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General Ferrero to be under my orders? He came here yesterday while I was at my front. He left a vague sketch but I have not seen or heard from him since. I will inform General Gregg of this change of the picket-line in time. The state of affairs for a few days have given me a great deal to do and kept me along the lines nearly all the time. I am unable to work details from any division generally except on its own front, where with the offensive and defensive preparations in progress each one is abundantly occupied. I have made myself general of trenches and kept the division and brigade commanders at their special posts. The requirements of the present moment place all my command either as guard to trenches or working details. The redoubts are now I think in fair condition for defense but still require a good deal of work. G. K. WARREN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

Major-General WARREN,

Commanding Fifth Corps:

July 14, 1864–1.30 p. m.

Your dispatch is received. General Ferrero's command is placed fully under your orders. The commanding general prefers that the picket-line of the Fifth Corps troops should cross the plank road about Finn's and connect near there with that of Ferrero's division. The picket-line of Ferrero's division should extend across from near Finn's past Westbrook's and cross the Norfolk railroad and Norfolk road near McCann's. At present it is considerably inside of that line, and must be changed throughout. Upon the establishment of the pickets as indicated please notify the Second Corps picket commander he can withdraw.

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

General HUMPHREYS:

JULY 14, 1864-2 p. m.

The engineer officers are taking possession of my intrenching tools wherever they happen to find a wagon-load suiting their convenience or necessities without giving the man in charge even a memorandum receipt. This is his report. I have no objections to their being taken, as they are no doubt needed, but it may interfere with my orders, and besides I cannot hold any one accountable for the tools themselves. Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 14, 1864––3 p.m. (Received 3.40 p. m.)

Major-General WARREN,

Commanding Fifth Corps:

Your dispatch received. The chief engineer has been directed to correct the irregularities you mention at once, and instructed that the working parties must be supplied with tools through the corps officers

until the engineers are supplied with them from the engineer department. Orders have been given for the engineer depot to furnish all tools and implements required in the siege operations.

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

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1861–8 p. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

I have just returned from a personal examination of my new picketline. General Ferrero has his already established. I went with General Crawford over his portion, and about 6 p. m. concluded the location with him, and he will establish his this evening. Our line is nearly as long necessarily as the old one, but generally three-quarters of a mile nearer to me. We extend across the plank road nearly a mile along the enemy's front close to his pickets and in sight of his works, holding a very good position for a battery when we get sufficient force to extend that far, and a most desirable location for operating against the Gregory house fort. From our left we make a sharp angle back, striking the line of old intrenchments of Second Corps just west of Jones' house. We follow this south to a plank road, and thence east along the road to the Jerusalem plank road. Here Crawford connects with Ferrero; Ferrero then extends to McCann's, on the railroad. I propose to ask General Gregg to watch from this point with some cavalry along the road to Prince George Court-House. I expect a report from General Gregg to-night.

Respectfully,

(Copy to General Hancock.)

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

Lieutenant-Colonel LOCKE,

JULY 14, 1864–8 p. m.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Corps:

COLONEL: I am informed that the wagons I have had from the Fifth Corps hauling gabions, &c., have been relieved, and sent to or near City Point. Can you replace them by the same number (twelve)? I am in great need of them.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. H. MENDELL,
Captain of Engineers.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

July 14, 1864.

Captain MENDELL,

U. S. Engineers :

CAPTAIN: What is the service you want my supply wagons to be employed upon, and at what hours? I am pinched for transportation.

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

Captain MENDELL:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864–8,50 p. m.

As I came in to-night I saw a brigade of the Second Corps going out, as they said, on the trenches. Unless they are to work on my front next the enemy I would not work men after dark. Last night 300 men worked on some battery epaulements and only accomplished as much effective work as one of my batteries placed in position could have done in four hours of daylight. There is no pressing urgency to finish the rifle-pits connecting the redoubts, and if there is daytime will answer; besides, as I have to hold that line I want to see their location. General Ferrero is now under my orders, and complained to-day of the extent of his men detailed to do work. I have to request, now that he holds part of this defensive line intrusted to me, that details called for from him shall come through my headquarters. Don't think I want to impede your work.

Respectfully,

(Copy to General Humphreys.)

G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

July 14, 1864.

Major-General WARREN: The brigade of the Second Corps you speak of I know nothing about. I did not call for it. The men at work on the battery near the Chieves house did very little last night, because they were lazy. I need wagons to haul siege material, as I am building batteries every night, and tomorrow night I am ordered to build a battery for six heavy guns, and shall need a great many gabions. I would like to have a few wagons subject to my own orders if you can spare them. The chief engineer has informed me that the commanding general wishes to have the line on your left flank and rear made strong as expeditiously as possible, for which reason I have called for heavy details. A negro is worth two, if not three, white men to dig.

Captain MENDELL:

G. H. MENDELL,
Captain of Engineers.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864—10.20 p. m.

I will furnish you the twelve wagons to-morrow from my headquarters and ammunition train. Send some one here for them in the morning. I think we can hold on till they can load up, anyhow. The ones you had are from the supply train, which is kept constantly going. The commanding general has given to me the protection of my left flank, and I will not be unmindful of its security, so you need not hurry them up unless I get more anxious. The large redoubt yet needs work the most. Let me know what details of colored men you have under you now and for to-morrow. Can Major Duane tell me about that brigade of the Second Corps? I am general of my trenches.

Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

Captain MENDELL:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864-11 p. m.

I have no objection, as far as I am concerned, to employing all of General Ferrero's division on his own front, and would rather they should be there as long as there is anything to be done there, for they will be available to him then for defense, if needed. I wish at present that all details in my front from any division be worked on its own front, for then they will be best available for fighting.

Respectfully,

General S. WILLIAMS:

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

July 14, 1864-10 p. m.

I have not received a report from General Crawford yet. I expect he is out on his picket-line establishing it. I reported to General Humphreys at 8 p. m. The whole force of the corps is continually at work to the extent of their ability, but nothing definite is accomplished to .report. The enemy occupies the same positions and increases the strength of his works. We do the same. He shells in on some places, and where we are not afraid of drawing fire on our working parties we reply. We lose a few men daily killed and wounded. A few of the enemy desert to us. This report is true for every day past for some time. We fired off three rockets at 9 p. m. All quiet now. Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

General HUMPHREYS:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864. (Received 10.40 p. m.)

I have just learned that the brigade of the Second Corps are leveling the enemy's intrenchments near my headquarters. This is decidedly wrong, as they make an excellent cover for our left flank this far back if it should be necessary to withdraw. If such a thing is contemplated we had best demolish what I have been putting up and withdraw to these. There has been no report made to me of this thing, and I am really astonished that I should not have been informed or consulted. Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 11, 1864—11 p. m.

Major-General WARREN:

I have seen your telegram to Major Duane. The leveling of the enemy's works in your rear, and not now used by you, is being executed under the directions of the lieutenant-general commanding. It is not

contemplated to withdraw only a portion of your line, but if any such movement is made it will be the withdrawal of the whole line, and the present operation is to prevent the reoccupation by the enemy of their former line.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

Colonel SMYTH:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864-11 p. m.

COLONEL: I expect Generals Crawford and Ferrero placed a new picket-line behind yours this evening. If you have received no instructions report to your corps with your brigade to-morrow morning. Respectfully,

General WILLIAMS,

G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS,
July 14, 1864–9 a. m. (Received 11 a. m.)

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Nothing unusual occurred on the lines during the last twelve hours. The work on the battery at the burnt house is prosecuted every night and is now in such a condition as to enable the men to work during the day. It will probably be finished by to-morrow morning. The work on the mine is progressing favorably, and if nothing unforeseen occurs the gallery will be 450 feet long at 12 o'clock to-day. Our mortar batteries and guns have good range of the enemy's works and do good execution whenever required. The length of our line renders the work very hard with the small number of men in the three divisions. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 14, 1864,

Major-General BURNSIDE,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

A deserter came into the Fifth Corps last night or this morning from Finegan's brigade (from which there have been many desertions recently) who proposed that three rockets should be sent up to-night from General Warren's front, when a number of the enemy would desert into our lines. General Warren has been authorized to send up the rockets, due precaution being taken against treachery. I notify you of this so that you may understand what is done, and take precautions, if you deem them necessary.

By order:

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

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