HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 19, 1863-9. 30 p. m.

Commanding Officer First Corps:

The major-general commanding directs me to inform you that General Sykes has been ordered to be up at Gainesville by daylight to-morrow morning, to support you or General Sedgwick, or both, and to fill up any gaps that may exist between you. The commanding general directs me to say that he considers it important that Hay Market should be held, the numerous roads centering there making it an important point.

Very respectfully, &c.,

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, and Chief of Staff.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. CORCORAN'S DIVISION, Numbers 41.
Fairfax Court-House, Va., October 19, 1863.

Until further orders, Colonel M. Murphy, Sixty-ninth Regiment New York National Guard, will command the following regiments of the Irish Legion, viz: Sixty-ninth, One hundred and fifty-fifth, and One hundred and seventieth Regiments New York Volunteers.

Colonel Grimshaw, Fourth Delaware; Colonel Alexander, Second District of Columbia; Captain Anthony, Seventeenth New York Battery, and Captain Jackson, commanding detachment Thirteenth New York Cavalry, will report, as formerly directed, to these headquarters.

By command of Brigadier-General Corcoran:

[WM. A. LA MOTTE,]

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, October 19, 1863-3. 30 p. m.

Brigadier-General KELLEY,

Clarksburg, W. Va.:

All of General Couch's forces have been ordered to the Potomac River, so as to be in position to re-enforce General Sullivan. They are now on the march.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION,
Harper's Ferry, W. Va., October 19, 1863.

(Received 8. 50 p. m.)

Major-General HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Two deserters have just been brought in, who left Stuart's command in the mountains at Snicker's Gap. They say the cavalry numbers about 8,000, and are planning a raid into Maryland, by way of Williamsport or Berlin. They also place Lee's army at