HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Brigadier-General INGALLS, July 29, 1864. (Received 10.15 p. m.) Chief Quartermaster, Armies of the United States: If the steamers are below Your dispatch received. The railroad party referred to by you are now on the south side of the James River. the pontoon bridge they will be sent. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: General Hancock is crossing his infantry in advance of my cavalry. I do not think I will have my command over the river until after daylight to-morrow. The right of my line now rests on Malvern Hill and extends to Riddell's Shop. This will enable you to form an idea of the time it will take to reach Lee's Mill with my corps. Not one moment's time will be lost. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps: The commanding general directs that you keep up connection with our left in the operations of to-morrow. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. DEEP BOTTOM, July 29, 1864–10.50 p. m. Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: (Received 3.30 a. m. 30th.) In the orders received by me, directing certain operations for to-mor row, nothing is said concerning the cavalry division of General Kautz. Am I to understand that General Kautz is to accompany me or not? P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. ON BOARD HUNCHBACK, Light-House Point, July 29, 1864–12.30 a. m. Lieutenant-Colonel FORSYTH, Chief of Staff, Cavalry Corps : Agreeably to instructions I am on my way to Light-House Point, Captain Nichols, of the Mendota, having kindly sent me down on board this gun-boat. The officers of the boat inform me that at Wilson's Landing, about 400 yards below the lower pontoon bridge, there is an old wharf which needs but a little labor to make it useful for landing forage, there being lumber at the landing. As the general spoke of a landing on that, the north, side of the river being preferable, I send this information, thinking it may be of service, particularly as they, the officers, say there is a good wagon road leading directly to it. I shall hurry the forage up as rapidly as possible. ARCHER N. MARTIN, Captain and Aide-de-Camp. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, Commanding Second Cavalry Division: July 29, 1864. The general desires that you keep all your artillery on this side of the river and put it in position. Very respectfully, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, July 29, 1864—12.50 a. m. Commanding Second Cavalry Division: GENERAL: There is forage at the first wharf below the pontoon bridge for the brigade of your command that is on this side of the river. The general commanding desires that you send for it as soon as General Torbert has drawn for his command. E. B. PARSONS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Third Division Cavalry: July 29, 1864—10 a. m. The major-general commanding directs that you concentrate your division on the left, somewhere near the plank road, and hold its available force ready for prompt movement. The guard left with trains should be merely sufficient to protect them against any small irregular parties of the enemy. The dismounted men should form this guard. Please report your location as soon as you are established. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. P. S. The patrols and pickets on the north side of the Blackwater should be reduced to the minimum consistent with watching the main avenues of approach. A. A. H. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Cavalry Division, Jordan's Point: (Care Brigadier-General Ingalls, City Point.) The commanding general considers that not more than one regiment should remain north of the Blackwater and that be so posted as to be brought in rapidly to-morrow morning. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Third Division, Cavalry Corps : GENERAL: Major-General Sheridan is ordered to move at dark to Lee's Mill, and at daylight against the enemy's troops defending Petersburg on their right by the roads leading to that town from the southward and westward. Your division will accompany him, and the commanding general directs that you be prepared to call in your patrols and pickets early to-morrow morning and move with the Cavalry Corps. You will send a staff officer to meet General Sheridan and receive his instructions. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Maj. Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN," I have been ordered to concentrate my division near the plank road and to communicate with you for orders. Captain Russell, whom I send with this, will give you all information in regard to the disposi tions I have made at Light-House Point and north of the Blackwater. I will concentrate McIntosh as soon as you order it. J. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Third Cavalry Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that unless you have received instructions to the contrary from General Meade you will concentrate your division during the night at some point near Alley's house, the headquarters of the brigade that has been picketing the left of the army. General Sheridan will join you there to-night with the balance of the corps if it is possible to do so. Should you receive instructions from General Meade, obey them with the greatest promptitude. Keep a picket force at Prince George Court-House. JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. TELEGRAPH OPERATOR: General Wilson's headquarters are at Jordan's or Wind-Mill Point. Send the within through Lieutenant-General Grant's headquarters. JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Brigadier-General CHAPMAN, Commanding Second Brigade: JAS. H. WILSON, HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Brig. Gen. J. B. MCINTOSH, Commanding First Brigade, Third Division: GENERAL: You will make your arrangements to relieve your pickets and vedettes by daylight to-morrow morning and to concentrate your command near your present headquarters on the plank road. You will supply yourself with two wagon loads of ammunition, besides the full amount in the boxes of the men. Further instructions will be sent you as soon as heard from Major-General Sheridan. By command of Major-General Wilson: L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General. JULY 29, 1864. Lieutenant-General GRANT: I have the honor to send herewith a deserter from the enemy, Thomas J. Powell, who swam the Appomattox and came in last night. Powell gives an account of the departure of a secret armed expedition from Wilmington, supposed to be to release prisoners at Point Lookout. I prefer to send you the information in the "original package" and so forward the deserter. BENJ. F. BUTLER, HDQRS. DEPT OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: One train passed toward Richmond from Petersburg last night. At 6 a. m. two batteries and twenty-nine wagons were moving along the turnpike toward Richmond. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. HDQRS, DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, At sunrise the signal officer on the right saw a long column of troops crossing the pontoon bridge at Chaffin's farm to the north bank of the James. Three regiments had crossed when he reported. A general and staff were with the column. This dispatch had been mislaid by the chief signal officer and not sent in until just now. BENJ. F. BUTLER, (Forwarded to General Meade at 12.15 p. m.) · Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: At 9 a. m. two trains with thirty-nine cars loaded with troops [passed] toward Richmont; also two baggage trains with seventy-five wagons went on the turnpike in the same direction; also a regiment of cavalry and a four-gun battery just crossed at the pontoon bridge to the north side of James River. In all, since day before yesterday afternoon at 6 o'clock, there have passed over, to this time, about 10,000 infantry, four regiments of cavalry, and three batteries that we know of. Baggage wagons in due proportion. BENJ. F. BUTLER, (Forwarded to General Meade at 12.15 p. m.) Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH Carolina, Birney's officer of the day reports distinct bearing of sounds resem bling loading of cars with railroad iron and moving of trains to Richmond; also that the force in front of General Ferry (the left of our line) is apparently much reduced. Steps have been taken to ascertain more and correctly about this. BENJ. F. BUTLER, (Forwarded to General Meade at 12.15 p. m.) Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In addition to all reported before, at 10.30 a. m. three regiments of cavalry and fourteen wagons passed along the turnpike toward Rich mond. BENJ. F. BUTLER, |