enemy opened his batteries all along our front, and kept up a cannonading for some half hour. In front of the Ninth Corps there was some musketry, but not of any great extent, the enemy firing from his breast-works. The object of this demonstration is unknown. Possibly an assault may have been designed, but abandoned at the last moment. About the same time, or a little later, a force of the enemy, estimated at two regiments of infantry, a battery of artillery, and a couple of squadrons of cavalry, were seen to pass out of the enemy's works and move down the Halifax road. A deserter came in last night who left Weldon yesterday morning. He reports the road nearly repaired, there being only a small break at Reams' Station, around which passengers have to walk. He states the enemy have but small forces at Weldon, Goldsborough, and Raleigh; no depot at Stony Creek, though he heard supplies had been forwarded to that point and wagoned from thence to Petersburg. He reports Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek and guarding the road from thence to Reams' Station; saw no infantry as far as he went, viz, Reams' Station. When the passengers got out here to walk he took to the woods and came into our lines. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General MEADE, Commanding, &c.: CITY POINT, VA., July 9, 1864. I have just received a dispatch from General Canby of the 2d instant. He will send 20,000 men. The first division, 6,000 strong, he thought would reach Fort Monroe by the 8th or 10th instant, and the remainder would follow as fast as transportation could be provided. Under the circumstances I think it may be as well to defer the raid ordered yesterday until these troops arrive, when we will make a combined movement of infantry and cavalry that will enable the latter to get off in good order and remain absent until they have perfected the work of destruction on the roads south. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: I saw Colonel Comstock last evening when your telegram was received. Your orders in relation to making regular approaches and sending the Second Corps and cavalry to destroy the Weldon railroad shall be executed as promptly as possible. Some little delay will be necessary to enable me to complete the line of redoubts which are necessary to protect the left flank of the army after the departure of the Second Corps. This delay will, however, be advantageous, because the cavalry are not yet in condition for very active service. In reply to an inquiry when he would be ready General Sheridan telegraphs: "My command is recruiting rapidly, but it is not fit for hard work yet; if required for active service at once I can turn out about 9,000 men." Every day's delay will strengthen Sheridan. The engineers say the redoubts will be ready by the 12th. This will enable Hancock and Sheridan to get off on the 13th. How far do you think the infantry support should go? The whole distance, forty miles, or only part of the way? GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General MEADE, Commanding, &c.: CITY POINT, VA., July 9, 1864. Send in the balance of the Sixth Corps to be forwarded to Washington. They need not take their artillery or wagons with them. The rebels have crossed the Monocacy, and Halleck gives it as his opinion that one-third of Lee's army is with them. They are now calling urgently for troops, and I am in hopes with Wright the enemy will not be able to get back. Lieutenant-General GRANT: U. S. GRANT, JULY 9, 1864—8 p. m. An accident has delayed the receipt of your telegram of 6 p. m. till this moment. The Sixth Corps has been ordered and will proceed at once to City Point. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: The Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery belongs to the Sixth Corps. General Hunt desires its services, to be in charge of the siege guns, it being drilled in this duty. Can I retain it? GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. CITY POINT, July 9, 1864. Major-General MEADE: You can retain the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. Major-General MEADE: CITY POINT, July 9, 1864-9.20 p. m. Have you any evidence in the last three days that Longstreet's corps is still here? I am afraid that it, too, may have gone. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: Telegraphed you at 3.50 p. m. this day the account of two contrabands, who represented themselves as servants to officers on the staff of Lieutenant-General Anderson, now commanding Longstreet's corps. They asserted positively that all three of the divisions of this corps were in our front, occupying the center of their line, Beauregard on the left and A. P. Hill on the right. I have no doubt Longstreet's corps is here. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. Brig. Gen. M. C. MEIGS, CITY POINT, July 9, 1864-1 p. m. Quartermaster-General: In consequence of the losses in the recent raids of Generals Kautz and Wilson more horses will be required than I had estimated for. In addition please cause 1,200 cavalry and 250 artillery horses to be sent to Capt. E. J. Strang, assistant quartermaster, at this depot. The horses are required immediately. The cavalry horses are for General Kautz. RUFUS INGALLS, Brigadier-General and Chief Quartermaster. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General INGALLS, Chief Quartermaster, Army of the Potomac, City Point: The major-general commanding directs that the grain-sacks of the army be collected for use in the siege operations. If you have any on hand please send them to Major-General Burnside, commanding Ninth Corps. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS: A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. CITY POINT, July 9, 1864. There are 8,000 empty grain-sacks here which will be sent to General Burnside, in accordance with your orders. The corps commanders might obtain a great number by saving those issued to them daily. RUFUS INGALLS, Brigadier-General and Chief Quartermaster. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General HUMPHREYS: July 9, 1864. Two contrabands, servants for officers on General Anderson's staff, came into General Birney's front this morning. They came out to graze their horses in front of A. P. Hill's corps, some distance beyond the breast-works. They state that General Anderson's headquarters are on Sycamore street, south of the city, near Lieutenant Creek, about half way between the line of works and the city; that A. P. Hill's corps is on the right, Longstreet's in the center, and Beauregard is on the left; that all of A. P. Hill's corps is at the front, a portion of which moved up day before yesterday and occupied the extreme right, reaching to the railroad; think it is Heth's division. All three divisions of Longstreet's corps are at the front. Of this they are positive. They know but little about Beauregard's position. Beauregard's headquar ters were near Covington's house, on the Chesterfield side of the river, about a week ago, but informant thinks they have since been moved. General Longstreet was visiting in Macon, Ga., at last accounts. He was rapidly recovering from his wound. Two houses were burnt in the city yesterday from the firing. The custom-house was also struck. One of the railroad bridges crossing the Appomattox, called the Government bridge, was slightly damaged. They are building a new pontoon bridge near the Government bridge. The commissary department was moved to near the canal basin a few days ago on account of its close proximity to our shell. They know little about the railroad communications other than that the officers of General Anderson's staff, some of whom are from South Carolina, have had no letters from home for a long time. Very respectfully, GEORGE H. SHARPE, Colonel, &c. [Indorsement.] 3.50 P. M. Forwarded for the information of Lieutenant-General Grant. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : GENERAL: A deserter from the Twenty-fifth North Carolina Infantry, of Ransom's brigade, Bushrod Johnson's division, that left the hospital at Raleigh, N. C., on the 6th of June, 1864, and has been at Weldon, N. C., until yesterday morning, gives the following information, which we think reliable: At Weldon Colonel Hinton's regiment, Sixty-eighth North Carolina, stationed on south side of the Roanoke, and a small force of infantry and cavalry about two miles this side on the railroad; not more than 2,000 in all. The Sixty-eighth North Carolina is the last regiment raised in North Carolina, and is composed of conscripts, many of whom are old soldiers. At Raleigh about 2,000 infantry of the late organizations, also a small force at Goldsborough, which, informant thinks, with the force at Weldon, comprises all the considerable force left in the State. Informant remained at Weldon from the 6th of June till the 8th of July, with several men from his regiment that had been left there to guard the regimental baggage left behind. He took the train for Petersburg early yesterday morning, which came 7 R R-VOL XL, PT III to within a quarter of a mile of Reams' Station, where the passengers got out and walked to the station to take another train for Petersburg. At this point informant took to the woods and came into our cavalry on the Jerusalem plank road. He understood that the road was completed, save a few hundred yards, and that a train would run through this morning. At Stony Creek depot he reports a large force of cavalry, and understood Wade Hampton was in command; saw fortifications, rather extensive, but no infantry. Considerable cavalry on the road from Stony Creek to Reams' Station; well guarded at all points. No considerable amount of commissary stores at Stony Creek. Understood large quantities had arrived there and were taken by wagons to Petersburg. Informant is gentlemanly and intelligent, and undoubtedly has stated all, and no more than he has seen and believes to be true. Scout Carney returned this a. m. from a newly established depot on the Weldon railroad near the Steele farm, about one mile above Colonel Wyatt's place. Our agent there, a free negro, has lately been to Petersburg and reports nothing of importance. They have finished the Weldon railroad, and run a train through to Weldon last evening for the first time. The non-combatants of Petersburg are engaged, as informant says, "in making willow baskets for the sharpshooters." (Probably fascines.) Large numbers of them are being made, and he says, "they will fill them with dirt." Many of the citizens of Petersburg have left the city. Others have constructed bomb-proofs on their premises and intend remaining. All of which is respectfully forwarded. Your obedient servant, JOHN C. BABCOCK. JULY 9, 1864. Maj. B. F. FISHER, Chief Signal Officer, Headquarters Army of the Potomac : From rebel signal station at Archer's, 8.30 a. m.: Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General: One gun-boat above the bridge and one schooner below. No movements observed this a. m. (Same to A. B.) F. FULLER, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. NEAR JORDAN'S HOUSE, July 9, 1861-6 p. m. Capt. B. F. FISHER, Chief Signal Officer, Army of the Potomac : A train of sixty-five army wagons moved this p. m. iu direction of Petersburg on Richmond and Petersburg road. T. R. CLARK, Captain and Acting Signal Officer. PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION, July 9, 1864-7 p. m. Maj. B. F. FISHER: The enemy have been at work on their batteries both east and west of the plank read. A strong force has been engaged all day on their new line, beginning in rear of Gregory's house and extending to left. |