WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, D. C., May 28, 1862-7 p. m.

Brigadier-General SAXTON,

Harper's Ferry:

General Dix has sent troops and artillery to guard your rear.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

[12.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, D. C., May 29, 1862.

General McDOWELL,

Manassas:

Richmond papers containing dispatches to General Lee and Governor Letcher state that Jackson and Ewell had formed a junction, and that Banks was beaten by their forces at Winchester. The dispatches purport to go by way of Staunton.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

[12.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK,
Manassas, May 29, 1862.

Major-General SHIELDS,

Rectortown:

The general is gratified at your progress. Your brigade left Catlett's at 3 p. m. yesterday. What supplies do you what? They shall be forwarded immediately. The bridges will be repaired as soon as possible.

E. SCHRIVER,

Chief of Staff.

[12.]

MANASSAS, May 29, 1862.

Major-General ORD:

General McDowell authorizes you to wait till 5 o'clock to-morrow morning, preferably 4, to start for Rectortown. As soon as you reach there, take up your march for Front Royal, endeavoring as far as possible to be in supporting distance of Shields' division. The whole of the railroad transportation is to get your division forward as rapidly, and with as little fatigue, as possible, and you are to use your judgment about the twenty-three cars.

E. SCHRIVER,

Chief of Staff.

[12.]

MANASSAS, May 29, 1862.

General BAYARD,

Catlett's:

General McDowell directs me to inform you that in marching to Front Royal you go by Salem, Piedmont, and Markham, and not by way of Rectortown, which is five miles out of the way.

E. SCHRIVER,

Chief of Staff.

[12.]