ppily turned over to their plenipotentiaries, who have now had
several conferences, and with, I think, some hope of signing a
treaty of peace.

There will be transmitted to the adjutant-general reports from
divisions, brigades, etc., on the foregoing operations, to which
I must refer, with my hearty concurrence in the just applause (p. 323)
bestowed on corps and individuals by their respective commanders.
I have been able, this report being necessarily a summary, to
bring out, comparatively, but little of individual merit not
lying directly in the way of the narrative. Thus I doubt whether
I have, in express terms, given my approbation and applause to
the commanders of divisions and independent brigades; but left
their fame upon higher grounds, the simple record of their great
deeds and the brilliant results.

To the staff, both general and personal, attached to general
headquarters, I was again under high obligations for services in
the field, as always in the bureau, I add their names, etc.:
Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, Acting Inspector General; Major J.
L. Smith, Captain R. E. Lee (as distinguished for felicitous
execution as for science and daring), Captain Mason, Lieutenants
Stevens, Beauregard, Tower, G. W. Smith, George B. McClellan, and
Foster, all of the Engineers; Major Turnbull, Captain J.
McClellan, and Lieutenant Hardcastle, Topographical Engineers;
Captain Huger and Lieutenant Hagner, of the Ordnance; Captains
Irwin and Wayne, of the Quartermaster's Department; Captain
Grayson, of the Commissariat; Surgeon-General Lawson, in his
particular department; Captain H. L. Scott, Acting
Adjutant-General; Lieutenant T. Williams, Aid-de-Camp, and
Lieutenant Lay, Military Secretary.

Lieutenant Schuyler Hamilton, another aid-de-camp, had a week
before been thrown out of activity by a severe wound received in
a successful charge of cavalry against cavalry, and four times
his numbers; but on the 20th, I had the valuable services, as
volunteer aids, of Majors Kirby and Van Buren, of the Pay
Department, always eager for activity and distinction, and of a
third, the gallant Major J. P. Gaines, of the Kentucky
Volunteers.

I have the honor to be, Sir, with high respect, your most
obedient servant,