[Inclosure.]

Comparison of field return of officers and men present for duty in Hooker's corps, September 18, 1862, with morning report made September 22, 1862.

September 18, 1862

Infantry Artillery Total

Offi- Men Offi- Men Offi- Men

cers cers cers

First 163 2.175 10 370 173 2.545

(Doubleday's)

Division.

Second (Ricke- 74 890 2 42 76 932

tts')

Division.

Third (Sey- 116 2.262 9 251 125 2.513

mour's) Divi-

sion

353 5.327 21 663 374 5.990

September 22, 1862.

Infantry Artillery Total

Offi- Men Offi- Men Offi- Men

cers cers cers

First 192 3.387 11 411 203 3.798

(Doubleday's)

Division.

Second (Ricke- 266 5.748 2 157 268 5.905

tts')

Division.

Third (Sey- 185 4.563 10 307 195 4.870

mour's) Divi-

sion

643 13.698 23 875 666 14.573

Increase

Officers Men

First (Doubleday's) 30 1.253

Division

Second (Rickett's) 192 4.973

Division

Third (Seymour's) 70 2.357

Division

292 8.583

REMARKS. - Thirty officers and 700 men of the Sixteenth Maine Regiment, Ricketts' division, returned since 18th instant from detached service.

Respectfully submitted.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
September 23, 1862.

HEADQUARTERS DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON,

Washington, September 23, 1862 - 10.30 a. m.

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,

Asst. Adjt. General, Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

Telegram of last night received this morning. It occurs to me that at least a part of the confusion caused by the new numbers of the corps arises from the fact that you have got them wrong. Sigel's corps is the Eleventh, Banks' is the Twelfth, and Hooker's (late McDowell's) is the First Corps. This is warranted correct, the newspapers to the contrary notwithstanding. Consequently, after some puzzling, I infer from your telegram that Meade commands the First Corps, vice Hooker, wounded, and A. S. Williams commands the Twelfth Corps, vice Mansfield, killed. Is this right? To whom was Weber's brigade assigned? Is Couch's division independent? Does Sturgis command Reno's division, and Willcox, Stevens'? Piatt's brigade is here, in Whipple's division.

Request about General Orders, Numbers 157, will be attended to. Had a splendid distribution list, answering for both of us, in type when your dispatch came.

RICH'D B. IRWIN,

Captain, Aide-de-Camp, and Actg. Asst. Adjt. General

HEADQUARTERS DEFENSES OF WASHINGTON,
September 23, 1862 - 1.25 p. m.

Major General GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN,

Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

It is very important, in view of the long line we have to observe, extending practically from Warrenton to Snicker's Gap, that our serviceable