may be telling the truth. Informant left his brigade at 7.20 p. m., more than an hour before the other passed along the line, finding the corps had moved. Informant came to our pickets about 8 o'clock last night to exchange papers and trade, at which time he had no idea of deserting. In conversation with our pickets, having learned that de serters were well treated, he was induced to remain on this side. Though a deserter, he is a man of considerable intelligence, and may think it is dishonorable to disclose such an important movement to the enemy. We forgot to mention that the deserter from the Eighth Alabama Regiment saw the wagon trains of Anderson's old division (Mahone's) harnessed and ready for a move, and the camp of the division hospital broken up. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. C. BABCOCK. Colonel SHARPE, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Deputy Provost-Marshal-General: Have you heard anything from the scouts you were to send to Petersburg, or from any others? A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. GENERAL: Scouts to agent from Petersburg went out this p. m. and return in the morning. Nothing later than the deserter from Mahone's division. Respectfully, J. C. BABCOCK. [JULY 11, 1864.-For Williams to Hunt and Duane communicating Meade's approval of report of 10th instant (p. 125), see Part I, p. 287.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 11, 1864. GENERAL: The enemy are at work on their new line in the rear of front line west of the Gregory house. A train of six box-cars backed out from the lead-works at 6 a. m., and having gone a few hundred yards returned toward the city. I have the honor, general, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. Capt. B. F. FISHER: HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS, A small party of rebels is engaged upon the line of works to the left and rear of Gregory's house. They are digging in a ditch in the front of the line, which now appears much larger than a rifle-pit. in other directions. (Same to General Warren.) All quiet I. S. LYON, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. RIVER-BANK, SPRING HILL, July 11. 1864—11 a. m. Captain NORTON: The enemy are throwing up a redoubt with a heavy abatis nearly in a direct line between my station and the railroad station, about one mile and a half east of railroad station, on their last line of breastworks. July 11, 1864—1 p. m. Capt. B. F. FISHER: The only movement of troops seen to-day was a detachment of about 250 infantry who marched from their picket-line to the camps in the woods north of station and near Petersburg. No troops seen in direction of Weldon railroad. A train of four box-cars passed into city at 11 a. m. No large columns of dust. The woods south of Petersburg have been on fire. J. B. DUFF, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. Respectfully forwarded. [Indorsement.] It is the answer to my inquiry whether columns of dust were seen from his station. July 11, 1864. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following reply to your question of this afternoon: JORDAN'S HOUSE, July 11, 1864-3.30 p.m. The column of dust extends across the Appomattox and about two miles beyond in a northwesterly direction. CLARK, Captain. The signal officer upon the station near Fifth Corps headquarters *reports: Parties of enemy still at work shoveling on line of intrenchments to left and rear of Gregory's house. LYON, By order: Lieutenant. WM. S. STRYKER, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 11, 1864. GENERAL: The following report from the plank road station: This p. m. discovered the enemy engaged on a new work about one mile and a quarter due north from station on the distant edge of the plain in rear of Gregory's house. The work is curved, with two faces fronting east and south, and seemed to be of considerable strength. It is built with embrasures, and is abont a quarter of a mile in length. The enemy have also been at work since noon on their second line west of plank road. J. B. DUFF, I have the honor, general, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. JULY 11, 1864. Captain FISHER: A huge column of dense smoke rising for the past hour in front of Ninth Corps, south-southwest from here, now disappearing. A few men seen in works at Farley's. Some of them have blue pants. Horsemen, ambulances, and wagons passing to and fro on the Richmond and Petersburg road. Rebel messages: L. H. B.: Are you going this p. m.; if so, what time shall H. be ready? Answer. The station that received the messages to Colonel Brent is at a point southwest from here, and near the Richmond and Petersburg road. CHAS. L. DAVIS, Captain, &c. Captain CLARK, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Signal Officer on Jordan's House, near General Smith's Hdqrs: CAPTAIN: You failed to make a report to me this a. m. of matters reported to Colonel Burton. Hereafter you will place in the telegraph office a message for me prior to, or simultaneous with, the one you may hand to a member of Smith's staff. You must strictly bear in mind that you are connected with this army, and that you report to me. How about the cars with troops? B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. Capt. B. F. FISHER: JORDAN HOUSE SIGNAL STATION, I I have made no report to Colonel Burton. At the request of Lieutenant Paul, of Colonel Burton's staff, I directed Sergeant Sleeper to report to him to assist in diverting the fire of the 13-inch mortar. report no movement of troops on railroad. A heavy column of dust in Petersburg, extending about two miles in a northwest direction. T. R. CLARK, Captain and Acting Signal Officer. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, Capt. T. R. CLARK, Signal Officer, Eighteenth Corps: July 11, 1864. Is column of dust all on this side of Appomattox, or does it extend from Petersburg across the Appomattox and two miles from it in a northwest direction?* B. F. FISHER, July 11, 1864. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following report from the officer at the station near Eighteenth Corps headquarters: Captain FISHER: JULY 11, 1864. I report no movement of troops on railroad. A heavy column of dust in Petersburg, extending about two miles in a northwesterly direction. By order: CLARK, Captain. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. S. STRYKER, First Lieutenant and Adjutant of Signal Corps. *For reply, see p. 150. JORDAN HOUSE SIGNAL STATION, Chief of Staff: Major-General HUMPHREYS, GENERAL: The signal officer at this point says he made no report to Colonel Burton as stated. Neither did any cars go into Petersburg to-day with his knowledge. Captain FISHER, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. WALTHALL HOUSE, July 11, 1864–7.25 p. m. Chief Signal Officer, Headquarters Army of the Potomac : Intercepted the following rebel messages: E. B.: Enemy has opened another mortar battery. It is near Beasley's house. It carries an 11-inch shell. This makes four mortars bearing on this place; the other three are at Battery No 1. G. G. A.: I am going to Richmond to-morrow. Can I do anything for you? CALDWELL: V. H. B. CALDWELL. Call at corner of Eighth and Main streets and get a small book which Mr. D. Seal has for me. B. E. 6.50 P. M. Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General: No movements of troops discovered to-day. One vessel above and one below pontoons. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: GENERAL: I submit the following report of an inspection of the hospitals at City Point, made pursuant to instructions contained in your letter of the 9th instant. The number of men on duty there, and the corps to which they be long, are shown in the following table: |