West reports that the old 130th is now the 1st New York Dragoons, and that he himself has been detached to serve as an aide on the staff of Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasanton, commanding the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Explains the structure of the Cavalry Corps, and voices his dismay with recent events in Virginia: "The recent movements of this army—what do they amount to? Our entire army has retired before a force of the enemy almost not more than one third of ours. And when finally the rebs in their turn Retired, they tore up our R. R. from Manassas to Rappahannock Station bending he rails and burning the ties—most Completely destroying it. Great expense and valuable time must be consumed to put us where we were 2 or 3 weeks ago."