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HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS,
July 6, 1864.

Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN,

Commissary-General of Prisoners:

COLONEL: I have the honor to inform you that Brig. Gen. James Barnes, U. S. Volunteers, arrived at Point Lookout this morning and took command. I had supposed the War Department would send you a copy of the order assigning him to that command. I will send you a copy in the morning.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
C. H. RAYMOND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[General HALLECK]:

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, July 7, 1864.

GENERAL: Please bring your order as to Eighteenth Corps, with the telegram and Grant's letter.* The President wishes to see them. Yours, truly,

EDWIN M. STANTON.

GENERAL ORders, (

No. 225.

Draft of General Order.

I. The troops of the Department of North Carolina and Virginia. serving with the Army of the Potomac in the field under Major-General Smith will constitute the Eighteenth Army Corps, and Maj. Gen. William F. Smith is assigned by the President to the command of the corps. Maj. Gen. B. F. Butler will command the remainder of the troops in that department, having his headquarters at Fort Monroe.

CITY POINT, VA., July 7, 1864.
(Received 9 p. m.)

Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff: The number of dismounted cavalry sent from here reaches nearly 3,000 men; the whole force sent about 9,000. Will it not answer your purposes to retain the artillery you were preparing to send here to distribute among the 100-days' men, instead of sending back a regiment of heavy artillery? It breaks up a brigade to send one of these large regiments now. The dismounted cavalry took with them such arms and accouterments as they had, but they were not completely armed. Won't Couch do well to command until Hunter reaches? All of General Sigel's operations from the beginning of the war have been so unsuccessful that I think it advisable to relieve him from all duty, at least until present troubles are over. I do not feel certain at any time that he will not after abandoning stores, artillery, and trains, make a successful retreat to some safe place.

1

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

*See Grant to Halleck, July 1, Part II, p. 558, and July 6, 10 a. m., draft of order following.

p. 31, ante, and

WASHINGTON, July 7, 1864-10

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

P.

m.

(Received 8th.)

The artillery proposed to send to you has been sent to Harper's Ferry; moreover they were not drilled as heavy artillery. One regiment of the latter is almost indispensable to mix in with militia who can scarcely fire a gun. Sigel has been removed from Harper's Ferry and Howe sent to take his place till Hunter arrives. Nothing heard from the latter to-day. Of Couch, Ord, and Gillmore I think the latter the best and have sent for him to-night. Early and Breckinridge are unquestionably in this raid, which is probably larger than we first supposed. Their special object is not yet developed.

General R. E. LEE,

H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff.

Commanding Confederate Army:

CITY POINT, VA., July 7, 1864.

Mrs. Sackett, the wife of Col. William Sackett, who was wounded on the 11th of June, near Trevilian Station, Va., is here in deep distress, and feeling great anxiety to learn the fate of her husband. Colonel Sackett was left at a house some two miles and a half from the station, in charge of Surgeon Ray, U. S. Volunteers. If you can let me know the fate and present whereabouts of Colonel Sackett, you will alleviate the anxiety of his wife and family. I will add that it always has and always will afford me pleasure to relieve the minds of persons in the South having friends North, either by forwarding open letters to them or by ascertaining where they are, their condition, &c. Mrs. Sackett is very desirous that I should ask you for permission to visit her husband, if he is still alive. She would not expect to go through Richmond, but would start from Alexandria by private conveyance, if authorized to do so.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

No. 51.

*

City Point, Va., July 7, 1864.

II. Battery F, Fifth U. S. Artillery, Captain Martin commanding, will report to Maj. Gen. W. F. Smith, commanding Eighteenth Army Corps, in front of Petersburg, Va.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

E. S. PARKER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac,

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

July 7, 1864-9.30 a. m.

I have nothing of importance to report during the last twenty-four hours. A mortar battery of 8-inch pieces has been established on the

front of the Ninth Corps, and redoubts for protection of the left flank of the trenches of the army have been commenced on the line of the Fifth Corps; also the preparation of material for the regular approaches about to be made.

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding.

Major-General MEADE,

Commanding, &c.:

CITY POINT, VA., July 7, 1864.

I have word from Sherman to 7 p. m. last evening. He is near the Chattahoochee and has not attempted to cross. This shows the report of the deserters that he had been beaten at Atlanta is without foundation.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 7, 1864.

Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: I transmit herewith the report of the chief of artillery and the acting chief engineer* made in pursuance of an order to reconnoiter the enemy's position in front of the lines of this army. You will see from the accompanying sketch that the point where the mine now being dug by Major-General Burnside is to be exploded is taken somewhat in reverse by the guns in the salient of the work near the Gregory house on the plank road. It therefore becomes necessary to effect a lodgment in this salient before the mine can be exploded. In order to obtain troops to relieve those in the trenches, and also to have a reserve, it is proposed in case regular approaches are made to occupy the line of redoubts and breast-works as indicated on the sketch. This will effectually cover the left flank of the army and leave at least a corps in reserve. These redoubts are in process of construction and the materials for regular approaches being collected, but no work as yet undertaken beyond the running of the gallery for the mine. Further operations will be dependent on your orders. It is proper I should advise you that in my judgment the operations proposed will be slow and tedious; that we shall perhaps have to take several lines before reaching the Appomattox; that then we shall have this river to cross and subsequently Swift Run; all of which would be turned and avoided should regular approaches be successfully made from the Bermuda Hundred front. Please advise me at your earliest convenience if you desire the operations commenced here against the salient on the plank road.

Respectfully, yours,

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding Army of the Potomac.

See Appendix D to Hunt's report, Part I, p. 285. + Not found with this paper.

Major-General MEADE:

CITY POINT, July 7, 1864-11 p. m.

In making regular approaches would it not be well to avoid making any at the salient where General Barnard gave it as his opinion that a successful assault could be made, if one could be made at all?

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 7, 1864-11.20 p. m.

I pre

Lieutenant-General GRANT: General Barnard never communicated any opinion to me. sume, however, you and he refer to the salient on the Jerusalem plank road. If so, this is the best point for a regular approach; indeed, it is essential it should be taken before a lodgment in any other part of the line, if made, could be maintained. I will send you to-morrow early a report with a sketch. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 7, 1864.

General S. WILLIAMS:

Please address a circular to corps commanders notifying them I have been called upon to present the names of officers deserving promotion to the rank of general, and requesting them to furnish such names as in their judgment are meritorious, specifying those who are first entitled to consideration, and giving as much in detail as practicable the services and reasons on which said recommendations are grounded. This to include promotions to the grade of major as well as brigadiergeneral.

G. G. MEADE,
Major-General.

July 7, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,

Capt. W. W. BECKWITH, City Point:

An indorsement on the telegram regarding correspondents for the New York Tribune has been received and is as follows:

The commanding general authorizes four correspondents for the New York Tribune to be with the army.

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. WILLIAMS. PH. SCHUYLER,

Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

General WARREN:

JULY 7, 1864–9.45 a. m.

Parties at work, as yesterday, on work near Chimueys or Gregory house, and also on line to the left and rear of Chimneys.

I. S. LYON,

(Same to Captain Fisher.)

First Lieutenant and Signal Officer.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 7, 1864.

Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff:

I would respectfully report that no movements were seen from the plank road station, except that of a train of eighty-one wagons passed southward on the road beyond the Weldon railroad. A train of cars came into Petersburg from the direction of Richmond, seemingly loaded with soldiers.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. F. FISHER,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

July 7, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: The following reports have been received and are respectfully forwarded:

There has been no labor since 1 p. m. on works near Gregory house. A party are still at work on the line of intrenchments to the left and rear of the Gregory house. From the amount of dirt thrown up this line appears no larger than a riflepit.

I. S. LYON.
Signal Officer.

The following was taken from enemy's station at Archer's:

Colonel BRENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General :

No movements reported of any kind in enemy's camp this a. m. low Port Walthall.

(Same to A. B.)

Col. H. P. JONES:

One gun-boat be

W. S. L.

11 A. M.

No movements observed yesterday. A few troops were landed on this side near Point of Rocks. Seven pieces artillery have just passed on the City Point road above where it joins the Broadway road, going toward the enemy's front.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER,

CIRCULAR.

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

July 7, 1861.

Corps commanders are notified that the commanding general has been called upon to present the names of officers deserving promotion to the rank of general, and they are requested to furnish the names of such officers of their respective commands as, in their judgment, are meritorious, specifying those who are first entitled to consideration, and giv ing as much in detail as practicable the services and reasons on which said recommendations are grounded.

This to include promotion to the grade of major as well as brigadiergeneral.

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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