HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
January 17, 1864-12.35 p. m.

Brigadier-General MERRITT,

Commanding First Cavalry Division, Culpeper:

It is reported that the troops around Orange Court-House are moving toward the river, and that the enemy's cavalry pickets are this side of the river. The major-general commanding directs that you will gain all the information you can of the enemy's movments, and have your command in hand for any emergency, and forward all the informatio you can gain.

C. ROSS. SMITH,

[33.] Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. CAROLINA, Numbers 29.
Fort Monroe, January 29, 1864.

* * * *

VII. Lieutenant Colonel J. McLean Taylor is at his own request relieved from duty as chief commisary of subsistance in this department. He will report to the Commissary General of Subsistance at Washington, D. C., for further orders.

* * * *

By command of Major-General Butler:

R. S. DAVIS,
[33.] Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. THIRTEENTH Regiment VIRGINIA VOL. INFANTRY,

Brbousville, w. Va., January 30, 1864.

Captain M. P. AVERY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith official report* of Captain John C. Withcer's successful pursuit and complete dispresion of a detachment of the enemy under command of Captain H. Spurlock. Captain Witcher and his brave little band deserve great credit for the gallantry with which they charged upon and scattered this band of bandits.

Yours, respectfully,

WILLIAM R. BROWN,

[33.] Colonel Thirteenth Regiment.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Cumberland, Md., Janaury 31, 1864.

Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: In compliance with your telegraph of yesterday requiring me to report the names of colonels commanding brigdes in this department, the length of time they have respectively exercised command, with my recommendation for brevet, I have the honor to submit the following: In this department there are twelve colonels commanding orgaizations greater than regiments. Colonel J. A. Mulligan, Twenty-third Illinois Vounteers, commanding Second Division, has commanded a division for this months and commanded a brigade for near; y a year.

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* See p. 211.

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