HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: May 20, 1864-—9 a. m. Were any wagon trains attacked or lost yesterday during the attack on Tyler? It is reported that one of the Ninth Corps supply trains was destroyed or captured. Has General Hancock left Anderson's Mill crossing yet? Please inform me when he does. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General BURNSIDE : No trains were captured or destroyed yesterday. Some three or four wagons belonging to a supply train of the Ninth Corps, coming this way, were blocked, 2 or 3 animals killed, and the wagons temporarily disabled; they are believed to be repaired now and on their way to your corps. Hancock has not left Anderson's Mill; I will let you know when he does. A. A. HUMPHREYS, HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Major-General BURNSIDE: On the removal of General Warren from the right, General Wright and yourself will take the line marked out to-day by the engineer officers. Make all the necessary preparations in advance for this change. U. S. GRANT. General GRANT: HEADQUARTERS NINTH CORPS, General Wright received the telegram in reference to the line after Morton saw him, and is now laying out the line direct from Myers' house to Quesenberry's house, and I will conform to his line by extending toward the Po, certainly as far as the Quesenberry house, and farther if you wish. A. E. BURNSIDE, MAY 20, 1864-9 p. m. Major-General BURNSIDE, Commanding Ninth Army Corps: Extend your line no farther than the Quesenberry house unless it can be done with perfect security; of this you must be the judge. By command of Lieutenant-General Grant: HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Generals CRITTENDEN, WILLCOX, and POTTER: From information received from General Warren, it would seem that the main body of the enemy are moving, down their works in this direction. Whilst I am satisfied that your commands are all on the alert, it will do no harm to send officers out to give additional instructions to keep a good lookout. Very respectfully, yours, A. E. BURNSIDE, HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieutenant-Colonel RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: The reconnoitering party, under Captain McKibbin, went as far as the Telegraph road, at a point about 500 yards south of Smith's Mill, on the Ny. Found the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Smith's Mill. At English's house, about 2 miles out on the road to Smith's Mill, found an abandoned caisson with about 40 rounds of ammunition in one of the boxes; having no means of bringing it off, let it remain there, but did not destroy it, as he thought we might send for it if the general commanding desired it. Saw a few rebel cavalry, seemingly vedettes, who scattered to the south. Found only one road to the south, a wood road, that they followed but a short distance. The cavalry at Smith's Mill reported that the enemy's cavalry made a dash at them last night from the direction of Stanard's Mill. I inclose a report of a reconnaissance on the Massaponax Church road, made by Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBERT B. POTTER, [Inclosure.] HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. R. B. POTTER, Comdg. Second Division, Ninth Army Corps: GENERAL: In accordance with instructions received from you I proceeded with 300 men, detailed for the purpose from the First and Second Brigades of this division, to make a reconnaissance for the distance of about 2 miles beyond our lines, upon the Massaponax Church road. I made a thorough examination of the country within about three-quarters of a mile to the right of the line indicated, and partially to the left of it, without finding any evidence of the enemy. The reconnaissance, though extended about 3 miles beyond our immediate line, hardly passed over ground not covered by our or Second Corps pickets. I found that our picket-line could be very much shortened, and at the same time embrace more ground by being joined to the pickets of the Second Corps in a direct line through the woods to our left, instead of following the road (Massa ponax, as tney now do. I took a few men and examined the country to the right of the Massaponax road through the woods, until reaching some open sand, over which I proceeded until I reached the road to the right of the Massaponax road, along which Captain McKibbin's reconnaissance extended. The road at a point about 2 miles from our division line enters an open country from which observations can readily be made within a circuit of 2 miles. In this open tract of land I could see the encampment of the Second Corps. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. CHARLTON MITCHELL, Lieut. Col., Actg. Asst. Insp. Gen., 2d Div., 9th Army Corps. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General FERRERO, May 20, 1864. GENERAL: By direction of the general commanding I have the honor to apprise you of his satisfaction at your report* that your command repulsed the attack of the enemy on the 19th instant. The attack by Ewell's corps was general along the lines and was everywhere repulsed. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Near Spotsylvania Court-House, Va., May 20, 1864. Brigadier-General FERRERO, Commanding Fourth Division, Ninth Corps: GENERAL: Yours of this date just received. All our troops it is expected will be moved to the left so as to bring into use the road near the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad. When this takes place you will move east so as to best cover it. In the mean time I think your troops had better remain substantially as they now are. It is impossible to give you more cavalry now, but Sheridan is now in his fourth day from Richmond, and may be looked for to-day or to-morrow. When he arrives his cavalry will be so disposed as to materially relieve you. Your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Brigadier-General FERRERO, Commanding Fourth Division, Ninth Army Corps: GENERAL: You will make such disposition of your forces tomorrow morning, the 21st instant, as to best cover Fredericskburg *See Part I, p. 987. + See Part I, and the road leading from there to Bowling Green. In doing this take up and maintain a line from Banks' Ford, via Tabernacle Church road, to the Port Royal road, letting your cavalry pickets extend as far as Tabernacle Church. Make your headquarters at or near Owens', where you will keep concentrated your main force. By command of Lieutenant-General Grant: JNO. A. RAWLINS, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 19. } HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, The attention of the general.commanding has been directed to the system of marauding and wanton destruction of household furniture, clothing, &c., through the country just passed over by this command. This is disgraceful, and will tarnish the brilliant success which has attended the Cavalry Corps since the opening of the campaign. The necessity of living upon the country and the order to that effect contemplated that organized parties in charge of commissioned officers would be sent out to procure the supplies. Hereafter all foraging parties will be so organized. The commissioned officer in charge will be held strictly to account for the acts of his men. These details must be authorized when practicable by the division commanders. Under pressing circumstances the permission of the brigade commander will be sufficient. No enlisted man will be allowed to pass the picket-line without written authority from corps headquarters. All enlisted men found foraging without proper authority will be arrested and their horses turned over to the dismounted men belonging to their regiments. It is expected that every officer and soldier in the command will assist in putting down this disgraceful license, so destructive to the discipline and honor of the Cavalry Corps. By command of Major-General Sheridan: C. KINGSBURY, JR., HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : May 20, 1864-7 p. m. GENERAL: Can't you send me the 500 cavalry who came out yesterday? They, I understand, are mostly all old men, and as I have to leave 1,000 men behind, they will be very necessary, considering the kind of troops I have, for an expected night fight. Very respectfully, A. T. A. TORBERT, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, Commanding Second Cavalry Division:: GENERAL: Your dispatch received. Cavalry Corps headquarters will move to White House. We will leave here at 5 a. m. in the morning. The general will leave a strong picket at this point. Very respectfully, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. All quiet here. We leave at 5 a. m. to-morrow, May 21, for White House. Shall try and repair the railroad bridge on the Pamunkey at the White House. The general thinks it can be done. He examined it to-day. CAMP CAVALRY DETACHMENT, Fredericksburg Road, May 20, 1864. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: Your communication of the 19th instant, 6.30 p. m., was received at 10 p. m. last night, and yours of even date has just come to hand. Until within the last twenty minutes I have had nothing worthy of report. Sergeant Ferris, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, who is just in from a scout, informs me that passing through the woods by a bridle path he crossed the Ny River and came out upon the Spotsylvania and Gordonsville road. The enemy have been falling back to Spotsylvania Court-House since very early this a. m. He saw nothing of them save a few stragglers; is of the opinion that there has been a large number of troops sent from Spotsylvania to Gordonsville; judges this by the way the footsteps were turned; thinks all the enemy save a few stragglers are upon the other side of the Ny River. Captain Lee, Third Indiana Cavalry, in from scouting, says the enemy have fallen back over the Ny River. Lieutenant Freeley, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, has a post of 90 men well toward Fredericksburg; he pickets and patrols well out on all roads leading westward; says he can hear nothing from the enemy. I have a patrol constantly upon the road between my quarters and Fredericksburg. Two other scouts report the enemy all over the Ny River save possibly a few stragglers. I am about reporting direct to General Birney by order of Major-General Warren. I have several scouting parties now out, and should anything worthy of note transpire will at once forward the information. G. A. FORSYTH, Major Eighth Illinois Cav., Comdg. Cavalry Detach. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Brig. Gen. H. W. BENHAM, Engineer Department, Army of the Potomac : GENERAL: Your letter of the 18th instant, requesting me to order a bridge down at Fredericksburg from some of the engineer trains now there, has been received. The Quartermaster-General having |