them (dismounted) and routed McGowan's, Lane's, and Kershaw's brigades, capturing 2 battle-flags and 150 prisoners. The troops making the attack here this morning are Wilcox's and Kershaw's divisions. They were relieved on the right this morning by the balance of Hill's corps, which crossed the river last night. Very respectfully, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General, Commanding. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: Torbert's and Gregg's divisions were attacked this a. m. by Kershaw's and Wilcox's divisions, not far from the intersection of the Charles City road and the New Market road, and to the left of that intersection. They at first drove in my picket-line, which had been re-enforced strongly, to my second line. We charged them, the lines being only thirty yards apart, and routed them, capturing the colors of three infantry regiments and 150 prisoners. The balance of Hill's corps crossed the river last night. The enemy's movements this a. m. have been toward our right flank. My loss this a. m. will not, I hope, exceed 200. The prisoners captured by me belong to two divisions of the enemy and three different brigades. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Doctor PEASE, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Medical Director, Cavalry Corps, Wind-Mill Point: DOCTOR: We have 150 killed and wounded. Will be sent to corps hospital by boat with two surgeons. Everything is going on well. Wounded operated on; are well taken care of. Two flags captured and one gun lost. Do not try to come out. All wounded will be sent to corps headquarters. H. A. DU BOIS, Assistant Surgeon. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, Commanding Second Cavalry Division: July 28, 1864. You will move out your division to the support of General Torbert, who is ordered to take position on the Central road leading to Rich mond. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, Commanding Second Cavalry Division: GENERAL: General Gibbon has relieved the division of General Torbert. I shall send Torbert down on the open plain in front of where your headquarters were this morning. I want you to move your divis ion back and form it on the right of General Torbert, except your picket-line, which will remain, and the commanding officer of it will report to General Gibbon, who will direct it to fall back in case he should fall back. Let one of your staff officers remain with General Gibbon. Very respectfully, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. CHAPMAN, Commanding Second Brigade: GENERAL: You will send one regiment to Cocke's Mill to-morrow morning at 6 o'clock, to relieve the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Major Phillips, now on picket duty there, who will, after being relieved, proceed to the left of the army, to report to Brig. Gen. J. B. McIntosh. By command of Brigadier-General Wilson: L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: I have the honor to report that everything is quiet on my lines. I have sent out scouting parties toward Reams' Station. The scouts could not get beyond two or three miles from the church on the Reams' Station road. From all the information I can collect, I can hear of no movements of troops on our left. I am, general, very respectfully, J. B. MCINTOSH, Brigadier-General. JULY 28, 1864. Lieutenant-General GRANT: Allow me to submit to your consideration a thought which has struck me. The rebels have fortified Howlett's house bluff with nineteen guns and a very strong work. Trent's Reach is so shallow that our iron-clads cannot get up without great labor in dredging_the_channels. Now, what hinders us from turning the Howlett house battery by taking the hint from that Dutchman and cut a canal at Dutch Gap? It is but 200 yards from 16-foot water to 16-foot water across the gap. The land is but 30 feet high as an average, and we should have for a 50-foot cut but about 55,000 cubic feet of excavation, or ten days' labor for 1,000 men. By that means our iron-clads could get out and Howlett would be useless. If you will look upon the map you will get my idea at once. I have made my examination by the Coast Survey map. I should not depend on the current to do any part of the cutting, as at Vicksburg, although it might help. The gun-boats cover the place. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Since daylight about seventy-five wagons and ambulances, about 100 stragglers, and a drove of cattle and mules have crossed Chaffin's farm, going east. One of the rebel rams has moved down the river a short distance. Trains were running frequently on the road during the night. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH Carolina, Signal officer at Spring Hill reports that two trains passed toward Richmond, one at 12 midnight and the other at 3.30 a. m. Signal officer on the high tower reports a train of twenty-seven empty cars passed to Petersburg at 7.45 a. m. It is unusual for trains to be passing over the railroad at night. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In the Field, July 28, 1864-10 a. m. Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: A train of twenty-seven wagons passed up turnpike to Richmond at 9.30 a. in. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: The picket officer on the left of our line nearest the railroad reports that nine trains of cars moved from Petersburg to Richmond from dark last night until 2 a. m. this morning. The rebels cheered as the trains passed. I consider this more reliable than the previous report of the signal officer. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: The signal officer on being called to account for not reporting as many trains as the officers of the picket, says that the only trains that passed the Junction were the two he reported; that trains were moving all night from Petersburg to near the Junction and then back, as if they were shifting the position of their troops. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: A few wagons and a few infantry crossed the James River, going toward Foster's front, at 10.10 a. m. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Major LUDLOW, General Butler's Staff, Deep Bottom: General Butler wants you to return at once to Kautz's camp and see if it is true that his dismounted men have no arms, and if it is true see that they get them and ammunition as quickly as possible. They are relied on at present as an important part of the force to defend this line and must have arms to be of any use. G. WEITZEL, Will the operator send this dispatch by orderly. Major Ludlow is probably at Hancock's or Foster's headquarters. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: Three regiments of cavalry and ten wagons passed up the turnpike toward Richmond at 11.30 a. m. Respectfully, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In the Field, July 28, 1864. (Sent 12.10 p. m.) Lieutenant-Colonel COMSTOCK, City Point: I am sorry that General Hancock made, such a report. I will have that road accurately surveyed and, if possible, every stump shown. I doubt if there are ten on the whole six miles of road. They are so few that until I received your dispatch I was under the impression that these roads were most excellent. I have the statement of Captain Gordon and four other officers of the cavalry staff who rode over the roads the day before the movement that the roads were very good. I would ask you to send an officer over the road to report. I will have it carefully cleaned up if anything is found. Lieutenant-General GRANT: G. WEITZEL, JULY 28, 1864–12.45 p. m. No reports. Have ordered careful observation. Will keep you informed. At 10.30 a. m. a few infantry and wagons passed across Chaffin's farm, probably part of the garrison. Any further reports from Hancock? BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieutenant-Colonel COMSTOCK, City Point: General Butler says that the greater part of the road traveled by Hancock was the main road from Petersburg to Richmond for over 200 years, from 1619 to about 1840. He says this is history. G. WEITZEL, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieutenant-Colonel COMSTOCK, City Point: |