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to General Ewell that I would spare troops for the purpose if it could be accomplished. I am aware of the difficulties and of the enemy's facilities for cutting off a small force, and our inability to apply a large one. Still I hope something can be obtained. I have no idea that Grant will evacuate his position unless forced. It is one from which he can attack us at three points, as he may select, and our success will depend upon our early information and celerity of movement, as we have not troops sufficient to guard all points. I believe the troops reported to have crossed James River this morning are for the purpose of preventing our operations on the river. I have sent Kershaw's division to Chaffin's Bluff to re-enforce General Conner. A mounted force with long range guns might, by a secret and rapid march, penetrate the lines south of the Potomac, and excite the alarm of the authorities at Washington, but if its approach was known, I fear the defenses south of the river could be manned in time to prevent it. Wishing you all health and prosperity,

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

General R. S. EWELL,

Commanding, &c. :

HEADQUARTERS,

July 23, 1864.

GENERAL: It is stated in the report of General Gary of the 22d instant that a body of cavalry landed on the 18th instant at Harrison's Landing, passed through the country, and embarked on flats at Wyanoke Ferry on the 19th. This force is stated to be 200, but as it would take a large number of flats to convey 200 horsemen across the river, I presume it was not near that number. He also states that owing to reports of an army corps of the enemy having landed on the 21st, his dismounted men fell back to the woods without orders, failing to notify him of their position. He therefore was unable to station them on the lookouts till after daylight on the 22d. I presume a similar report may have been made to you, but I have thought it proper to call your attention to the matter to see if arrangements cannot be made to prevent their recurrence. A small body of cavalry ought not to be allowed to traverse the country with impunity, nor should men on duty leave their posts on bare reports without necessity or reporting the fact. Conduct of this sort may lead to grave disasters. Lieutenant Welch, commanding General Gary's scouts on the river, reports that he has selected a good position for observing the vessels at City Point, but that he has not a good glass. Can a better one be provided for the purpose? General Conner reports on the 22d that the nature of the ground at Bottom's Bridge conceals from view enemy's troops near the river, and to hold the river road near Tilghman's an observatory permanently would require a large force, which would be subjected to constant shelling. Cannot an observatory be erected at some point secure from being shelled, so as to watch the pontoon bridge of enemy and adjacent ground? In a report of General Conner this morning he states that the enemy has laid another bridge near the former and out of sight of the observatory. I need not inform you how necessary it is at this time to receive accurate information of the enemy's movements. He is operating on a long line and threatening three points of vital importance to us-Richmond, Bermuda Neck, and

Petersburg. He enjoys great facilities for moving his troops and concealing it. Our force, to be successful, must be thrown against the real point of attack. Every effort should be made not to be deceived. Very truly, yours,

R. E. LEE.

Col. W. H. STEVENS,

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER TROOPS,
Blandford, July 23, 1864.

Chief Engineer, Army of Northern Virginia:

COLONEL: At Colquitt's salient the night detachment [extended the gallery] a distance of 3 feet 2 inches, a total distance of 13 feet 6 inches. At 8 feet 6 inches from the entrance to this gallery turned off another gallery at right angles to it and toward the enemy's line for a mine. The day detachment extended this gallery a distance of 5 feet, a total distance for the day's work of 8 feet 2 inches. At Pegram's salient, mine No. 1, the night detachment squared up and completed the timbering of the gallery to its end. The day detachment turned off a gal lery at right angles to it and in the direction of mine No. 2; drove it 2 feet 5 inches. At mine No. 2 extended by the night detachment 3 feet, by the day detachment 3 feet, a total distance of 6 feet for the day's work, and a distance from the entrance of 60 feet. At Gracie's mine the day and night detachments extended the gallery 6 feet, a total distance from its entrance from the shaft of 8 feet, the total distance made at all the mines being 22 feet.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge of Mining, &c.

Col. W. H. STEVENS,

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER TROOPS,
Blandford, July 23, 1864.

Chief Engineer, Army of Northern Virginia:

COLONEL: I have extended the work at Colquitt's and Pegram's salients so that I can increase the number of mining detachments and work sixty additional men. By the 1st of August I can employ an additional forty men. I am preparing a statement showing the number of men in each detachment and the number at work in each mine, and the number of detachments now required to start the additional galleries.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge Mining, &c.

JULY 23, 1864—5.30 a. m.

Lieutenant-General ANDERSON:

GENERAL: General Lee directs that Major-General Kershaw, with his division, proceed at once to Chaffin's Bluff, on the north side of James River. He will cross at the bridge at Chaffin's. Let him send

a staff officer to Colonel Corley to see if any troops can be carried by rail. Colonel Corley has been directed to make arrangements for this if practicable. Let there be no unnecessary delay.

Respectfully,

W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General.

The general says let the troops move by a route so as not to be observed by the enemy, and as rapidly as possible without injury to them.

W. H. T.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
Petersburg, July 24, 1864.

Lieut. Gen. R. S. EWELL,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: Upon hearing that the enemy were re-enforcing their troops on the north side of the James River yesterday morning General Kershaw's division was ordered to Chaffin's Bluff. I directed him to assume command of the troops under General Conner, reconnoiter the enemy and ascertain his position, intentions, &c. He informs me that about two brigades intrenched themselves on Tilghman's farm last night and are still working; that it is reported that a second pontoon bridge has been constructed south of Bailey's Run, and that the enemy is apparently making a permanent lodgment on both banks of Bailey's Run with a view to future operations. He states that he has disposed of his troops so as to defend the Varina, New Market, and Darbytown roads. My object in sending troops there was to endeavor to dislodge the enemy, drive them across the river, and destroy the bridges, and if practicable I wish this done, and have sent a dispatch to General Kershaw to that effect. We cannot afford to sit down in front of the enemy and allow him to intrench himself wherever he pleases, and I wish you to see if you cannot break him up on the north side of the James River.

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

Lieut. Gen. R. S. EWELL,

CHAFFIN'S FARM, July 24, 1864–8 p. m.

Commanding Department:

GENERAL: In accordance with General Lee's desires I shall attempt to dislodge the enemy from Bailey's Run. I shall attack them on the south of the run, and if successful will try Deep Bottom. As these operations may develop a counter attack it might be as well that you send to the works here any forces at your disposal. I expect to employ all my troops in these operations, and in the first part of the enterprise they will to some extent uncover the Varina road, though I hope to keep the enemy so well employed that he will hardly be in condition to avail himself of that circumstance, especially as I shall keep up my present line of pickets.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. B. KERSHAW,
Major-General.

Col. W. H. STEVENS,

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER TROOPS,
Blandford, July 24, 1864.

Chief Engineer, Army of Northern Virginia: COLONEL: At Colquitt's the night detachment extended the third gallery 2 feet 9 inches, and the day detachment a further distance of 2 feet 5 inches to a point 10 feet 2 inches from the entrance, reduced the size of this gallery to that of a branch gallery, viz, 2 feet 6 inches by 4 feet 6 inches, and extended it 3 feet 6 inches, and a distance for the day's work of 8 feet 8 inches, and a total length of gallery of 13 feet 8 inches. At Pegram's salient, mine No. 1, the night detachment extended the gallery 3 feet 9 inches, the day detachment an additional distance of 3 feet 6 inches, a total distance for the day's work of 7 feet 3 inches, and for the length of gallery No. 2 8 feet 10 inches. At mine No. 2 night detachment drove it 2 feet 6 inches, a total distance of 62 feet 6 inches from the shaft. The day detachment commenced gallery No. 2 at right angles to main gallery, and running to the left toward mine No. 1, and extended this gallery 4 feet, a distance of 6 feet 6 inches for the day's work. At Gracie's mine the night detachment made 4 feet 6 inches, the day detachment 5 feet, a total distance of 9 feet 6 inches for the day's work, and a total length of gallery of 17 feet 6 inches; total distance for the day's work at all the mines of 31 feet 11 inches. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge Mining, &c.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
No. 174.

ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Richmond, July 25, 1864.

*

*

XXXVIII. Lieut. Col. John S. Saunders, artillery, Provisional Army, C. S., is assigned to general inspection duty, and will report to Col. R. H. Chilton, inspector-general, in this city.

XLV. Maj. A. C. Avery, assistant adjutant-general, Provisional Army, C. S., is assigned to duty in the District of Western North Carolina. He will report for orders to Lieut. Gen. T. H. Holmes, Provisional Army, C. S.

By command of the Secretary of War:

SAML. W. MELTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Lieut. Col. W. H. TAYLOR,

HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY CORPS,
July 25, 1864.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Northern Virginia: COLONEL: Within the present month an order has passed through this office announcing the promotion of Major Moseley, of the First Regiment Virginia Artillery, to be lieutenant-colonel of artillery, and a special order from army headquarters, directing Lieutenant-Colonel

Moseley to report to General Beauregard for reassignment to the command of the battalion which has for some time been under his charge. I have only waited to collect some facts, which the absence of my office papers, for safe-keeping, placed a little out of reach, concerning the relations of this case, to ask to the questions which it involves General Lee's attention and that of the War Department. From the first it has been apparent that one independent regiment of artillery, whose officers are to be promoted without reference to their relations to others in the midst of a whole series of battalions, all related to each other, and constituting a system for the whole army, was an incongruity sure to lead to difficulty. Hence, when the late lamented Colonel Brown a year ago asked for the promotion of Major Moseley to be lieutenant-colonel, vice the excellent Coleman, my indorsement stated the main facts and disapproved the application on the ground that it interfered with the regular course of promotions in the artillery, through the double claims of seniority and merit. Now that the promotion has been made, to the exclusion of officers who have seen incomparably more service, for we can only have so many officers of a certain grade for so many guns, I beg that the case may be re-examined before another grade is given. The coloneley of that regiment is now vacant, it must be remembered, if the regiment itself be still alive. As nearly as I have been able to learn the First Regiment Virginia Artillery was organized in the fall of 1861, in the Army of the Peninsula, under General Magruder, and with the sanction of the War Department. Its officers elected were Colonel (afterward General) Randolph, Lieutenant-Colonel Cabell, and Major Brown. When Colonel Randolph was made brigadier-general Lieutenant-Colonel Cabell and Major Brown ascended a grade each, but the majority remained for a season vacant. The companies associated to form this organization were: From Richmond three, viz, Fayette Artillery, Second Howitzers, and Third Howitzers; from Henrico one, Captain Sands', afterward Ritter's; from Albemarle, Southall's, afterward Wyatt's, and five from the Peninsula, viz, Capt. William Allen's, Captain Cosnahan's Captain Coke's, Captain Young's, and Captain Richardson's. Of these Captain Allen's was detached within a few months, and placed with another to form a battalion, of which Captain Allen was made major. After the army arrived near Richmond in the spring of 1862 Cosnahan's and Coke's being much reduced, were, by command of Secretary Randolph, combined under Captain Coke. In October, 1862, Coke's and Ritter's companies, being again reduced, were by general orders temporarily distributed among the other companies. They have never been revived. The three Richmond companies, that from Albemarle, and Young's and Richardson's, six in all, are therefore all now remaining. Nor have these companies ever operated together. They were scattered when the nominal regiment was formed and have been arranged according to the needs of the service ever since. The Second and Third Howitzers constituted part of Colonel Brown's, as they now compose part of Lieutenant-Colonel Hardaway's, battalion. The Fayette Artillery has, ever since our battalions were formed, belonged to Dearing's, now Read's, battalion; the Albemarle Artillery to Lieutenant-Colonel Poague's, while Richardson's and Young's remained with Major Moseley, he having been elected major in the summer of 1862, when Lieutenant-Colonel Brown was elected colonel and Major Coleman lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. Richardson's company is now at Chaffin's Bluff, so that Young's is the only one remaining under Major Moseley's command. I respectfully submit that if in view of these facts the First Regiment

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