HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near Fort Buffalo, Va., August 24, 1864.

Lieutenant C. B. LYELL,

Thirteenth New York Cav., Comdg. Cav. at Lewinsville:

LIEUTENANT: The party under Mosby which attacked the camp at Annandale this morning has retired from the attack without accomplishing anything more than the wounding of one horse. Another attempt will doubtless be made somewhere along our line, either during the day or to-night. The point selected will probably be at your stockade. The colonel commanding directs me to tell you to caution your pickets and your men to be on the alert, and assure yourself that they are, especially toward daybreak to-morrow, should an attack not come sooner. Keep two horses saddled in the stockade all the day and to-night, and in the case of an attack let us know here at once by sending out in two different directions. This will make sure of one of your messengers reaching us. Colonel Lazelle directs you not to surrender your command under any consideration or emergency. Please send word by the bearer how many horses and men you have with you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

EDWIN Y. LANSING,

First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS,
August 24, 1864

Captain E. B. PARSONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Middle Military Division:

CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders, I have the honor to report the following as field return for to-day:

Present for duty

Command. Officers Men. Total

First division 205 3,361 3,566

Second division 218 3,763 3,981

Third division 152 2,570 2,722

Artillery Brigade 28 752 780

Total 603 10,446 11,049

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. G. WRIGHT,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,

Shepherdstown, W. Va., August 24, 1864.

General W. MERRITT,

Commanding First Division:

GENERAL: The chief of cavalry directs that you move your division at 6 a.m. on the Smithfield pike, marching as far as Walper's Cross-Roads, awaiting at that point until joined by the Third Division.