HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA, Dublin, April 20, 1863.

General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond:

From the most reliable information I can obtain, the report of the advance of 2,500 of the enemy's cavalry toward Saltville was started by a man named Menafee, who, having committed a deliberate murder, and trying to make his escape, represented himself as a courier carrying the news of the advance of the enemy, and thus procured relays of horses. I have nothing this morning of the advance of the cavalry. I have about 2,000 men at Saltville, and 1,200 more are now on the way there. Will be there this evening.

Marshall was reported at Booneville on the 11th instant.

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

No. 58. April 20, 1863.

The exigencies of the service require the reduction of the transportation of this army to the following standard. The commanding general urgently calls upon officers and men to exercise every means to maintain the wagons and animals in an efficient condition, to prevent further reduction becoming necessary:

Table showing allowance of wagons, tents, &c.

To whom allowed. 4-horse 2-horse Wall Tent

wagons wagons tents flies

Lieutenant-general and 3 - 3 -

staff [excepting

quartermaster and

commissary]

Major-general and staff 2 - 2 -

[excepting quartermaster

and commissary]

Brigadier-general and 1 - 1 -

staff [excepting

quartermaster and

commissary]

Division quartermaster and - 1 - -

commissary

Brigade quartermaster and 1 - - -

commissary

Medical department of each 2 - - -

brigade of four regiments

Each regiment of infantry: 1 - 1 -

Field and staff

Ordnance department 1 - - -

Quartermaster and - 1 - -

commissary

Each 100 men actually 1 - - 10

present

Each battalion of 1 - 1 -

artillery: Field and staff

[including quartermaster]

Medical department - 1 - -

Each battery 3 - - -

Officers of a company - - -

1

One of the wagons of each battery is for transportation of baggage. The other two will be in charge of the quartermaster of the battalion, to be used exclusively for transportation of forage and commissary supplies.

Officers' baggage will not exceed [mess chest and all personal effects included] as follows:

Pounds.

General officers.............................. 80

Field officers ............................... 65

Company officers.............................. 50

Baggage of the men will be carried on their persons. Tents and cooking utensils will be transported in the wagons.