HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON.

Washington City, D. C., April 23, 1861

Major McDOWELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.;

SIR: The department commander desires that you impress upon the commanderse of troops under your direction that the greatest vigilance must be exercised. Should an attack be made to-night in the direction of the President's Mansion, the Massachusetts troops will promptly move to its defense, leaving the District of Columbia volunteers and Pennsylvania troops for the defense of the Capitol. This is to be observed until further orders.

By order of Colonel Smith:

L. A. WILLIAMS.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[2.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON. Numbers 22.
Washington, D. C., April 24, 1861

I. Company E, Second Artillery, commanded by Captain Carlisle, Second Artillery, will take post in the vicinity of the Long Bridge at quarters which will be indicated by Lieutenant Beckwith, First Artillery, acting assistant quartermaster.

II. Captain Carlisle will station a guard on the Long Bridge and suffer no provisions to pass over to the Virginia side of the river.

By order of Colonel Smith:

THEO. TALBOT

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[2.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON.

Washington, D. C., April 24, 1861

General J. H. LANE, and

Major C. M. CLAY,
Washington, D. C.;

GENTLEMEN: The Secretary of War desires that the volunteers under command of General J. H. Lane, and Major C. M. Clay should tak epost at the U. S. navy-yard for its protection. I am therefore directed by Colonel Smith, commanding to request that you will report with your respective commands to the commandant of the navy-yard for this service by 9 o'clock to-night, to remain on duty until daylight. You will report to the commandant of the navy-yard for the same service on each succeeding night for the periods that your respective commands may have been enrolled.

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

THEO. TALBOT

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[2.]

PHILADELPHIA, April 24, 1861.

Major F. J. PORTER:

The orders of Lieutenant-General Scott have been anticipated. Fort Mifflin is held by a detachment of volunteerse. Captain Gibson reports