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General WARREN:

HANCOCK'S HEADQUARTERS,

July 14, 1861.

Please notify me at what hour you propose to relieve Smyth's brigade, so I can give the necessary instructions to General Gibbon as to the balance of his line.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

General HANCOCK:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864-1 p. m.

I shall relieve Colonel Smyth this afternoon if my proposed contraction of our lines is approved; at any rate if I can.

Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General.

General HANCOCK:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864-2 p. m.

General Meade has just directed where the new picket-line is to be established, and I cannot now say when I will be able to have it done, as it is somewhat outside of General Ferrero's, with which I had intended to connect at once. I shall, in order to expedite matters, visit the proposed line myself, and also see Generals Crawford and Ferrero. I will inform you as soon as I can when the new line will be established, and hope it may be done this evening.

Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

General HANCOCK:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864-9.45 p. m.

Your dispatch has perhaps been incorrectly sent. Do you mean that when General Gibbon's division arrives at the Dunn house the First and Third Divisions will cease work?

Colonel MORGAN:

C. H. MORGAN,

Lieutenant-Colonel.

[JULY 14, 1864.]

General Gibbon's division will go to work now, and when his troops arrive the First and Third Divisions will quit work.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK.

Major DUANE,

Chief Engineer:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

July 14, 1864.

I have ordered my divisions to return to camp at daylight, this being the understanding I have of the matter.

.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

Colonel MORGAN,

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

July 11, 1864.

Chief of Staff to General Hancock, Headquarters Second Corps : Major Duane is not here, and I do not know where to find him, nor do I know how large a detail he requires. The number of tools ordered, I think, is about 8,000.

Your obedient servant,

G. J. LYDECKER,
Lieutenant of Engineers.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

Lieutenant LYDECKER,

July 14, 1864.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac: Generals Birney and Barlow, division commanders, are directed to meet you at General Warren's headquarters at 6 o'clock this evening to be shown the work to be done by their divisions. The number of men will be between 8,000 and 10,000.

C. H. MORGAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, &c.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

General HANCOCK,

Commanding Second Corps:

July 14, 1864.

The working parties from your corps are expected to continue on the work of demolishing the enemy's works until relieved.

J. C. DUANE,
Major of Engineers.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864.

Major-General HANCOCK:

Three rockets will be thrown up from my front at 9 o'clock this evening. The point at which they will be fired will be near General Griffin's right.

(Copy to General Burnside.)

G. K. WARREN.
Major-General.

CONFIDENTIAL.]

The object is to test the reports of certain deserters who stated a large number of men will come in from Finegan's brigade, if such a signal is given.

By order of Major-General Hancock:

F. A. WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

General HANCOCK:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864–8 p. m.

I have my line by this time nearly established, I expect. General Crawford relieves a portion of the line as he establishes his, and notifies those to the left to withdraw. Colonel Smyth can rejoin you to-morrow morning, or at once, if needed.

Respectfully.

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

July 14, 1861.

General Gibbon can send for this brigade when he wishes it.

FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Second indorsement.]

JULY 14, 1864-10.10 p. m.

Colonel Smyth will collect his picket-line and march in the command as soon as he pleases, but with his long line I think this had better be done after daylight in the morning. When it is done, and the command is on its way in, let a staff officer be sent forward to these headquarters, that officers may be on the spot to designate the ground to be occupied by the troops.

JOHN GIBBON, Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864–9 p. m.

General S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General :

The only changes in the disposition of my troops are these: The First and Third Divisions on fatigue. General Gibbon's picket-line is being relieved to-night by General Warren.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

July 14, 1864.

General HUMPHREYS:

The only tools furnished my two divisions on fatigue are 1,000 shovels and 250 picks for each division. The work is one requiring a large

proportion of picks. If no more tools can be furnished I propose to withdraw a portion of my command as it may be wanted to-morrow again. WINFD S. HANCOCK,

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How long are my two divisions to remain on their present duties. understood they were to return to camp at daylight and have given the orders. WINFD S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 14, 1864. (Sent 12.10 a. m. 15th.)

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The commanding general says that he intended your troops to remain at work until the intrenchments were destroyed.

A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS,

July 14, 1864.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac : GENERAL: In compliance with paragraph 1, Special Orders, No. 171, headquarters Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1864, I have the honor to report the following organizations as having left this command since last report by reason of expiration of term of service:

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I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General of Volunteers.

CIRCULAR.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864.

The whole of the First and Third Divisions, except small regimental guards, will be put at work in the trenches to-night, moving to the points where they are to work just before dark. The work to be done will be under the immediate charge of the commanders of divisions, and an engineer officer, Lieutenant Lydecker, will be at General Warren's headquarters at 6 p. m. for the purpose of accompanying Generals Birney and Barlow and pointing out the work to be done. Such picks and shovels as may be at hand will be issued to divisions, but the engineer department will furnish most of the intrenching tools. . By order of Major-General Hancock:

Major-General BIRNEY,

FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,

July 14, 1864-5.40 p. m.

Commanding Division:

GENERAL: In taking out the details ordered for fatigue this evening the major-general commanding desires that you will except all men who have been on similar detail to-day or last night.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

P. S.-The details are to return to their camps at daylight to-morrow morning. They are expected to be on the ground before dark to-night.

OFFICIAL.]

JULY 14, 1864. The troops will be prepared to move at a moment's notice. By order of Major-General Birney:

JOHN HANCOCK, Assistant Adjutant-General.

General WILLIAMS:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864—9 a. m.

Nothing unusual occurred during the night. I am preparing a report which will be sent in this morning.

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864—12.30 p. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

I intend to take away Smyth's brigade, of the Second Army Corps, and connect my picket-line with General Ferrero's this p. m. I shall picket the line before occupied as far south as Strong's, cross the plank road at Des, as marked on the map, then connect with Ferrero's line. Is

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