Cavalry have pickets at Morrisville, Kelly's and Ellis' Fords. Scouts from the other side of the river report to enemy this side of the Rapidan. The brigade is 1,700 strong, without the battery.

A. PLEASONTON,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 6, 1863.

Colonel D. H. RUCKER,

Quartermaster, Washington, D. C.:

The horses will be most acceptable at this moment. Send them early We lost probably 500 artillery horses, shot in battle. Our trains are in good order. We have had plenty of forage, &c. Our operations not concluded by any means.

RUFUS INGALLS,

Chief Quartermaster.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
May 6, 1863.

Major General D. BUTTERFIELD,

Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac:

I send you information received here this morning.

S. P. HEINTZELMAN,

Major-General.

[Inclosure.]

FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, VA.,

May 6, 1863.

Major-General HEINTZELMAN:

John P. Devall, brakeman on the Culpeper and Gordonsville road, who came in our lies at Warrenton Junction yesterday evening claiming protection, reports that he left Gordonsville Saturday at 4 p. m. At that time there were about 200 rebel infantry and 300 cavalry at Gordonsville. A rebel train which started out from Gordonsville for Charlottesville was compelled to return on account of a portion of our forces being at Cobham's Station. Lee's cavalry force passed through Gordonsville on friday last for Lousia Court-House, where a fight occurred on saturday evening, with what results Devall did not know. He reports that there are three trains at Gordonsville, which could not leave on any of the railroads.

STAHEL,

Major-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C.,

May 6, 1863 - 12.25 p. m.

Major-General HOOKER:

We have, through General Dix, the contents of Richmond papers of the 5th. General Dix's dispatch in full is going to you by Captain Fox, of the Navy. The substance is, General Lee's dispatch of the 3rd (Sunday), claiming that he had beaten you, and that you were then retreating across the Rappahannock, distinctly stating that two of Longstreet's

28 R R-VOL XXV, PT II