to the Second Brigade, Brigadier General Thomas H. Ruger commanding, and will, for the present, be stationed on Governor's Island. Requisitions will be made as soon as practicable for such camp and garrison equipage as these regiments may need.

By order of Brigadier-General Canby:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 388. Washington, August 29, 1863.

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13. Brigadier General J. G. Barnard, U. S. Volunteers; Brigadier General G. W. Cullum, U. S. Volunteers, and Colonel B. S. Alexander, additional aide-de-camp (major of Engineers), will constitute a Board of Engineers to examine and report upon the proper means of defending the works of the Potomac Aqueduct, as connected with the defense of Washington.

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16. Brigadier General H. G. Wright, U. S. Volunteers, major of Engineers, is hereby relieved from duty in the Army of the Potomac, and will at once repair to West Point and relieve Lieutenant Colonel Alexander H. Bowman, Corps of Engineers, in the duties of Superintendent of the Military Academy. * On being relieved, Colonel Bowman will report in person for duty to the Chief of Engineers.

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By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 30, 1863-12 noon.

Major-General MEADE,

Army of the Potomac:

An iron-clad and several gunboats will leave the mouth of the Rappahannock to-morrow morning, and will probably reach Port Royal about night. The object is to recapture the two gunboats taken by the enemy and now in that river. It is very possible that these vessels, being small, may run up toward Fredericksburg, into shallow water, where our vessels cannot pursue. It is, therefore, desirable that you send a force of cavalry and artillery down this side of the river, to assist in destroying them. This force will run the risk of being cut off, by the enemy's throwing troops across the river in their rear. Hence the greatest caution must be taken to watch the river and the enemy's movements. The whole operation will be a delicate one, and the most careful officers should be placed in charge.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

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*Order revoked by Special Orders, Numbers 394, Adjutant-General's Office, September 2, 1863, and Wright ordered to join his command in the Army of the Potomac.

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