the order will be issued at once disbanding the companies and battalions serving in this department.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

[First indorsement.]

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

April 18, 1864

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.

O'Ferrall's battalion has been organized into a regiment. It ought not to be disbanded. The recommendation of General Lee as to Kincheloe's and McNeill's companies is submitted for favorable consideration. Gilmor's battalion is made up in fact of Virginians and Marylanders. He is represented to be a good officer and his men willing to come into general service. I think he should be his ordered to the Maryland Line, the Virginians to be transfered to Virginia companies.

By order:

SAML. W. MELTON,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.