SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 213.
Richmond, September 11, 1862.

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XIII. The four companies of cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel John Critcher, the four companies under Major Edgar Burroughs, and the single companies under Captains Norfleet and A. W. Gantt will be consolidated into and form the Fifteenth Regiment Virginia Cavalry, under the following officers: Colonel William B. Ball, Lieutenant Colonel John Critcher, and Major Buroughs. Colonel Ball will report for duty to Major General G. W. Smith, commanding, &c., Richmond, Va.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[18.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY,
September 11, 1862.

Major CRITCHER,

Commanding Fifteenth Battalion:

MAJOR: I have just received instructions to move to Culpeper Court-House, and direct that you take command here, which you will do at once. You will look out on Potomac and Rappahannock. Keep up scouts in the direction of Culpeper Court-House, connecting by that move with me. Communicate promptly and fully with General Smith and myself, to be sent to General Lee. You can continue to gather up the conscripts and take care of the public property, and I would like to see you, if possible, before I leave, some time to-morrow.

Yours, truly,

JOHN R. CHAMBLISS, Jr.,

Colonel, Commanding.

Acknowledge receipt at once.

J. R. C., Jr.

[19.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Falls of Kanawha, September 11, 1862.

Honorable G. W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

After fighting two obstinate contested fights to-day- one at Cotton Hill and the other at Gauley-the enemy have been put to flight down the Kanawha, and I am now in possession of their former position at Gauley with their wagons, trains, and some stores. The magazine and many more were burned before they fled. I am crossing the Kanawha and pursuing the enemy. We took 700 barrels of salt. We have taken Camp Gauley and are pursuing the enemy down the Kanawha.

W. W. LORING,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[19.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
September 14, 1862-8 p. m.

Major-General McLAWS,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: The day has gone assistant us and this army will go by Sharpsburg and cross the rive. It is necessary for you to abandon your position to-night. Send your trains not required on the road to