enemy's movement. Caution him to secure all the pst- offices and mails, the contents of which will be forwarded here without examination. Do you keep a look out on Round Top!

By order of Brigadier- General Sullivan:

F. A. NIMS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.

FORT MONROE, VA., February 3, 1864- 12. 30 p. m.

(Received 3. 15 p. m.)

Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

I shall be ready to move on Saturday. Can General Meade move at all!

B. F. BUTLER,

Major- General, Commanding.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

February 3, 1864- 4. 30 p. m.

Major- General BUTLER,

Fort Monroe:

General Meade is at Philadelphia sick. Your telegram has been referred to the General- in- Chief:

Dispatch from Brigadier- General Palmer, received at 1 p. m. to- day, says his outposts are attacked and driven in by a force which he thinks to be 15,000 men; I suppose it to be 8,000; two regiments [from each division] of Lee's army having been sent down to North Carolina. I got the information reliably yesterday. I have sent a regiment to re- enforce Colonel Jourdan at Morehead City. Now is the time, if ever, for General Meade to move; the roads are practicable. That will relieve North Carolina at once and leave a movement for me of which I spoke to you.

B. F. BUTLER,

Major- General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA.

Fortress Monroe, February 3, 1864.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General- in- Chief:

SIR: I send you inclosed a copy of a report received from Brigadier- General Palmer at 1 o'clock to- day, and also a report formerly