attention of generals commanding in the field, and I can but trust that we shall profit by it.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. D. RAMSAY,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Ordnance.

CIRCULAR.] WAR DEPT., ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, August 15, 1864.

To enable the Provost-Marshal-General to carry out fully the instructions of the Secretary of War in relation to organization and drill of the clerks serving in bureaus of the War Department, the chiefs of bureaus will promptly report to the Provost- Marshal-General the names of new clerks and messengers who may from time to time be employed in their offices, and of those who resign or are discharged.

Clerks or messengers who resign or are discharged will not receive final payments until they have accounted for the arms, uniforms, &c.,

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

STATE OF NEW YORK, NORTHERN DIVISION, OFFICE ACTG. ASST. PROV. March General, AND SUPT. VOLUNTEER RECRUITING,

Albany, August 15, 1864.

Brigadier General JAMES B. FRY,

Provost-Marshal-General, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: I have the honor to inclose the refusal of Governor Seymour to authorize the organization for garrison duty of the 100 men of Saratoga County, who are over forty-five years of age, and to ask whether these men may not be enlisted and mustered independently of the action of the Governor. Governor Seymour's letter needs no comments at my hands.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FREDK. TOWNSEND,

Lieutenant-Colonel Ninth U. S. Infantry,

Actg. Asst. Prov. March General, and Supt. Vol. Recruiting.

[Inclosure.]

STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Albany, August 13, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel F. TOWNSEND,

Actg. Asst. Provost-Marshal-General, Albany, N. Y.:

SIR: I have received the communication of the Provost-Marshal- General of August 11 in relation to raising 100 men in Saratoga County, over forty-five years of age, who desire to enter the service for garrison duty only, and I have been requested to issue the necessary authorization for recruiting such persons.

I have declined giving such authorizations, as in my judgement it would be impossible to do so under the provisions of Order Numbers 15, 1862, forbidding troops from being mustered into service on terms or