down the Valley to Luray Gap, where all necessary supplies can meet him, giving his men three day's rations in their haversacks, and carrying a supply train of ten days' supplies of hard tack, sugar, coffee, and salt, driving fresh meat to reduce his supply train to the smallest number, he could throw his army with facility upon Culpeper Court-House and Gordonsville; in meantime, while his supplies last, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad can be repaired, and a large portion, if not the whole of it, put in running order. He then has a railroad to rely on to the desired point. That this railroad is a safe reliance, rendering the supplying of his army a certainly, look at Sherman's campaign, his line of supply being a single railroad in the heart of a hostile country, and yet held. To make a successful campaign against Lynchburg, captured and hold it, you must have this line of railroad; there is no other. Occupying Gordonsville, Lynchburg and Richmond are alike threatened.

Respectfully,

JNO. D. STEVENSON,

Brigadier-General.

HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., September 25, 1864. (Received 12.15 p. m.)

Major-General HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

All troops forwarded here, except the Eighty-fourth New York and Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania (rationed for four days, with requisite transportation), are organized, and will leave for the front to-morrow morning. The Eighty-fourth New York is sent to General Neill, at Martinsburg, for that depot. The Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania will be stationed at Duffied's, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. These are all the troops required for the railroad.

JNO. D. STEVENSON,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, September 25, 1864.

Brigadier-General STEVENSON,
Commanding, Harper's Ferry:

The major-general commanding directs that you see that all men coming to front are armed. There should be arms at the Ferry on hand for this purpose.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. KINGSBURY, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HARPER'S FERRY, September 25, 1864.

General T. H. NEILL,

Martinsburg:

I have ordered Colonel Rodgers, with his regiment, to move from Charlestown to-morrow morning and report to you. Also Colonel Conkling, Eighty-fourth New York Volunteers, with First Independent Ohio Light Battery, six guns, to move from here at same time to report to you.

Respectfully,

JNO. D. STEVENSON,

Brigadier-General.