and stores unguarded, fled across the river, and Colonel Maulsby reported that he could not bring them back to duty. They are Maryland Home Guards, and ought all to be dismissed from the service in disgrace. General Slough has the post of honor. He commanded on the Virginia side, and will do all that can be done with such troops as he has. General Saxton commands on the Maryland side. General Banks is sending a force down the river to Antietam Furnace Ford to prevent the enemy from crossing above this place. In the course of an hour we shall be able to ascertain with more certainly the force of the enemy, and whether he is making a feint or attacking in earnest. The second gun is nearly in position.

P. H. WATSON,

Assistant Secretary of War.

HARPER'S FERRY, VA., May 30, 1862.

(Received 2.15 p. m.)

To the PRESIDENT:

The enemy's skirmishers in small numbers have approached very close to our outposts, but the main body appears to have retired. No attack will now be made, I think, by the enemy. Our forces are posted, one-half on Bolivar heights, on the Virginia side, where they are entrenching, and the other half on the Maryland Heights. The second large gun is mounted on the Maryland Heights. Heavy firing or thunder, it is not known which, has been heard in the direction of Winchester. The force we have here, although large in numbers, is unless for offensive purposes.

P. H. WATSON,

Assistant Secretary of War.

Abstract from Return of the Middle Department, Major General John A. Dix commanding, for May 30, 1862.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate Aggregate Aggregate last

present. present return.

and

absent.

Department 21 3 24 25 25

headquarters,

Baltimore, Md

Annapolis, Md 36 704 774 788 802

Baltimore, Md 148 2,859 3,186 3,787 1,798

Cooper's ..... ...... ........ ....... 3,700

brigade*

Drummondtown, Va 86 646 778 797 799

Fort Delaware, 15 319 363 368 372

Del

Fort McHenry, Md 32 664 793 841 840

Franktown, Va 3 82 90 92 95

Havre de Grace, 24 647 706 724 .......

Md

Philadelphia, Pa 2 1 3 3 3

Railroad ..... ...... ........ ....... 1,892

Brigade+

Miscellaneous ++ ..... ...... ........ ........ 1,464

Total 317 5,925 6,717 7,425 11,790

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* Brigadier-General Cooper ordered to Harper's Ferry, and his brigade disbanded May 25. The First Maryland Cavalry, Third Maryland Volunteers, One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Battery L, First New York Artillery, went with him.

+ No report from this command.

++ The Second Delaware proceeded to Fort Monroe May 28, and the Purnell Legion to Harper's Ferry May 27. The Seventh, Twenty- second, and Thirty-seventh Regiments New York State Militia, the first about 800 strong, the second about 450, and the third about 600 (which have made no report), will make the aggregate of troops encamped in and about Baltimore and in this department about 9,000.

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