HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE, Commanding Ninth Corps: The major-general commanding directs you not to send the division ordered from your corps to occupy the intrenchments formerly occupied by Ferrero until you hear further from him. Hold it ready to move. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE, Commanding Ninth Corps: July 26, 1864-5.30 p. m. Your dispatch by Captain Bache received. The commanding general says you may suspend relieving the troops in the trenches until further orders. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE, Commanding Ninth Corps: July 26, 1864-7.45 p. m. The commanding general directs me to say that 8,000 pounds of powder with fuse will be sent you immediately by General Hunt, and that Major Duane will send you 8,000 sand-bags. The commanding general directs that you prepare your mine at once for explosion, but that you await further orders before springing it. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 26, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of 7.45 p. m., and to say that arrangements will be made accordingly. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE: HENRY J. HUNT, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, General WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General: I have the honor to report that all has been quiet along my front for the past twelve hours. This evening there is considerable firing. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 9TH ARMY CORPS, July 26, 1864—8 a. m. Lieutenant-Colonel RICHMOND, A. A. G., Ninth Army Corps: SIR: I have the honor to report that I was relieved this morning as general officer of the trenches by Brigadier-General Bartlett. Nothing occurred in front of the First Division except the blowing up of a caisson. The front of the Third Division was reduced in length nearly onehalf yesterday. The officer of the day of that division reports that more frequent changes of the men in the trenches is desirable and almost necessary, their losses being constant and their labors severe. In making my morning inspection of the trenches yesterday I found that the policing was poorly done and that no attention had been paid to draining. Both these evils I ordered remedied as soon as possible. Captain Young, officer of the day, Third Division, Ninth Corps, reports a great improvement in respect both to draining and policing in the trenches occupied by his division. The officer of the day of the Second Division has failed to send me his report. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY G. THOMAS, Col. 19th U. S. Colored Troops and General Officer of the Trenches. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Before Petersburg, Va., July 26, 1864–8 a. m. Lieut. Col. L. RICHMOND, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Ninth Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that nothing unusual has taken place along my front during the past twelve hours. The firing on our left was extremely heavy about midnight, and in our front the enemy's pickets displayed rather more activity than common. The traverses on the right of the front line, occupied by one of my brigades, were considerably strengthened during the night. I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES H. LEDLIE, Brigadier General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LEWIS RICHMOND, A. A. G., Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that almost incessant musket firing was kept up by both sides on my front through the night. Fourteen guns were placed in position in the new earth-work just completed near the burnt house. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBERT B. POTTER, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, Lieutenant-Colonel RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, of Hartranft's brigade, relieved the Second Michigan, of Humphrey's brigade, and that Colonel Sigfried's colored troops relieved the rest of Humphrey's line. It was all done so quietly that there was little loss. Humphrey's brigade is now in the rear. O. B. WILLCOX, HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, July 26, 1864. Brigadier-General WILLCOX, Commanding Third Division: GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to say he transmits to you with regret the inclosed order* from army headquarters, and that you will please relieve the brigade of the Fourth Division in the front line as soon as possible after dark, in order that it may go to the position indicated. Any portion of the brigade not in line and that can be moved before dark should be sent at once to report to General White. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. L. VAN BUREN, HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, July 26, 1861. Brigadier-General WHITE, Commanding Fourth Division: The general commanding directs me to forward the inclosed order* from army headquarters, with instructions to you to get your command in readiness to obey the order. Call in all working parties at once and have the tools turned in at the places whence they were taken. General Willcox, has been ordered to relieve Colonel Sigfried as soon after dark as possible; Colonel S. will then report to you. Your command is not to move without further orders from these headquarters. Since receiving the inclosed order it is learned that General Hancock's pickets have already been relieved. It will therefore be necessary to have your pickets posted by some officer familiar with the line before occupied by the division. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. L. VAN BUREN, Major. &c. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps, or OFFICER COMMANDING CAVALRY AT JORDAN'S POINT: SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit a copy of a dispatch which has just been received from Lieutenant-General Grant. The See Humphreys to Burnside, 4.15 p. m., p. 478. See Grant to Meade, July 26, beginning-The enemy are again advancing, p. 460. 31 R R-VOL XL, PT III commanding general directs that you spare no efforts to send off tomorrow the regiments of cavalry that, under paragraph 9 of Special Orders, No. 191, of the 18th instant, from these headquarters, are to go to Washington, and also that you report what regiments are sent during the day and what regiments remain. You will give the quartermaster at City Point timely notice of the number of men you have to send, so that he may make the necessary arrangements for their transportation. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS, SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, July 26, 1864–8 a. m. Major General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac : GENERAL: I have the honor to report all quiet at this hour. Patrolled as usual at 3 a. m. to Lee's Mill and Norfolk road. No enemy in sight in that vicinity. Yesterday p. m. the enemy doubled his posts · in my front and shifted his reserve. About midnight the long roll was sounded in the enemy's camp, and they appeared to be alarmed. Soon after they attacked my line near the left of the infantry and drove in the pickets, but were soon driven off and the line re-established. Chapman's brigade, of Third Division, relieved me at 4 a. m. this morning, and I am now about to return to camp. The cars and trains on the Weldon road were running briskly all night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. C. DEVIN, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier General WILSON, Commanding Cavairy Division, at City Point: The commanding general directs that you move to the vicinity of Prince George Court-House with the remainder of your division, leaving sufficient camp guard. A. A. HUMPHREYS, HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 26, 1864—11.30 p. m. Your dispatches of this evening are received. The Third Indiana, now on picket, will be relieved at daylight in the morning, and sent away as soon thereafter as possible. That will leave me but two regiments at this place; not too many as a guard. Please inform me by telegraph if the order to move to Prince George Court-House is to be obeyed literally, the force just mentioned being the "remainder of my division.” Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General. HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIV., CAVALRY CORPS, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : July 26, 1864. I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders I relieved at 1 a. m. to-day the First Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps, picketing on the left of the army, and to make the following report: I have taken up the picket-line as formerly established. That on my right is not as it should be, but I am taking steps to correct it. All is perfectly quiet, not a shot being fired. Patrols are moving on the old Norfolk road, and well down the plank road, in obedience to orders from headquarters Army of the Potomac, July 21, 1864. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. MCINTOSH, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 26, 1864-4.30 p. m. COMDG. OFFICER BRIG. CAVALRY PICKETING ON THE LEFT: A deserter from Mahone's division, of Hill's corps, occupying the right of the enemy's intrenchments, has just come in and gives information indicating an intention to feel and attack our left. The commanding general directs that you enjoin special vigilance on the part of your command and if forced to retire that you come in on the Norfolk road. Our intrenchments extend back from the last redoubt on the plank road across the Norfolk road to the swamp in that vicinity. You will keep the commander of the corps on the left, Major-General Warren, informed of everything that occurs, as well as these headquarters. Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS, General Foster lost that cross-road on the lower side of Four-Mile Creek last night. He ascribes the loss to the bad behavior of the troops of the Nineteenth Corps which were on duty there. I ordered him to retake it if possible. It has not yet been accomplished. BENJ. F. BUTLER. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: General Foster has made a good step toward regaining that point. He will try and finish the job this p. m. As it is he is within a hundred yards of it and commands it. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff. |