[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
September 25, 1864-y a. m.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Humphreys for his information.

The infantry commander at Old Court-House must have taken the statements of some of commander at Old Court-House must have taken the statements of some of the First District of Columbia Cavalry without communicating with the officers in charge of that portion of the line.

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General.

[Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 25, 1864.

Respectfully returned.

The statement made through General Benham was not that the pickets had been driven in, but that they had come in, saying the enemy was too strong for them-that is, they had deserted their posts. The commanding general invites your attention to this point, into which a strict investigation should be made.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

[Third indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
September 25, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Colonel Spear for investigation and report.

By command of Brigadier-General KAUTZ:

M. J. ASCH,

Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Fourth indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, KAUTZ'S DIVISION,
September 25, 1864.

Respectfully returned with report as ordered.

S. P. SPEAR,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

[Sub-inclosure.]

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, KAUTZ'S CAVALRY DIVISION,
In the Field, Va., September 25, 1864.

Captain M. J. ASCH,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

Sir: I have the honor to return the inclosed communication with the following report, viz: a 9.30 p. m. last evening I received a dispatch "by command of General Kautz's" and signed by you, stating that "our pickets had fallen back upon the supports from Old Court-House," &c. Upon the receipt of this, I immediately sent for my brigade officer of the day, and directed him" to proceed in person at once and ascertain facts and report" the same to me. I also ordered an officer and fifty men" to reconnoiter my left" and to report at the earliest possible moment" the state of that portion of my line." Fearing there should be some mistake, I ordered my own horse saddled and in person visited my line. I found not the least foundation for such