army goes forward. If you do not hear from me often, it will be because of the distance we are from the scene of action, and because I send you only such information as I eastern reliable.

JNO. D. STEVENSON,

Brigadier-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D. C., September 20, 1864-8 p. m.

Brigadier-General STEVENSON,

Harper's Ferry:

Have you anything from the front to-day? Your good tidings of yesterday and this morning makes us anxious for more.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

September 20, 1864.

Brigadier General JOHN D. STEVENSON:

You are assigned, by direction of the President, to the command of the District of Harper's Ferry, including Martinsburg and the lower Shenandoah Valley, so that all the forces there can operate together. Send copy of this to General Neill. General Wallace has been directed to send you another regiment.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

WASHINGTON, September 20, 1864.

Brigadier-General STEVENSON:

Stragglers, recruits, and convalescents not belonging to General Sheridan's command will be sent to Camp Distribution, Alexandria. Those belonging to his command will be organized into provisional battalions, and armed for temporary service at Harper's Ferry. If you require more officers for this purpose, telegraph to Adjutant-General how many you want.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
Cedar Creek, Va., September 20, 1864.

Brigadier-General STEVENSON:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you send, in addition to the eight days' rations ordered last night for the troops, 20,000 rations to Winchester for our prisoners and wounded.

Very respectfully,

JAS W. FORSYTH,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff.

P. S.-Troops crossing Cedar Creek; no fighting. The following general officers (rebels) reported killed and wounded: Gordon, Ramseur, Terry, Godwin, Brad Johnson, and Fitz Lee.

FORSYTH.