HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
November 9, 1864.

Major-General CROOK,

Commanding Department of West Virginia:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you leave the brigade of your command at Newtown there until further orders.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. KINGSBURY, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
November 9, 1864 - 1 a. m.

General MERRITT:

GENERAL: The chief of cavalry has directed me to notify you that the army is ordered to move from its present position at 10 a. m. to-day "to a point where the Strasburg and Winchester pike crosses the Opequon Creek, where it will go into position." The command of General Crook is designated in the order as the rear guard. The cavalry will move under special orders from army headquarters, which, as yet, have not been given. Please have your command in readiness to move at short notice.

Very respectfully, & c.,

WM. RUSSELL, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS CHIEF OF CAVALRY, & C.,
November 9, 1864.

General MERRITT:

The chief of cavalry directs that you move with your command at daylight in the morning, or as soon thereafter as it is possible, back on the Valley pike across the Opequon, where you will take position on the left of the army, and picket the line of the Opequon to within one mile of the Winchester and Front Royal pike. When General Powell returns he will connect on your left. I send the inclosed order of instructions, which have been sent from these headquarters to the commanding officer of the pickets on the Winchester and Front Royal pike.

Very respectfully, & c.,

WM. RUSSELL, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
November 9, 1864.

COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE PICKETS ON THE WINCHESTER AND FRONT ROYAL PIKE:

SIR: If General Powell comes in during the night, as is expected, with him command, give him the accompanying letter. You will then move at daylight to Newtown and await orders. If General Powell does not get in before daylight you will move on the pike in the direction of Winchester as far as the White Post and Newtown road, and