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easterly past Westbrook's, and cross the Norfolk railroad near MeCann's. This will probably be done by to-morrow morning. Please send an officer to report. Come this evening, and [bring] a written statement of the line you picket or patrol and the location of your main body, with reference to some points on the photographic map from headquarters Army of the Potomac.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,

Major-General WARREN,

Commanding Fifth Army Corps:

July 14, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that the picket-line formerly established by Colonel Bryan is maintained and continued on the left, to connect with the cavalry at Prince George Court-House. The line of this division connects on the right with Colonel Bryan, about two miles from Gary's Church.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. MCM. GREGG,

Brigadier-General of Vols., Comdg. Second Cavalry Division.

General GREGG:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
July 11, 1864-11 p. m.

Your staff officer has just reported to me the information I desired. My infantry picket here passes about one mile west of the Jones house; thence south along the old line of intrenchments to the plank road; thence easterly to the Jerusalem plank road near Finn's; thence to the Norfolk railroad near McCann's. At this last point it terminates, and as the guerrillas are about here, I wish you would send a small force of cavalry, say sixty men, to be stationed at McCann's and patrol toward Prince George Court-House.

Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION,
July 14, 1864,

Col. T. M. BRYAN, Jr.,

Commanding Provisional Brigade Cavalry: COLONEL: The inspector of the right of my line reports that there is still an unpicketed interval on my right of between one and two miles. I remember the difficulty mentioned in maintaining the line there, but understood that your left would connect by the rear road, and the road in front would be patrolled. Make the connection perfect on your left. Your command on the plank road allowed the enemy to establish a picket-post on your side the Warwick bridge. I have

ordered this picket to be driven over the swamp. If anything of importance occurs, if you should receive any important information, communicate either directly to General Warren. The enemy are about here at various points, but in no force yet discovered.

Very respectfully,

D. McM. GREGG, Brigadier-General of Vols., Comdg. Second Cavalry Division.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV. CAVALRY CORPS,
July 14, 1864.

Capt. H. C. WEIR,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Cavalry Division: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report all quiet along my line, excepting a shot or two by the pickets on the road leading to Proctor's house, and soon after, the appearance of a party of about twenty mounted men driving in the vedettes on the road leading to Reams' Station. They were driven away some distance, and returned again, dismounted, exchanging fifteen or twenty shots, when they moved off toward Reams' Station. A heavy column of dust can be seen on or near the plank road, indicating the movement of troops toward that point.

Major-General BUTLER,

Commanding, &c.:

J. IRVIN GREGG, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. `

CITY POINT, VA., July 14, 1864.

I received this morning a communication from Beauregard of date of the 13th in answer to mine of the 8th instant, addressed to General Lee. On the 10th General Lee answered one of the day before, but not answering the other himself, I fear he may have gone north, taking with him more force. Have you any information of Lee's presence about Petersburg later than the 10th obtained from deserters or refu gees?

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS,

In the Field, July 14, 1861—3.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,
Commanding, &c.:

I have made all investigation possible since receiving your telegram, and I can learn nothing of Lee's whereabouts. Day before yesterday Pickett refused receiving any communication unless sent from General Grant to General Lee. When he returned the letter to you yesterday, a note was forwarded to me that my communication would be received, but the answer of Ould obviated the necessity of sending. The communication about Jaquess and Gilmore evidently went before the War Department at Richmond, which may account for the delay of that without the necessity of supposing Lee absent. I will keep endeavoring to hear of anything upon this subject.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,
Major-General.

CITY POINT, VA., July 14, 1864.

Major-General BUTLER, Commanding, &c.:

I have directed such of the rebel works around Petersburg as are in our rear and not used by us to be leveled. General Weitzel being unwell I have directed General Meade to send his engineer officer to designate those in rear of the Eighteenth Corps to be leveled and General Martindale to have them so leveled.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, VA., July 14, 1864.

Major-General BUTLER, Commanding, &c.:

I shall have an effort made by the 16th to cut the railroads again, this time far to the south. Please direct Kautz to report to Sheridan in person to-morrow for directions, and to accompany the expedition with all of his force that can be spared. Sheridan has or will receive instructions by morning.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In the Field, Va., July 14, 1864. Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT,

Commanding Armies of the United States:

GENERAL: Assuming that this position in the peninsula of Bermuda Hundred will not be abandoned, at least during the war, whatever may be the necessities of operations or the results of movements elsewhere, and specially in view of operations on the south side of Richmond, I take leave to suggest to the commanding general the propriety of constructing a railroad from the landing at Bermuda Hundred to our front. The route is very practicable and I will have it run out. Whenever we advance the road can be easily carried forward and make a junction with the Petersburg road. There is iron enough for the purpose at Norfolk and Fortress Monroe, and while we are remaining here the road might be easily built by a force detailed from the 100-days' men, the timber for ties being directly along the road. I observe that owing to the contraction of space for wharf room at City Point between the ravine and the Appomattox it is impossible to get wharfage enough there to land all the supplies, so that large sums are being expended for demurrage, although the vessels lie six or seven deep along the whole extent of wharf. The wharves at Bermuda Hundred need not be more than fifty feet in width to get the deepest water, and the entire expense of putting them in order and constructing the railroad to the United States would be saved by one week's necessary demurrage, as it exists at present. Of course in this I mean no criticism upon General Ingalls, who seems to be doing the best he can in the space he occupies. I am aware of the cost of labor for loading and unloading stores from vessels, but as we advance I trust we shall be able to obtain that labor at a cheap rate. We should have had a surplus of it here if Kautz's and Wilson's return had not been interrupted with the negroes they were bringing in with them. It is quite possible that hereafter at some central point it may be necessary to make a depot for the recruitment and disciplining of negro troops in the necessity of garrisoning the

Southern country. For that purpose I know no better point than this. Healthy, easily defended, good water, plenty of wood, and easy of access; a garrison which should control Richmond, Petersburg, and all the country east of the Chowan River, and therefore Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, might be most conveniently located here. Besides, there will be land enough here for the safe location of a large colony of freedmen. Indeed, if the war should proceed farther south and last any time, I do not see why this would not be as convenient a location as any for prisoners; with the negroes near at hand to guard them. I venture to submit these suggestions to the attention of the command. ing general.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER,
Major-General. Commanding.

JULY 14, 1864.

General GRANT, Commanding, de.:

MY DEAR GENERAL: I know how difficult it is for gentlemen in high positions to get the exact opinions and thoughts of friends or foes. For myself, I am always glad to do so. From the feeling of grateful recognition of your kindness to me I send you the inclosed letter.* It was never intended for your eye, and was written by a devoted and warm-hearted officer of mine and a sincere friend and admirer of yours. He is a good politician, and I know sincerely and truly wishes the success of yourself, and therein the success of the country. He gives these things, as he sees them, for my guidance. I cannot presume to have a solemn talk with you, but I think you should get the ideas of my friend, and with the exception of the manner of their expression many of them are my own; therefore pardon the expression; they are those of a warm-hearted, rough Western man, and are honest and true convictions. Permit me here to say that I desire to serve you, not in this only but in all things. My future is not in the army; yours is. Our paths can never cross, therefore amid all the selfishness of life I can see no reason why I cannot always subscribe myself as I do now,

Most truly, your friend,

BENJ. F. BUTLER.

HDQRS. DEPT, OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,

Brig. Gen. G. WEITZEL,

Acting Chief of Staff:

July 14, 1861.

GENERAL: The following dispatch has just been received, and is respectfully forwarded:

Captain NORTON:

RIVER-BANK SIGNAL STATION, Spring Hill, July 14, 1864-4.30 p. m.

A train of seven cars partly loaded with troops just passed the railroad junetion toward Richmond.

Very respectfully, &c.,

A. G. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer,

L. B. NORTON,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

*Not found.

SPECIAL ORDERS, (
No. 191.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. C.,
In the Field, Va., July 14, 1864.

VII. The One hundred and thirty-eighth Regiment Ohio National Guard will proceed without delay to Cherrystone, Eastern Shore of Virginia, and take post there to guard the telegraph station.

VIII. Brig. Gen. W. T. H. Brooks, commanding Tenth Army Corps, will order six companies of some 100-days' regiment now on his line, under a field officer, to proceed at once to Spring Hill, relieving the One hundred and thirty-eighth Ohio National Guard. Two companies of the above six will relieve the two companies of the One hundred and thirty-eighth now on duty with Col. H. L. Abbot, at Broadway.

By command of Major-General Butler:

R. S. DAVIS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Colonel ABBOT:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 14, 18641.

Major Duane wishes to know if you cannot place your mortars yourself. I have just ordered Colonel Allcock to detail two officers to superintend to-night the construction of battery for heavy guns under direction of Captain Mendell. Your telegram to Colonel Allcock has

been sent him.

H. J. HUNT,
Brigadier-General.

BROADWAY LANDING, VA., July 14, 1864—2 p. m.

Brigadier-General HUNT,

Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

I will place the mortars if you desire it. I shall be at your headquarters early to-morrow morning. My 100-days' men were relieved to-day, which has caused me trouble to-day.

HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel First Connecticut Artillery.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
In the Field, July 14, 1861-11.30 a. m.

General BROOKS,

Commanding Tenth Army Corps:

Have you any prisoners or deserters? If so, the commanding-general directs that they be sent forward at once, as the lieutenant-general desires some information that may be obtained from them.

answer.

Please

JOHN I. DAVENPORT, Lieutenant and Acting Aide-de-Camp, Provost-Marshal.

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