sary for the infantry pickets that you should keep up connection with them. Please give me a statement of the duties assigned you by General Meade. Very respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Major General WARREN, July 15, 1864. Commanding Fifth Army Corps : GENERAL: The present line of cavalry pickets was established by Colonel Bryan some time ago. General Meade's instructions are to maintain the line as established by Colonel Bryan, connecting with the left of the infantry. The great scarcity of water makes it impracticable to keep more cavalry on the right than there is at present. Colonel Bryan has 1,200 men. Lee's Mill is the only watering place for cavalry in this entire section. Respectfully, yours, D. MCM. GREGG, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division. JULY 15, 1864-9 p. m. General S. WILLIAMS: I have received no report from my division commanders to-night, except General Ferrero, who has nothing to report. About 7 p. m. this evening our mortars blew up a small rebel magazine. The work is progressing everywhere on my lines, and our defensive works are nearly completed. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, General HUNT and Major DUANE: HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, The advanced redan on the plank road is now ready to prepare for its armament. Have you yet determined what guns to put in it? If not, I would like to have this fixed, and I will set at work on it to-mor row. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN: The armament proposed for the redan is four siege guns and two 8-inch howitzers for each face; the howitzers nearest the angle. They will require traverses for every two guns. I also propose to place two sections of light 12s on the line next the redan, one to flank each face. The engineers have this in charge. At least two good magazines will be wanted. HENRY J. HUNT, HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS, Col. F. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General: It is reported that the enemy was moving forces to his right, or our left, last night, and cavalry was moving in that direction this morning about 10 o'clock. The enemy is building an interior line of rifle-pits, plainly visible from the top of our breast-works. If I may be allowed to make a suggestion, I would respectfully state that our works are unnecessarily strong for artillery. The works are being constructed as if we expected to occupy them and not make others to their front. Very respectfully, &c., CHAS. GRIFFIN, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FOURTH DIV., FIFTH ARMY CORPS, July 15, 1864. Lieutenant RANSOM, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Division: LIEUTENANT: The explosion this p. m. on my front was the firing of a small magazine of the enemy near his mortar battery in front of my right, and near the group of buildings on the hill. The explosion was the effect of a shell from the mortar battery in rear of my line. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDW. S. BRAGG, Brigadier-General. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION, FIFTH ARMY CORPS, July 16, 1864. Respectfully forwarded for the information of the major-general com manding corps. L. CUTLER, General HUMPHREYS: HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, July 15, 1864. (Received 3.55 a. m.) Lieutenant Hough, engineer officer, is here with 5,000 shovels and 2,000 picks. I thought it possible that they might be intended for General Hancock instead of me. If there are any instructions in reference to them please send to me. The tools were sent by General Benham from City Point. Please answer immediately. A. E. BURNSIDE, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 15, 1864. Major-General BURNSIDE, Commanding Ninth Army Corps: The tools that Lieutenant Hough has are for the Second Corps, but will remain where they are till morning, when Major Duane will send for them. General WILLIAMS: A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Nothing of importance occurred on my line last night. The battery at the burnt house is finished, with exception of cutting the embrasure and making the magazine. The mine is progressing favorably. I shall receive a report from there at 12 o'clock, which I will forward. There was some little musketry and considerable cannonading from the enemy, apparently attracted by the signal lights at these headquarters, which were placed too high. They will be changed to-night. A. E. BURNSIDE, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE: The powder is at City Point, Lieut. Morris Schaff in charge. There are 12,000 pounds. The fuse has not yet arrived. It was shipped from New York on the 5th instant. Respectfully, E. R. WARNER, Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspector of Artillery. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Major DUANE, Chief Engineer, Army of the Potomac : July 15, 1864. I would be glad if you would direct the party leveling fortifications to defer work on the line near the Dunn house for the present. We have a hospital there and the work would disturb the sick and perhaps draw fire. The hospital will be moved to-day, and your parties can in the meantime work on other parts of the line. An order sent here will be transmitted to the officer in charge. A. E. BURNSIDE, HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieutenant-Colonel RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: I have the honor to forward report as general officer of the trenches for tour ending July 15, a. m. ordinary firing was had along our front. During said term less than From instructions issued, the line of trenches was strengthened at various points, and the line crossing ravine in front of First Brigade, Second Division, completed. The various works building were progressing as rapidly as could be expected, as well as all work along the line, new details being furnished. Nothing unusual was observed on the enemy's front. Receiving no report or instructions of previous operations along the line rendered the duties more difficult to arrange. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. H. P. STEERE, Colonel, Comdg. First Brig., Second Div., Ninth Army Corps. Col. W. H. P. STEERE, [Inclosure No. 1.] IN THE TRENCHES, Before Petersburg, Va., July 15, 1864. Comdg. Brigade and General of the Trenches, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I made yesterday a report in full to the acting assistant adjutant-general of the First Division, Ninth Army Corps, commanded by General Ledlie, that my facilities for making reports in writing are very poor, also that an orderly is necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of division officer of the day; that the condition of the ditches and breast-works is such that the men are not properly protected; that the habit of moving the regiments every two or three days, and never putting them in the same place twice, is discouraging, and prevents as much labor being put on the works as there should be; that there is very much needed a covered way from the first to the second line of trenches, also a covered way to the picket-line; that the sinks are not in the condition they should be-they are not deep enough, there are not enough of them, they are not sufficiently protected from fire. The men lie in the pits and suffer rather than visit them in the daytime; at night they get behind some big tree in preference. Consequently the ground in the rear is in very bad condition; what with brush, rubbish, manure, &c., it is a hard matter to get around, except by one or two paths along which the rebel sharpshooters keep up a continual fire. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WILSON W. FAY, Captain, Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Infantry. [Inclosure No. 2.] HDQRS. SECOND REGT. MARYLAND VET. VOL. INFANTRY, Col. W. H. P. STEERE, July 15, 1864. Commanding First Brigade, Second Division: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that nothing particularly of note transpired along the lines of the enemy in front of this division during the twenty-four hours I was on duty. The different works now in course of construction were proceeded with as rapidly and successfully as could be expected. I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. HOWARD, JR., Lieut. Col., Second Maryland Veteran Volunteer Infantry, [Inclosure No. 3.] HDQRS. THIRTY-SEVENTH WISCONSIN VOL. INFANTRY, Col. WILLIAM H. P. STEERE, General of the Trenches: COLONEL: The works on the front of the First Brigade, Third Division, were repaired and strengthened as far as was necessary; the works on the front of the Second Brigade are in very good order indeed; the work in the mine at the end of the covered way on the right of the First Brigade is progressing finely. The work in front of the First Brigade headquarters is progressing finely, some gabions being set during the twenty-four hours. I notice that the rebel works on our front are two lines, one immediately in rear of the other, the front line is quite low, the rear line is quite high, and I should judge rather formidable, upon which the enemy seems to work incessantly. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. N. DOYLE, Captain, 8th Michigan, Comdy. 37th Wisconsin Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, July 15, 1864. Commanding Cavalry Division, Lee's Mill: GENERAL: In the Richmond Whig, of the 14th instant, it is stated that a portion of Fitz. Lee's command, in a skirmish near Lee's Mill with a part of Gregg's cavalry, drove them back and captured 93 prisoners, including 2 commissioned officers. This paragraph must refer to the 12th instant. The commanding general desires to know what truth there is in this statement.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. Lieutenant-General GRANT: JULY 15, 1864-9.45 a. m. I am inclined to think that two divisions of Longstreet's corps have gone from Petersburg and our front. There has been a change of pickets in our front. A deserter from Hagood's brigade, Hoke's division, formerly of Longstreet's corps, but latterly of Beauregard's forces, says that it is so; that they left last Friday or Saturday; but I do not think they have gone to Maryland. It is rumored among secesh in Norfolk that Lee is sending troops south. B. F. BUTLER, *For reply, see Part I, p. 614. |