GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. FIRST SEPARATE BRIGADE, No. 6.
Fairfax Court-House, Va., December 19, 1864.

In compliance with orders from department headquarters, 1,000 cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Clendenin, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, will assemble promptly at 10 a. m. to-morrow at Fairfax Court-House, Va., with three days' rations and one day's grain. This command will be composed of 400 men from the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, 300 men from the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, 300 men from the Thirteenth New York Cavarly. The best mounted men from the several regiments will be selected, and if practicable a field officer sent with the detachment of each regiment.

By order of Colonel William Gamble:

C. F. MOORE,

First Lieutenant, Aide-de-Camp and Actg. Asst. Adjt. General

ALEXANDRIA, December 19, 1864-5.40 p. m.

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: I have just received a telegram from the provost-marshal at Fairfax Court-House, stating that thirty rebels attacked an ambulance containing Colonel Sweitzer, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, and Captain Gaylord, same regiment; wounding one man of the escort and capturing one wagon and seven horses. Colonel Sweitzer and Captain Gaylord escaped. The affair occurred one mile and a half from Vienna. Our men are in hot pursuit. Result as yet unknown. The provost-marshal at Vienna reports that it is reported that Colonel Sweitzer has been recaptured.

Respectfully,

H. H. WELLS,

Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General.

POINT LOOKOUT, December 19, 1864. (Received 5.55 p. m.)

Major General C. C. AUGUR,

Washington:

It is reported from Leonardtown that the 150 armed rebels who came across the river, as telegraphed last evening, were deserters from the rebel army.

J. BARNES,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, December 19, 1864.

General CROOK:

Come up and see me.

P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.