HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., THIRD DIV., CAVALRY CORPS, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac : GENERAL: Nothing of importance has occurred along my line since last report. The enemy undoubtedly picket in front of my right nearly as far as Doctor Gurley's with infantry, and along my right as far as the enemy's line can be seen it appears to be quite strong. No disposition is manifested by the enemy to disturb our line. In compliance with instructions of yesterday, I have ordered patrols to or toward Prince George Court-House, on the road from that point to Lee's Mill, until they shall find the pickets of force stationed at the Court-House. The Prince George Court-House road, as I understand it from your communication of yesterday and the instructions handed over to me by Colonel Devin, is the road from the Court House to Lee's Mill. I know of no other I can patrol to without going to the Court-House. I send you a man calling himself John Williams, who came into our lines this morning. He claims to belong to the First New York Veteran Cavalry, and to be an escaped prisoner of war; to have enlisted in rebel service in order to facilitate his escape to our army; that he was assigned to the Sixty-first Virginia Infantry. I also forward a contraband who came in this morning. Some information may be elicited from him touching the whereabouts of the cavalry or a portion of it. I find in our lines two women, Mrs. Danforth and Mrs. Baxter, who say they [reside] just outside and were passed in by a captain in the Ninth New York Cavalry (whose name they were informed was Snyder) on the 15th. They are very desirous to get home. I do not think they would damage us any by any information they could give the enemy, even if they were so disposed. As at present situated it is with much difficulty they can get sufficient to subsist upon. I would respectfully ask what disposition should be made of them. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. CHAPMAN, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Col. GEORGE II. CHAPMAN, Commanding Cavalry Brigade: July 22, 1864. Respecting the two women, Mrs. Danforth and Mrs. Baxter, the commanding general directs me to say that you may allow them to return to their homes upon their taking an oath not to reveal anything they have seen or heard since they have been inside of our lines; or, if their houses are so situated that you can place guards upon them that will be secure against capture, and at the same time prevent any communication with the enemy, the commanding general will authorize your sending them home with such guards, and without any oath, if you think them indisposed to communicate information to the enemy. A. A. HUMPHREYS. Lieutenant-General GRANT: BUTLER'S HEADQUARTERS, July 22, 1864. (Sent 10.40 a. m.) Foster proposed this morning to try and retake that position which the Eleventh Maine took and had to give up yesterday. The position is the intersection of the New Market and Malvern Hill main road with a branch road leading to the Long Bridge main road. It is an important one, as it cuts the direct communication between the rebel forces at Malvern Hill and those at Chaffin's farm. Consequently the enemy would drive him out again, as they are stronger than he is now. He has, therefore, been directed not to make the attempt until re-enforced to-morrow or the day after by a portion of the Nineteenth Corps. That position if held protects perfectly the position at Deep Bottom, the pontoon bridge, the navigation of the river, and I think would force the enemy's batteries and troops from Malvern Hill. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, CITY POINT, July 22, 1864. General BUTLER: I see firing again in the same direction as last night. Does Foster still hold the position gained to-day? Has he not been re-enforced? Is the firing seen an attack made by the enemy? U. S. GRANT. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: (Received 9.30 p. m.) Nothing new from Foster since noon. He has not been re-enforced. Have telegraphed to him to ascertain what the firing is. I imagine it to be only picket-firing. The enemy, as far as heard from, have only some cavalry at that particular point. BENJ. F. BUTLER, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Foster's regiment has fallen back from that position for the night, not having any disposable force to re-enforce it. The firing is below him and is by the gun-boats, which are shelling the flanks of that regiment to keep off the rebels. No symptoms whatever of any pressing or attacking force of the enemy. I have not the least doubt but that that position can be retaken without loss in the morning. It seems to be Sort of neutral ground. G. WEITZEL. BERMUDA, July 22, 1864. Maj. R. S. Davis, Assistant Adjutant-General: I have the honor to report the arrival here from New Orleans the balance, about 350 men, of the Fourteenth Maine, of the Nineteenth Army Corps. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Fuller: That bridge will start from Bermuda Hundred immediately after dark. Captain Lyon, my assistant, will bring it up with two tugs. He will turn it over to you and order Captain Cruso, with some engineers, to report to you. You will then throw the bridge, and after it is thrown turn over the charge of it to Captain Cruso. G. WEITZEL, DEEP BOTTOM, VA., July 22, 1864. General WEITZEL: Your dispatch received. The approaches are completed and I am ready to commence the bridge when the boats arrive. I will telegraph you when the bridge is ready for the passage of troops. T. LUBEY, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Captain LUBEY, Jones' Neck: In the Field, July 22, 1864. Your dispatch received. Tell Captain Cruso and his men to return to Bermuda Hundred and resume their original duty. G. WEITZEL, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Let me know when that bridge is ready for the crossing of troops. G. WEITZEL, 26 R R-VOL XL, PT III HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Captain LYON: (Care of Lieutenant Coe, Bermuda Hundred.) You need not take Captain Cruso and his company up there. Captain Lubey wishes to build the bridge alone and to keep charge of it alone. G. WEITZEL, Capt. GEORGE T. BALCH, HEADQUARTERS SIEGE TRAIN, Broadway Landing, Va., July 22, 1864. Assistant to Chief of Ordnance; CAPTAIN: I am becoming seriously uneasy as to the supplies of ammunition for my siege train. Since its arrival (bringing only a small part of the original requisition-see my telegram of June 30) the following are the only important receipts: Thirty-pounder Parrott-rounds, from Washington Arsenal, June 29, 2,635; from same, July 2, 2,620; total, 5,255. Four and one-half inch guns-rounds, from Washington Arsenal, July 2, 7,236. Eight-inch mortar-shells (no powder nor fuses), from Fort Monroe, 7,900; also from Washington Arsenal, 15,000 frictionprimers. The following have been invoiced but not yet received: Thirty-pounder Parrott-rounds, from New York Arsenal, July 2, 1,430; from same, July 13, 1,580; total, 3,010. The following are the guns now in position and their expenditure up to 20th instant: Thirty-pounder Parrotts-10 guns, 3,547 rounds; 8-inch mortars-14 mortars, 4,262 rounds; Coehorn mortars-10 mortars, 2,498 rounds. These expenditures from the small supply on hand have been kept at the minimum so much as to cause considerable complaint from officers high in rank. We have now about ready for the guns (which may be called for at any moment) positions for forty guns-twenty 8-inch mortars; ten 10-inch mortars, and twenty-six Coehorn mortars which, when put in position, will be expected to open heavily and to keep it up. If they should do so for about four days all my ammunition would be expended and the train become useless, unless my receipts should be quite different from heretofore. It is therefore of the first importance that I be informed upon what I can count in way of supplies-that is, how rapidly my guns can be regularly supplied. The following are my most important requisitions, which have not been nearly filled, as my statement above will show: June 30, 30-pounder Parrott, 13,000 rounds; 44-inch guns, 10,000 rounds; 8-inch mortar, 10,000 rounds; July 8, twenty 8-inch mortars with 20,000 rounds; July 10, 50,000 friction-primers, 20,000 assorted fuses; July 15, 20,000 rounds Coehorn mortars, 3,000 wooden fuses for 8-inch mortars. Also to hurry forward the balance not yet received of my original requisition for the train (except the 100-pounder Parrott) which involves about the following: 8,000 rounds 30-pounder Parrott, 4,000 rounds 44-inch gun, 2,000 rounds 8-inch mortar, 3,200 rounds 10inch mortar with over 50,000 friction-primers. If it is impossible to supply these heavy demands I would like to know it, as we will in that case put less heavy guns in battery. What I am now most in need of is Coehorn-mortar ammunition, I mean for daily expenditure. I have only about 400 rounds in depot, and am in urgent need of a supply at once. Please also forward to Captain Hatfield twenty-five sponges for 30 pounder Parrotts, and the same number for 4-inch guns, also twentyfive fuse-plug reamers. The muzzle was blown off a 30-pounder Parrott day before yesterday. I am having it cut smooth for further use. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding. General TERRY, JULY 22, 1864-9.20 a. m. Commanding Tenth Corps: The particular reason, I think, why at general headquarters they desire that you should be well prepared on your lines is this: Ewell and Breckinridge are on their way back. A column like theirs suddenly hurled against our line would, if not prepared, go through them, so that you and Foster had better be prepared for any such emergency until we can gain positive information where Ewell and Breckinridge are, or where they intend to strike, if they intend to do so at all. General Butler directs that Foster wait until some of the Nineteenth Corps come to him. He fears that even if Foster take it to-day he will not be able to hold it, as the enemy's force in his front is three brigades now, two brigades of infantry and one of cavalry. The general is aware of the importance of the point. If the transportation of the Nineteenth had not been so wretchedly managed we could have held that point yesterday. Notify Foster of this. G. WEITZEL, (Copy forwarded by Terry to Foster, 10.30 a. m.) HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General WEITZEL: I have just received the following dispatch from Brigadier-General Foster. * It strikes me that if the position is one whose occupation will compel the evacuation of the enemy's works at Malvern they will deem it of sufficient importance to attack it in such numbers that no force which Foster can send there will be able to hold it. ALF. H. TERRY. * See Foster to Terry, beginning-I am going to try, p. 405. |