GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, Numbers 23.
Washingtong, D. C., May 14, 1861.

I. Surg. A. N. McLaren, medical staff, U. S. Army, having reported for duty at these headquarters, in accordance with instructions from the War Department, he is hereby announced as medical director of the department.

II. Surg. C. H. Laub, medical staff, U. S. Army, is hereby announced as medical purveyour for this department.

By command of Brigadier-General Mansfield:

THEO. TALBOT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[2.]

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Numbers 7.
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 14, 1861.

Until further orders, Major R. B. Marcy, U. S. Army, will perform the duties of assistant adjutant-general of this department.

By order of:

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

[2.]

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, NUMBERS 8.
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 14, 1861.

Captain H. W. Benham, U. S. Engineers, having reported to the general commanding the department, is hereby assigned to duty as chief engineer of this department.

* * *

By order of Major-General McClellan:

R. B. MARCY,

Acting Adjutant-General.

[2.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
Cincinnatti, May 14, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: Some ten days since I dispatched Lieutenant O. M. Poe, Topographical Enginneers, on a reconnaissance of the southeastern frontier of this State. His trip extended from Portsmouth to Wheeling, whence he returned last night. His opinion is that the frontier in that direction is in no immediate danger; that a small collection of militia on the Kanawha, some twenty miles above its mouth, is the only encampment on that frontier; that the border inhabitants of Eastermn Kentucky are eminently loyal, while the Western Virginians from the Kentucky line to Parkersburg are rotten, but loyal above the latter point. It is also his opinion that a display of troops immediately on the frontier, unless with a view of crossing over, would be injudicious at the present moment. These opinions are corroborated by other information in my possession and seem to me sound.

At the present moment I am more anxious about Cairo than any other point, and strongly urge that the heavy guns needed for that point may