HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General WEITZEL: July 22, 1864. A dispatch from department headquarters, directed to Maj. Gen. D. B. Birney, commanding Tenth Army Corps, was received here this a. m. General Birney not here. Does the dispatch require immediate attention? Is it of such a nature that I can attend to it? ALF. H. TERRY, Brigadier-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, General TERRY, Tenth Corps: General Birney will be over soon. The dispatch is for him. G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General. General WEITZEL: HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, July 22, 1864—11.45 a. m. As soon as your dispatch was received it was sent to General Foster, but before he received it the contemplated movement had taken place. I have just received the following dispatch, viz.* ALF. H. TERRY, Brigadier-General. JULY 22, 1864. Brigadier-General WEITZEL: General Foster, who is now here, has just received a dispatch from one of his staff informing him that when Colonel Hill took the battery this morning it was occupied by 300 dismounted cavalry. Colonel Hill thinks that it will be impossible to hold it during the night unless he is re-enforced by 200 additional men. Foster thinks that it may be held by Hill's present force, but does not think it advisable to make further permanent detachments from his main body. Please direct as to what shall be done. ALF. H. TERRY, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, General TERRY, Tenth Corps: General Foster's action is approved. Let him act as he proposes. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, * See Foster to Terry, beginning-Your dispatch just received, p. 405. General TERRY, Tenth Corps: JULY 22, 1864–4.35 p. m. From information derived from a deserter I think the enemy nearest that battery is all cavalry belonging to Gary's brigade. That bridge will be finished by morning, and we still hope to have some of the Nineteenth Corps here by that time to re-enforce Foster. In the meantime let him act as his judgment directs. If he could hold it it would be good, but he must not risk that regiment. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. A. H. TERRY, Commanding Tenth Army Corps: Deep Bottom, July 22, 1864. I am going to try and reoccupy the position taken by the Eleventh Maine yesterday, as I consider it one of great importance. The place occupied was on the road between New Market and Malvern Hill, at the junction of a short road that runs to the Long Bridge road. It cuts the direct communication with Malvern Hill and the forces above, and, I think, if taken and held with a sufficiently strong force would compel the evacuation of the works at Malvern Hill. It also completely protects the pontoon bridge, river navigation, and my right flank. If I get it again to-day I shall hold it, if possible. One of the monitors just came down and anchored off the mouth of Four-Mile Creek. Please notify General Weitzel. Respectfully, yours, General TERRY: R. S. FOSTER, DEEP BOTTOM, July 22, 1864. Your dispatch just received. Lieutenant-Colonel Hill has retaken the position of yesterday, and now holds it. I have instructed him if attacked by a large force not to risk a fight; to at once fall back to the redoubt and let the gun-boats shell them. There is evidence that the enemy lost in their engagement with the gun-boats on the 16th. There appears to be a small force coming from direction of Malvern Hill. The gun-boats are shelling along Colonel Hill's front and flank, and I think they will not trouble him. I start for corps headquarters in a few moments. Respectfully, Brig. Gen. R. S. FOSTER: R. S. FOSTER, HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, Deep Bottom, Va., July 22, 1864-3 p. m. GENERAL: Colonel Hill has retaken the battery; it was defended by 300 dismounted cavalry. He thinks it will be impossible to hold the position over night unless he is re-enforced by 200 men. I have notified Colonel Plaisted to have the men ready in case you wish to send them, and sent word to Colonel Hill that he will fall back at night if the position is unsafe, unless he is re-enforced. JAS. M. BARNARD, JR., First Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, General FOSTER, Jones' Neck: General WEITZEL: DEEP BOTTOM, VA., July 22, 1864. (Received 10.20 p. m.) The firing is below us. The gun-boats have been all the p. m. shelling around Colonel Hill's position. His men fell back from the position taken at dark by my orders, as I had not men to re-enforce them sufficiently. R. S. FOSTER, General WEITZEL: DEEP BOTTOM, VA., July 22, 1864. GENERAL: Captain Lubey informs me that another engineer officer is to come to this place to take charge of the new bridge. I would respectfully request that no other captain of engineers be sent to this place. Captain Lubey's company is sufficient to construct and take care of both bridges. Your friend, R. S. FOSTER, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, General FOSTER, Jones' Neck: All right. Tell Captain Lubey I will order, as he desires, that company not to go, or to return if it has started or got there. G. WEITZEL, No. 78. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FIRST DIV.. TENTH ARMY CORPS, by Lieutenant-Colonel Hill with the Eleventh Maine Volunteers in taking and occupying the position so near the New Market and Mal vern Hill road and in front of the enemy's position. This position, if maintained, is of like importance to this command and the enemy. It severs the enemy's communication with Malvern Hill and prevents the interruption of navigation at this point, as well as preventing the annoyance caused by the enemy's batteries stationed near this road. It was accomplished with slight loss to us, and resulted in the capture of a number of prisoners, among them one commissioned officer. By order of Brig. Gen. R. S. Foster: P. A. DAVIS, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. JULY 22, 1864-1 o'clock. Lieut. H. O. Fox, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade: SIR: I have the honor to report that I have retaken the position that I held last evening, driving from the battery 300 dismounted cavalry of the Hampton Legion. If you can send me 200 more men and pioneers to intrench I will hold this position until morning, although my men. have been without sleep for thirty-six hours; they have made two unsuccessful attempts to drive us from the battery. Unless I can be re-enforced by 200 men more I think it would not be practicable to hold the battery during the night. If the position is to be held by us please notify my adjutant to have rations provided for my regiment. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. HILL, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Eleventh Maine Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS, Colonel PLAISTED: In the Field, Va., July 22, 1861—5.30 p. m. I have just withdrawn my pickets from the gateway or battery, understanding my orders that I should do so, unless I heard otherwise by 5 o'clock. I shall make a reconnaissance up the creek to-night. I do not think it expedient to hold my old line, as I can, if needed, take it again in the morning. The men are very tired and sleepy, as a portion of them were on picket last night. Respectfully, J.. A. HILL, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. If the general orders it I can retake my position to-night. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 95. J. A. II. HDQRS. EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORRS, July 22, 1864. In pursuance of Special Orders, No. 64, July 21, 1864, from headquarters Armies of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Eighteenth Army Corps. In addition to the staff already attached to corps headquarters the following officers of my personal staff are announced: Maj. S. S. Seward, aide-de-camp; Capt. A. B. Sharpe, aide-de-camp; Capt. H. G. Brown, aide-de-camp. They will be respected accordingly. E. O. C. ORD, Major-General, Commanding. CITY POINT, VA., July 23, 1864. The order sending regiments whose time expires by the 25th of August to Washington will take Col. J. D. McIntosh, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Col. George H. Chapman, Third Indiana, both commanding brigades in Third Division Cavalry; I have therefore to request their immediate promotions in accordance with previous recommendations. Lieutenant-General GRANT, U. S. GRANT, WASHINGTON, July 23, 1864-1 p. m. City Point, Va. : General Wright in person arrived this morning, and most of his forces will encamp at our outer line to-night. He says it will take about two days to refit his men with shoes and clothing and to have them paid. Our cavalry yesterday followed the enemy to Strasburg. He is still moving south. General Hunter telegraphs to the President that, without the assistance of Wright, he cannot prevent Early's return, if attempted. A man just in from Gordonsville says the railroad is repaired and the bridge across the Rapidan nearly completed. In regard to Early's force, General Wright was assured by Union men, who saw both armies, that Early's was much the larger. The rebels generally said to the country people that as soon as they secured their plunder they would return to Maryland and Pennsylvania for more, and that they expected to meet a force from Richmond to receive their plunder. They were probably directed by their officers to say this. The President (who has seen all the dispatches on the subject) directs me to say that you alone can judge of the importance of sending the Sixth Corps to the Army of the Potomac, or of its operating with Hunter against Gordonsville and Charlottesville, and that you alone must decide the question. The part of the Nineteenth Corps which returns with General Wright will be sent to City Point as soon as they can be refitted. Major-General HALLECK, H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. CITY POINT, VA., July 23, 1864-6 p. m. Washington, D. C.: If Wright has returned to Washington send him immediately back here, retaining, however, the portion of the Nineteenth Corps now in |