draw in all your forces to Bull Run and Occoquan, and send the Irish Brigade to Belle Plain to General Abercrombie, to be forwarded by him to the Army of the Potomac.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS,
Belle Plain, May 12, 1864.

Major-General AUGUR,

Commanding Military Defenses, Washington, D. C.:

In consequence of all the lighters at this place being used for the convenience of the wounded, the troops under my command were unable to land until this morning at 11 o'clock. All the troops that can be spared will be sent forward immediately.

J. J. ABERCROMBIE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22nd ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D. C., May 12, 1864.

Brigadier-General BRIGGS,

Alexandria:

Unless instructed to the contrary, send all officers belonging to the Army of the Potomac reporting to you to report to General Abercrombie, at Belle Plain, to be forwarded to their regiments. Send recruits to the front, when equipped, without further orders.

Very respectfully,

J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SAINT MARY'S, MD., May 12, 1864.

G. V. FOX,

Assistant Secretary of the Navy:

The gun-boats in the Rappahannock have exploded several torpedoes. Picked up four safely near the mouth of the river, and are working on.

F. H. PARKER.

[MAY 12, 1864.- For Butler to Stanton, 3.30 p. m., see p. 11.]

WASHINGTON CITY, May 12, 1864 - 7.30 p. m.

Major-General BUTLER:

General Meade has transmitted the following telegram* from Major-General Sheridan, commanding the Cavalry Corps. We have no intelligence as to the operations of the Army of the Potomac later than 8 o'clock yesterday.

EDWIN M. STANTON.

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* See Sheridan to Meade, May 10, p. 615.

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