CITY POINT, VA., July 11, 1864—3 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff: General W. T. H. Brooks has tendered his resignation, which I approve. If General Ord is not already assigned to duty, or if on temporary duty, I wish to have him assigned to the command of the Tenth Corps, and ordered to it as soon as he can be spared. U. S. GRANT, Major-General MEADE, CITY POINT, VA., July 11, 1864–1.30 a, m, Commanding, &c.: Your dispatch of 12 just received. It would seem to quiet all ap prehension about Lee or any considerable portion of his force being gone, and, therefore, obviate the necessity of making any demonstration. Unless necessary, I would prefer being quiet until we make a real move, and will take what you report as being sufficient evidence of Lee and his forces being still in our front. There is great alarm felt in Washington. Wallace has been whipped at Monocacy bridge, and driven back in great confusion. He had with him a part of Ricketts' division. I have sent Ord up there to command Baltimore, and to press into service every able-bodied man to defend the place, and asked that Wright be sent with his two divisions and the one division of the Nineteenth Corps, a portion of which passed Fort Monroe about noon to-day, to form a junction with Hunter, who must be at Harper's Ferry to-night, and for them to follow up in the enemy's rear. Taking all together everything looks favorable to me, but I want to avoid the possibility of Lee getting off with a great part of his force without taking advantage of it. I think you had better order Sheridan to get ready for service as soon as possible, but with the assurance that his troops will not be used until it is necessary. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: GEO. G. MEADE, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 11, 1864. (Sent 11.15 a. m.) Lieutenant-General GRANT: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : GENERAL: A deserter from the Sixty-first Virginia, Mahone's division, came into our lines last night between 12 and 1 o'clock; he brings important information. Wilcox's entire division went to Chaffin's Bluff (or farm) about a week ago, and is there now to the best of informant's belief. Heth's division was under marching orders yesterday with two days' cooked rations; they were expected to move at 4 p. m.; informant being on picket could not say whether they had moved or not. Wilcox's division went to Chaffin's Bluff to relieve Heth's, the latter division returning to our front, took a position on the right of Mahone's, extending nearly to the lead-works; this was about the 4th instant. Informant has heard of no other movements; saw some men from the division commanded by Breckinridge two days ago that were visiting in his division. He understands Breckinridge to be in Butler's front. General Early is absent with only Ransom's, Gordon's, and Rodes' divisions, according to informant's belief. The rest of his force he has taken from the Valley. NOTE.-Early has certainly one brigade, McCausland's, that was under Breckinridge in the Valley, but it has never been in our front; also B. T. Johnson's Maryland Line was under Breckinridge at Cold Harbor. We think informant's statement correct, otherwise the force in front of Butler must be very small. General Ewell is in Richmond on the retired list, physically unable to do field duty. Informant heard the major of his regiment make this statement a few days since. No troops are being received via the Weldon railroad, of this informant is positive, though he states a very few furloughed men and convalescents may be returning that way. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. C. BABCOCK. Above forwarded for your information. This is the first intelligence of the return of Breckinridge and is not relied on. Have you any information of Wilcox being at Chaffin's farm, or what troops are in front of Butler? Up to yesterday I was under the belief Wilcox was in my front. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General MEADE, Commanding, &c.: CITY POINT, VA., July 11, 1864. Wilcox's division crossed the pontoon bridge at Drewry's Bluff about the 2d or 3d, and took station at Chaffin's Bluff, where I think it still remains. Deserters come in daily in Butler's front, all saying they belong to Pickett's division. There is no other force between Swift Creek and Howlett's house. All the prisoners captured in Maryland say they belong to Breckinridge's command, but they may belong to McCausland's, Johnson's, and Imboden's brigades and Ransom's cavalry, all under Breckinridge, whilst the division he brought from West Virginia may still be here. 10 R R-VOL XL, PT IIL U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 11, 1864. Lieutenant-General GRANT: The following just received and forwarded: Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, GENERAL: The station north of the City Point railroad in front of Fort Clifton, reports a large column of dust rising in front of the Eighteenth Corps and south west of Petersburg, but fails to indicate the cause of it, though I suppose they were unable to tell. There is much traveling upon the Petersburg and Richmond road in both directions, by horsemen, ambulances, and wagons. The following rebel messages taken: "Colonel BRENT: "One gun-boat above and one below the pontoon. "L. H. B.: "W. S. L., "ROUX." "Are you going this p. m. and at what time? When shall H. be ready? Answer. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER, GENERAL: A deserter from Eighth Alabama, Mahone's division, just received from Colonel Bryan, commanding detachment Cavalry Corps. He states that Hill's entire corps left the front yesterday at 5 p. m. Informant was in town when they moved, having a pass from General Sanders, commanding his brigade, to purchase mess stores. Came out of Petersburg about 8 p. m., and found his corps had moved toward the Weldon railroad with McIntosh's battalion of artillery. Could not find out where or which way they went after they reached the railroad. Was told in Petersburg that the corps was moving, citizens thought to Pennsylvania. Informant thinks they have gone south down the railroad. About 2 or 3 o'clock this a. m. he saw a train of twenty or more box-cars going into Petersburg, also another about the same length at 4 or 5 o'clock. The cars were all closed and no soldiers to be seen on them; thought they run heavy as though they were loaded. That Longstreet's corps and Beauregard's forces had closed up the space left by the removal of Hill's corps. Informant saw the old line Hill had occupied filled up again by Longstreet's corps and the Washington Artillery moved into the works vacated by McIntosh's battalion. That there are no double lines now, or any reserves. Informant came out of the city along the line nearly all the way. He says it is the same in length as before. J. C. BABCOCK. Above just received. It confirms the intelligence sent at 10.30 from another deserter. There appears no doubt that Hill's corps or a portion of it moved last evening, but there is nothing to indicate the direction taken. It may prove a movement on our left flank due to the withdrawal of the Sixth Corps. I have directed the cavalry on our left to push out scouts in all directions. GEO. G. MEADE, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: I have questioned the last deserter from Mahone's division, Hill's corps. He tells a straight story; that he left his division yesterday at 7 a. m. on a pass into Petersburg; that on his return at 7 p. m. the division was gone, bag and baggage, hospitals and all; that he understood they moved up to the railroad, which he took advantage of by going to the railroad outside the works and following down the railroad till he got out some three or four miles, when he slipped across and came into our lines. He says he could hear nothing of his division along the railroad, and saw no stragglers. He says Heth's division left at the same time, and that he heard in Petersburg a report that Hill's corps was going to Pennsylvania. Per contra, the signal officer on the Jordan house reports two trains filled with troops and having artillery as passing into Petersburg from Richmond at 4 a. m. this morning. I think there is no doubt Hill has moved, but in what direction is as yet uncertain. It may be on our left flank or it may be to• join Early. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General MEADE, Commanding, &c.: CITY POINT, VA., July 11, 1864. If Hill's corps has gone we must find out where it has gone and take advantage of its absence. If your cavalry does not succeed in ascertaining to-day where it has gone, I think it will be advisable to get up all the well-mounted men of one division of Sheridan's cavalry to-night and push it out until definite information is obtained. If they have gone to Washington we will try to carry Petersburg before detaching further from this army. The best way to accomplish this will probably be by turning the enemy's right with Hancock's and Warren's corps and Sheridan's cavalry, with heavy columns of assault from Burnside's and Smith's corps on one well chosen point on the front of one or the other of these corps, probably about the Hare house. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT : July 11, 1861-10.30 p. m. No further information has been obtained of the enemy's movements since last dispatch. All efforts of our scouts to get through the enemy's pickets on the railroad have failed, and the cavalry I have here is so miserable they have done nothing. I have no doubt Hill's two divisions that were in my front yesterday moved last night, and as nothing has been heard or seen of them on our left flank I conclude they have been sent to re-enforce Early. Intelligence of Early's success, combined with the knowledge of the departure of the Sixth Corps, together with a confidence in the strength of his lines and his capability to hold them with a diminished force, has doubtless induced Lee to send Hill in hopes of thus transferring the seat of operations to Maryland and Pennsylvania, by drawing the greater portion of your army there to defend Washington and Baltimore. I have ordered a division of cav. alry here, and expect it will be up during the night. I have also drawn the Second Corps from the line it held and by daylight to-morrow will have it massed ready for a move in any direction that may be desired. I am a little doubtful of sending the cavalry division alone, as all the information I have obtained places all of Hampton's cavalry south of the Appomattox, at Stony Creek, Reams', and Dinwiddie Court-House, evidently posted in anticipation of another raid on our part. There are two negroes out in the enemy's lines, who are expected back during the night with some definite information. I shall not give any orders to Hancock or the cavalry to-night, but await the arrival of the latter and more definite information or your instructions. I should have mentioned as confirming Hill's movement that heavy clouds of dust were observed to-day on a road leading northwest from Petersburg on the north side, and that the following intercepted rebel message was read by our signal officer: L. H. B. Are you going this p. m. and at what time? When will H. be ready? Answer. ROUX. There is said to be an officer of the name of Roux on Lee's staff. I had commenced the erection of batteries and other preparations for siege operations on Warren's front, but if there is any probability of his being moved the guns and materials would have first to be sent to the rear; also, Burnside should have some time to prepare to cover his left flank. He has been ordered to make his arrangements. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 11, 1864-5 p. m. GENERAL: A deserter from the Forty-eighth Mississippi, Harris' brigade, Mahone's division, has just been forwarded from the headquarters of the Fifth Army Corps. He came into our lines about 10 o'clock last evening. He states that he left his brigade at their breastworks about 7.20 p. m. yesterday. He had just returned from a visit to Davis' (Mississippi) brigade, of Heth's division, which lay on the right of Mahone's old brigade and formed the left of Heth's division; that Davis' and Cooke's brigades, of Heth's division, had cooked rations, and were under marching orders, expecting to move at dark. He does not know that any other brigades in Heth's division were under marching [orders] or not. He knew of no marching orders having been issued to his division (Mahone's), or any part of it. NOTE. The deserter from the Eighth Alabama, who reported the movement of Hill's entire corps, has been confronted with informant to ascertain, if possible, why their statements are so opposite. Having discussed the matter and comparing times we have concluded that both |