Volunteers, will proceed as soon as practicable to Lewisburg, Va., and report for duty to Brigadier General Henry Heth, commanding.

* * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNumbers WITHERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[12.]

RICHMOND, March 21, 1862.

President DAVIS:

The steamers and schooners, which arrived at Hampton Roads with troops, went to sea this morning. They are evidently bound for North Carolina, where a great battle is to be fought. Our troops are going, but they want a commander. Disaster there would be ruinous. I recommended that Longstreet or G. W. Smith be sent at once.

R. E. LEE.

[9.]

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION,

March 21, 1862.

The headquarters of this division are established at Taylor's house on the old Fredericksburg road.

By command of Major-General Longstreet:

G. MOXLEY SORREL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[11.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 66.
Richmond, March 22, 1862.

* * * * *

XVIII. The regiment of North Carolina Volunteers formerly commanded by Colonel Robert Ransom will proceed by slow marches to Weldon, N. C.

* * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[9.]

RAPIDAN STATION, VA., March 22, 1862.

Honorable G. W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War, C. S. A.:

SIR: Permit me to congratulate you and the country upon your well-deserved promotion. Everyone hopes, and confidently expects, a salutary change. Will you permit me to call your attention to a few facts? There can be no doubt that the enemy has been fully approsed of our strength and movements through treachery in our own War Department. It is certain that McClellan was better informed on these points than even major-generals in our army. The second matter to which I wish to refer is one about which we have often conversed, viz, the scattering of our forces and batteries. It seems to have been the policy of Mr. Benjamin (if he had any policy at all) to have a small detachment