ALEXANDRIA, November 29, 1864.

(received 3 p. m.)

Colonel TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff:

Direct Gamble to send 800 cavalry, under Sweitzer, to report to General Merritt, near Snickersville, with five days' rations and as much forage as is necessary. They must procure corn from the country. They should leave to-morrow morning by the route indicated in General Sheridan's dispatch.

C. C. AUGUR,

Major-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., November 29, 1864.

Major General C. C. AUGUR,

Commanding Department of Washington;

GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose copy of telegram* from operator at Dernestown. Our line now extends to General Sheridan's headquarters, and is 111 miles long. Any interruptions between the two points necessarily deprives General Sheridan of communication, either with Washington or Harper's Ferry, as battery is supplied here.

I therefore respectfully to protect the line.

I am, general, very respectfully, &c.,

THOS. T. ECKERT,

Major and Assistant Superintendent U. S. Military Telegraph.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22ND ARMY CORPS,
November 29, 1864.

Brigadier General A. P. HOWE,

Inspector of Artillery:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that two batteries of light artillery, one filed and the other smooth-bore, effective for field service, be held in readiness to answer requisitions which will be made by the Sixth Army Corps.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS, No. 120. November 29, 1864.

The troops now commanded by Colonel William Gamble, Eight Illinois Cavalry, are announced as a separate brigade, under the provisions of General Orders, No. 251, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, August 31, 1864, and will hereafter be designated as the First Separate Brigade, Department of Washington.

By command of Major General C. C. Augur:

C. H. RAYMOND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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* Not found.

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