the Second Division Army of the Potomac, and will report to Major General James Longstreet, commanding..

* * * * *

By command of General Johnston:.

A. P. MASON,.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General..

Abstract from return of the Department of Northern Virginia, General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, commanding, for the month of February, 1862.

Present for duty..

Infantry. Cavalry.

Commands. Officer Men. Officer Men.

s. s.

Potomac District:

First Division. 355 6.161 --- ---

Second Division. 331 3.968 --- ---

Third Division. 304 4.321 --- ---

Fourth Division. 371 5.192 3 37

Dumfries. 356 6.577 8 183

Manassas. 100 1.758 --- ---

Leesburg. 122 2.279 --- ---

Walton's command. 7 173 --- ---

Cavalry brigade. --- --- 73 1.059

Artillery corps. --- --- --- ---

Total Potomac District. 1.946 30.429 84 1.279

Valley District. 362 3.935 41 560

Aquia District. 346 4.876 38 443

Grand total. 2.654 39.240 163 2.282

.

Present for duty.

Artillery. .

Commands. Offic Men. Effect Aggreg Aggreg

ers. ive ate ate

total presen presen

presen t. t and

t. absent

.

Potomac District:

First Division. 9 197 6.855 7.862 10.371

Second Division. 9 155 4.522 5.580 9.095

Third Division. 7 128 4.918 5.597 8.838

Fourth Division. 10 220 5.785 7.161 10.019

Dumfries. 14 350 7.596 9.040 11.430

Manassas. 13 206 2.067 2.404 3.208

Leesburg. 4 85 2.460 2.912 3.600

Walton's command. 17 293 482 518 617

Cavalry brigade. --- --- 1.074 1.173 2.064

Artillery corps. 35 470 508 583 820

Total Potomac 118 2.104 36.267 42.860 60.062

District.

Valley District. 14 355 5.394 6.404 13.759

Aquia District. 14 362 5.956 7.128 10.401

Grand total. 146 2.821 47.617 56.392 84.222

AGGREGATE PRESENT FOR DUTY.

Infantry.............................. 41.894

Cavalry............................... 2.445.

Artillery............................. 2.967

--------

Total................................. 47.306

HEADQUARTERS,.

Centreville, March 1, 1862.

Mr. PRESIDENT: I ask permission to call your attention to practices prevailing at the War Department which are disorganizing in their effects upon this army and destructive to its discipline..

Orders of the War Department are received daily granting leaves of absence and furloughs and detailing soldiers for some service away from their companies, based upon applications made directly to the honorable Secretary of War, without the knowledge of commanding officers and in violation of the Army Regulations on this subject. The object of this wholesome rule, which was to give the Government the right to be heard through its officers, is defeated, the Department acting upon mere ex parte statements. This is especially the case in reference to furloughs, their arrival being usually the first intimation of an application..

Of still more injury to the army, because destructive of its organiza-