CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

August 8, 1863.

The commanding general invites the attention of corps commanders to the large number of officers and men reported in the tri-monthly report for July 31, 1863, under the headings hereinafter indicated, and he directs that a immediate investigation be made by officers on duty in inspector-general's department, and by others who may be detailed for the purpose, to ascertain generally upon what duties the officers and men accounted for on special, extra, or daily duty are engaged; when and how the officers and men reported on detached service within the army and without the army are employed, distinguishing between the two classes of absence; by what authority the officers and men reported absent with leave are so absent; whether the officers and men reported absent sick are os absent by competent authority, and how long the officers and men reported absent without authority heave been so absent. It is desired that these should be made as full as possible, and forwarded at the earliest practicable moment, for the information of the commanding general.

On detached service.

Within the Without

Present. army. the army.

Command. Spec Daily Offi Men Offic Men

ial duty men cers ers

duty

offi

cers

First Corps 58 1,052 108 1,962 98 668

Second Corps 59 684 124 1,836 103 622

Third Corps 62 899 150 2,411 117 558

Fifth Corps 58 1,188 138 1,540 174 497

Sixth Corps 42 1,254 123 2,209 106 484

Eleventh 32 1,129 130 1,375 58 311

Corps

Twelfth Corps 31 787 95 1,102 54 286

Cavalry Corps 59 2,121 293 6,285 76 479

Artillery 1 110 7 145 14 38

Reserve

Engineer - 61 9 761 1 60

Brigade

Provost guard 5 159 6 93 15 84

With leave. Sick. Without leave.

Command. Office Men Offi Men Offic Men

rs cers ers

First Corps 24 220 247 5,536 18 306

Second Corps 26 89 328 7,627 27 483

Third Corps 48 211 304 8,021 25 629

Fifth Corps 19 161 170 3,050 20 604

Sixth Corps 11 104 105 3,548 16 471

Eleventh 17 439 205 5,541 2 432

Corps

Twelfth Corps 24 332 118 3,450 4 214

Cavalry Corps 56 638 201 4,228 33 402

Artillery 2 17 11 320 - 33

Reserve

Engineer - 10 - 38 - 43

Brigade

Provost guard 7 63 20 423 4 101

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C.,

August 8, 1863-1 p. m.

Major-General BROOKS,

Pittsburgh, Pa.:

Should General Scammon be hard pushed on the Kanawha, how many men can you send to re-enforce him?

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.