General MEADE : HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, I shall not destroy the bridges, since I learn that General Warren is to move on the Telegraph road. When I sent my dispatch I was under the impression that my right flank would be entirely uncovered. I did not know of General Warren's movement. WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, General WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General: WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac : GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following field returns of this command for the 20th instant: I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding. Battle. Otherwise. April 30. Remarks. CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, May 20, 1864. No trains containing supplies, baggage, or ammunition will be brought to the front from the main supply train without authority from these headquarters. Whenever issues are necessary the wagons will be brought up under the direction of the chief quartermaster, and in a consolidated shape. Sufficient care is not taken to secure the position of our troops and the trains accompanying them from the observation of the enemy's signal station. Advantage should always be taken of the screen afforded by a belt of woods. When this cannot be had, the troops should be disposed under the cover of a ridge if practicable, and the men prevented from straggling up into the view of the enemy. By command of Major-General Hancock : FRANCIS A. WALKER, CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, The command will move to-night as follows: First Division at 11 p. m. by way of Anderson's Mill and Massaponax Church. staff officer from these headquarters will conduct the column. Second Division will follow the First. The Fourth Division will move by the cross-road from the Gate to the Massaponax road, by Abbott's, and enter the Massaponax road immediately after the Second Division. A staff officer will conduct this column. The Third Division will move immediately after the Fourth, leaving one brigade as rear guard. The commandant of artillery will assign two batteries to each division. The remaining batteries and caissons will move between the Third and Fourth Divisions. Each division will be followed by ten ambulances and one medical wagon, and ammunition-wagons sufficient for 10 extra rounds per man (besides the 50 rounds on the person) and one wagon load of intrenching tools. One-half of the ammunition, medical wagons, and ambulances will be sent to the general train under charge of Captain McEntee, assistant quartermaster. The bridge train proper will move at dark to Massaponax Church. From this point it will follow the Reserve Artillery train. All other vehicles permitted to move with the troops will be assembled and will move in rear of the Third Division, under charge of Colonel Batchelder, chief quartermaster. The commandant of the rear guard will place a part of his command on each flank of this train. Commanders will take every precaution to keep the column closed, leaving staff officers at difficult places on the road to see that the men keep well closed and in the ranks. It is of the first importance that the command be kept compact and in hand. All stragglers will be likely to fall into the hands of the enemy. The cavalry under General Torbert will move at 11 p. m. by way of Guiney's Station, pushing on as far as practicable toward Bowling Green and picketing all roads intersecting the main route. By command of Major-General Hancock: FRANCIS A. WALKER, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, Major-General BIRNEY, Commanding Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that he gave this morning specific instructions that your troops should be brought back to their camps by marching in rear of the woods, out of sight. At daylight it was observed that General Mott's brigade was passing in front of the woods. A staff officer was at once sent from these headquarters to conduct his brigade, but owing to the fog it is not supposed that it was seen by the enemy. Another brigade or more of your command has come in an hour or so since, passing plainly in sight, in front of the woods. This brigade must be at once marched back under the direction of Captain Parker, my aide-de-camp, to pass behind the woods to a point opposite the place where it now is, not to come in sight again to-day. You will please send a staff officer with this column. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS A. WALKER, SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. BIRNEY'S DIV., 2D ARMY CORPS, May 20, 1864. I. The Fourth Maine Volunteers, Col. E. Walker, is hereby temporarily assigned to duty with the Third Brigade of this division. Colonel Walker will report at once to Brigadier-General Mott, commanding brigade. By command of Major-General Birney: I have advanced my lines to attack the enemy. He has retired during the night. May 20, 1864-4.30 a. m. S. W. CRAWFORD, Brigadier-General. G. K. WARREN, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN: The enemy having withdrawn across the river and to their intrenchments, as reported by General Birney, I shall withdraw Birney and Tyler, of the Second Corps, and leave the defense of this flank to your command and that of General Russell, whom you will accordingly post so as to be apprised of any such movement as was made yesterday. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN, Commanding Fifth Corps: May 20, 1864-6.30 a. m. Respecting dispatch as to the wagons that should accompany the troops, there is no change in the original order requiring one-half the ammunition-wagons, one-half the intrenching tools, transporta-` tion for five days' forage, &c., to accompany the troops. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN, Commanding Fifth Army Corps: Burnside and Wright are ordered to push forward their pickets and feel the enemy. The re-enforcements sent to our right on this side the Ny from the Sixth Corps are to be retained there. The commanding general desires to know what disposition you have made of them and of your own troops on that flank. Major Forsyth, commanding cavalry detachment there, should co-operate with you. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. General MEADE : HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, May 20, 1864. I have sent Major Roebling, who was present in all yesterday's engagement, to assist General Russell in relieving General Birney and General Tyler. General Crawford has been instructed to push ahead his skirmish line till the enemy is felt. Major Forsyth I instructed to patrol the road to Fredericksburg and watch all roads. leading into it from the west. Major-General MEADE : G. K. WARREN, HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Major Roebling has just returned. He says our skirmishers advanced for more than a mile, picking up many of the rebel stragglers. All the rebels are back this side of the river. G. K. WARREN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,.. COMMANDING OFFICER FIFTH CORPS : Have you any prisoners not yet sent here, taken last night or this morning? If so, how many, and when will they be here? Forward them immediately. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. (Same to General Wright.) HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General HUMPHREYS: General Crawford has not sent in any prisoners to these headquarters. I know a number were taken, and if they have not been forwarded direct to you I will send them forward at once. G. K. WARREN, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN : Have the prisoners captured by General Crawford's command this morning been sent in yet? How many prisoners were captured. by General Crawford? S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. NEAR SPOTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE, VA., May 20, 1864. General S. WILLIAMS: All the prisoners taken by us have been sent to General Patrick. The report of casualties is on its way to you. Our new troops undoubtedly fired into each other yesterday in some instances. G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN: The major-general commanding directs that you hold your corps ready to withdraw and follow Hancock to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock, or to follow the enemy should he follow Hancock. General Wright will take up a new line upon your withdrawal. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. |