region it might serve as a nucleus to those citizens capable of bearing arms. General Pegram is nearly well, and could he take his brigade to that vicinity for a time he might increase its force (about 450) and organize some resistance to the enemy. I was told at the War Department that this matter rests with General Lee. R. S. EWELL, [Second indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, July 13, 1864. Respectfully forwarded to the honorable Secretary of War. It is impossible to detach troops from this army to defend the locality mentioned. A small force sent there would only attract the efforts of the enemy to capture it, and would be very much exposed. If the people will do nothing to defend themselves against such outrages I can see no remedy for them. I think arms should be furnished them, and, if practicable, some officer sent there to aid in organizing them. They could easily repel such marauding parties if they would exert themselves. Noted. Measures have been taken to organize and arm the people. File. J. A. S., Colonel GOODE, HEADQUARTERS JOHNSON'S DIVISION, Commanding Wise's Brigade: July 5, 1864. COLONEL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that you will relieve Brigadier-General Gracie's command in the trenches at 8 a. m. to-night with your brigade; you will immediately see General Gracie, and arrange the manner in which the relief is to be made. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. FOOTE, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į * } ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, IX. Brig. Gen. R. E. Colston, Provisional Army, C. S., will relieve Brig. Gen. F. T. Nicholls, commandant of post at Lynchburg, Va. * XX. Capt. F. L. Smith, assistant commissary of subsistence, is assigned to duty with Brig. Gen. M. C. Butler's cavalry brigade, and will report accordingly. GENERAL: It is very important that we should gather the crops of wheat, oats, and grass that are within our reach below Chaffin's Bluff, and I think that all the assistance that we can give with men and teams consistently with military operations should be applied to that purpose. General Heth, while stationed with two of his brigades near Chaffin's Bluff, took steps to gather these crops, which I hope will be continued by the two brigades now under General Conner. I think the other troops in your department should be employed as far as practicable in the same manner, and I need not tell you that that part of the country most exposed to the ravages of the enemy should be first attended to. I do not like the continuance of the enemy on the north side of James River and the maintenance of the pontoon bridge at Deep Bottom. I believe his force is not very large, and desire you to see if it cannot be driven away, and the bridge destroyed. I had hoped that Colonel Carter would have been able to have annoyed, if not injured, his transports on the river, and think that by the use of a four-gun bat tery, composed of pieces most suitable for the purpose, relieving the men and horses as occasion requires and operating in conjunction with Gary's cavalry, he may do them great damage. The gunners might be mounted upon horses of other batteries, which by being relieved as proposed, would not be injured, if placed under a careful officer. Please see if anything can be done to drive the enemy from the north bank and interrupt his communications, &c. With great respect, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General. HEADQUARTERS JOHNSON'S DIVISION, Colonel GOODE, Commanding Wise's Brigade: July 6, 1864. COLONEL: There is a little ravine running parallel to the general direction of your line, on your left. This ravine is just in front of your pickets and between them and the pickets of the enemy; it is necessary that you should send some intelligent men to crawl out two or three times every night from your picket-line to the edge of this ravine, to listen there and see if the enemy run any work in that ravine. They might run an underground gallery to that ravine and then open a trench in it, or they might move quietly into the ravine and open a trench out of sight. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. R. JOHNSON, Major-General. P. S.-Please report to me whether you think you have enough men for your line, and, if not, how many more you want. B. R. J. His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, PETERSBURG, July 7, 1864. President Confederate States: Mr. PRESIDENT: Lieutenant Albergetts, commanding scouts at Rowland's Mill, on river road, and north of Harrison's Point, reports that during forepart of yesterday six transports passed down James River, carrying troops with arms. During the day a number of transports with a few troops and stores passed up the river. During the latter part of yesterday six more transports passed down the river loaded with troops. At dark three transports were at Jordan's Point taking on troops, and the wharf was apparently crowded with troops awaiting transportation. As the troops passed Harrison's Landing they cheered heartily. Coupling this report with the statement of the New York Herald of the 4th, that at daybreak on the 3d it was reported at Martinsburg that a body of our troops were approaching that place, and that after some fighting at Bunker Hill General S[igel] evacuated M. and fell back to Harper's Ferry, I fear the troops reported to have descended the James River are on the way to Washington. I have inquired whether Lieutenant A. saw himself what he reported, how near he was to the river, and whether he was certain that the troops were armed. It is not known yet whether any troops have been withdrawn from the front of Petersburg, but a corps on their left, especially if held in reserve, might have been taken during the night of the 4th without being discovered. The Herald also states that Hunter with Crook and Averell are in the vicinity of Charleston, on the Kanawha, which is confirmed by a dispatch from General Morgan. It is so repugnant to Grant's principles and practice to send troops from him that I had hoped before resorting to it he would have preferred attacking me. is possible that some of these men may belong to the regiments to be discharged, of which sixty-eight regiments go out this month. I do not know how many belong to Grant's army, but I believe all from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, and Maryland, and several from Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. I learn, too, that Sheridan's and Wilson's cavalry are encamped on Bland's farm, just south of Jordan's Point, and many of the men seen about the wharf might have belonged to them. The probabilities are that they are troops bound for Washington, and if Hunter is brought up the Ohio and around by railroad Early may be opposed by a force too large for him to manage. As soon as I ascertain more definitely I will send to apprise E[arly] that he may be on his guard. The troops referred to will have passed the mouth of the Potomac to-day. There are letters from nearly all the corps of Grant's army published in the Herald of the 4th, showing they were here as late as the 2d. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, The forces from Yorktown have been withdrawn, with all the available forces on the Peninsula, amounting to a division, and forwarded to Washington, supposed to be for the purpose of defending that place against General Early. Grant is withdrawing his forces from City Point and crossing them to Bermuda Hundred. Has also received about 10,000 re-enforcements from down South, supposed to be a portion of Banks' command. The siege guns have been moved from Yorktown, and a large train of commissaries were carried to Fortress Monroe. Large numbers of sick and wounded are constantly being carried down James River. A great many of Grant's forces are deserting, and state that his army is completely demoralized. His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, J. F. MOORE, TORPEDO BUREAU, Richmond, Va., July 7, 1864. President of the Confederate States of America : SIR: Pursuant to instructions I have the honor to state that two light boats, about twenty-five feet long each, such as could be carried on a wagon truck, four wagons to carry the boats and torpedoes, and the inclosed detail of men, adepts in this business, with twelve oarsmen, are required to prosecute successfully our enterprise against the enemy in James River. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, G. J. RAINS, Brigadier-General, Superintendent. [Indorsement.] SECRETARY OF WAR: It is important that General Rains should have the requisite means for the proposed operations. Please confer with Secretary of Navy as to boats and oarsmen. J. D. SPECIAL ORDERS,} ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, * XXI. Men detailed in the city of Richmond will, from the date of this order, and until further orders, be paid $2 per day and allowed For services rendered their regular pay, rations, and allowances. anterior to this date, and for which payment has been delayed, they will be allowed $2 per day and their regular pay and commutation for rations and allowances. By command of the Secretary of War: General PENDLETON, SAML. W. MELTON, Chief of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia: JULY 7, 1864. GENERAL: Your directions in reference to collecting shells I will have carried out at once. We have already procured some suitable for the mortars. I write principally to call your attention to the fact that there are a large number in the vicinity of General Pickett's line, and as all is reported quiet there there would be no difficulty in collecting them. I had some gathered while there; many of them 30pounder Parrotts, which would be especially valuable. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. W. H. TAYLOR, FRANK HUGER, Lieutenant-Colonel, Artillery. CHAFFIN'S FARM, July 7, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Northern Virginia: COLONEL: I have the honor to state for the information of the general commanding, in reference to his communication of the 4th instant, that Colonel Duke's regiment of reserves has been ordered to Richmond, one portion guarding the bridge over the South Anna, and the balance absorbed in escorting Federal prisoners to other parts and guarding those that daily accumulate. The Local Defense have been withdrawn to their civil occupations, leaving for defense of intrenchments here and below the Sixtieth Alabama and Twenty-fifth Virginia Battalion, Gary's cavalry brigade, and the artillery under LieutenantColonel Pemberton and Colonel Carter. Of this Gary's command is so scattered that it could not be used in time to resist a sudden attack on this line. "Respectfully, &c., R. S. EWELL, SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 40. HDQRS. DEPT. OF N. C. AND S. VA., II. Johnson's old brigade is relieved from duty in Johnson's division and will proceed to the north bank of the James River and report to Lieutenant-General Ewell, to relieve the Sixtieth Alabama Regiment, Gracie's brigade, now at New Market Hill. The brigade will cross the river on the pontoon bridge below Drewry's Bluff. |