HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Alexandria, August 27, 1862-2.20 p.m.

Captain C. G. SAWTELLE,

Assistant Quartermaster, Fort Monroe:

General McClellan directs that you have the cavalry from Fort Monroe and Yorktown pushed forward as rapidly as possible.

Every minute is important.

A. V. COLBURN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Similar dispatch to commanding officer at Yorktown.)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Alexandria, August 27, 1862.

General E. D. KEYES,

Commanding Corps, Yorktown:

Please have the embarkation of Couch's division pushed with the utmost rapidity, and send off every vessel for this place as soon as it is loaded.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

FORT MONROE, August 27, 1862.

General WILLIAMS,

Alexandria:

Sumner's batteries will all get off to-day. Captain Bramhall's batteries left Yorktown last evening, except 100 horses, which are now loading. Porter's, Franklin's, and Sumner's wagons and teams are loading at Newport News, Hampton,, and Fort Monroe as rapidly as possible. Some of the corps and division quartermasters, the last teams of the Engineer Brigade, have just embarked. The quartermaster's supply train and signal corps are just embarking. I will push everything as much as I can.

C. G. SAWTELLE,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862-2.30 p.m.

Major General AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE,

Falmouth, Va.:

The enemy are in possession of Manassas and Fairfax Station. Hold yourself in readiness to withdraw from Falmouth and Aquia Creek and to cover the withdrawal; don't move until further orders with your command, but embark all of Hunt's batteries that are not absolutely required at once. They are much needed here.

By order:

A. V. COLBURN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Take steps to cover the retreat of any of Pope's forces that may come in your direction.