in and in front of the enemy's intrenchments taken yesterday, carefully concealed from the view of the enemy by massing in the woods. General Mott will be in the intrenchments on your left. It is probable that a considerable portion of your command will be disposable in the intrenchments. You can send a brigade, regiment, or pioneers at any time to fix up your intrenchments. From statements of intelligent prisoners it appears that two divisions of the enemy have passed around our right, and at the same time have been relieved by other troops in front. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. A. WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General. General Sheridan took prisoners from three brigades of two divisions Please notify your brigade commanders of what will be the future disposition. F. A. WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant General: I have the honor to report that nothing of importance transpired in my front last night. Three deserters from Florida regiments were re ceived and forwarded to army headquarters. Deserters say that Florida brigade is on picket, and many intend coming over to our side. G. K. WARREN, Major-General, Commanding. General S. WILLIAMS: HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, The proposed plan of uniting all the old regiments of the First Corps into one division, I think, is the best. I hardly dared attempt anything so extensive, as it will involve the remodeling of the whole corps. I believe on this basis it can, however, be made more generally satisfactory and the changes will produce a renewed spirit. I will submit to-morrow the entire project. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. CONFIDENTIAL.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN: July 28, 1864–1.30 p. m. It has been decided to attempt an assault of the enemy's line in front of the Ninth Corps after exploding the mine. Your part in the work will be co-operation by the use of all the artillery possible along your line, the holding of your corps in readiness to take part in the action, and particularly all available reserve free for the immediate support of Burnside, if necessary. Further instructions will be sent you. The present note is given to General Hunt, chief of artillery, that he may consult with you as to posting the artillery. The major-general commanding directs me to say that, by direction of the lieutenant-general commanding the armies, all artillery firing, except from field pieces, will cease until further orders, and the heavy pieces will be concealed from the view of the enemy. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. (Same to General Burnside.) General HUMPHREYS: HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Before the dispatch of the commanding general could be communicated to Colonel Pleasants the charges had all been placed, and the tamping had progressed so far that he deems it best to keep on, as the stopping at the present stage would not serve to keep the mine dry any more than if the tamping were finished, besides, the air in the mine is, for some reason, becoming very bad, so much so as to make it difficult for the men to work. He, as well as the miners, say the powder will keep dry for at least a week. Shall he keep on? Colonel LORING, A. E. BURNSIDE, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Inspector-General: Let Pleasants finish the tamping, by 3 o'clock if possible. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. Major VAN BUREN: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 28, 1864. There is no hurry; tell Pleasants to have it done some time to-night. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE: July 28, 1864. Don't forget the wood to be cleared away. I fear it can't be certainly cut away in one night. The house spoken of by the general of the trenches as in our way has been burned by one of our batteries.* The mine is completed and ready for springing. The musketry and mortar firing has been about as usual. A. E. BURNSIDE, HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS, Before Petersburg, Va., July 28, 1864. Lieut. Col. L. RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report of operations during my tour of duty as general of the trenches: In front of the First Division nothing unusual occurred; there was less artillery firing during the night, but the sharpshooters are reported as being unusually active. In the Second Division troops in the trenches were engaged in forming a banquette tread and regulating the height of the parapet. The trench in the rear of the parapet was widened and shelters constructed in rear. The miners are engaged in loading and tamping the mine. The enemy threw up a short line during the night, in front of a house opposite the second regiment from the left of the Second Division; they were seen early this morning digging, carrying boards, &c. The house is used as a lookout by the enemy, and from it they are able to see the effects of their mortar shells and direct the firing. In front of the Third Division, Ninth Army Corps, nothing unusual transpired; working parties were engaged in making roads to the batteries, and a covered way to the front line. At about 11 p. n.. of the 27th instant two heavily ladened trains left Petersburg and went toward Richmond. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. R. BLISS, Col., Comdg. First Brig., Second Div., Ninth Army Corps, *See next, post. [Indorsement.] The general commanding the corps has given direction to the artillery that the house alluded to in the above report shall be burned down today. LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General. Col. Z. R. BLISS, HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Before Petersburg, Va., July 28, 1864. Lately General Officer of the Trenches: COLONEL: The commanding general desires you to go to Battery Morton and Battery Graves, and point out the house you allude to in your report to the officers in charge of the heavy guns and give directions in his name that the house must be burned down to-day. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, EWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General. JULY 28, 1864–11 p. m. Lieutenant-Colonel RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General : There is a large fire in Petersburg; their bells are ringing, otherwise everything is as usual. Respectfully, E. G. MARSHALL, Colonel Fourteenth New York Artillery, General of Trenches. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. L. RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that everything has been quiet along my line during the past twelve hours. The bombproofs and traverses in the front line were considerably improved during the night. The enemy's sharpshooters were very active. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LEWIS RICHMOND, Before Petersburg, Va., July 28, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that there has been very little musketry firing on my front to-day. This afternoon the batteries of Rogers and Jones' threw some 200 shells, with the object of firing a house in the rebel lines, near which the new earth-works are being constructed. This was finally accomplished. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBERT B. POTTER, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, NINTH CORPS, Lieut. Col. L. RICHMOND, July 28, 1864—8 a. m. Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that a section of Twitchell's battery was returned to its position in front of the Taylor house last night, and that the work on the new covered way is progressing. GENERAL: I have the honor to forward a deserter who came in from the enemy on my lines to-night. He has important information. His name is Banks, Fourth Alabama, Field's division, Longstreet's corps. He reports among other things that his division was relieved to-night by Bushrod Johnson's division; that his división was to march for Drewry's Bluff to-night, and that McLaws' division left for Richmond, or that direction, yesterday. Very respectfully, O. B. WILLCOX, Major-General SHERIDAN, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, Commanding Cavalry Corps: GENERAL: Major-General Hancock desires me to say that he has directed Major Hagemeister, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, to report with his battalion to you, as under the circumstances he thinks it would be better with its own command. He has at the present time no occasion for such a detachment. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HANCOCK, Commanding Second Army Corps: July 28, 1864. After the enemy had driven in my cavalry picket-line up to the crest of the bluff overlooking the New Market road, the cavalry charged |