this command, that part of the Tenth Corps now serving in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina is very small and composed entirely of white troops. In the department, however, there are a large number of colored troops, many of whom are liable at any time to fall into the Tenth, either for service or permanently. If the corps should be united, as it was in the Department of the South, then, too, it will be composed largely of colored troops. I do not suppose this would make any difference in General Humphreys' performance of his duties, but it might have something to do with his preference for the command. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: July 15, 1864—10 «. m. Comparative quiet prevailed along the lines yesterday; some mus ketry and cannonading on General Burnside's front by the enemy during the night. Last evening several deserters came into the Fifth Corps, who stated that if three rockets were sent up to indicate they had been well received a large number would come in. After taking necessary precautions to guard against foul play, the three rockets were sent up, but without any result. The siege works, batteries, and mine, in front of the Fifth and Ninth Corps, are making good progress. Two divisions of the Second Corps are employed in leveling the enemy's old works in our rear. Your telegram of yesterday in reference to the projected cavalry raid has been sent to General Sheridan, as his general instructions, and his views called for as to the disposition of the infantry force sent to support him. I send per orderly a Richmond paper of the 14th instant, in which they claim taking 93 prisoners and 2 commissioned officers from Gregg in the recent reconnaissance of Reams' Station. such report has been made by Gregg, but I have called for information. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General MEADE, CITY POINT, VA., July 15, 1864—11 a. m. Commanding, &c.: No A dispatch just received from General Butler states that a deserter is just in who says that two divisions of Longstreet's corps went south, leaving their places in line last Friday. Please ask your provost-marshal if he has not evidence to the contrary of this statement. I have a Richmond paper of the 14th, which gives the capture from Gregg at 33 men and 2 officers. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT, Commanding Armies of the United States: General Meade is on the line of works. There is no evidence in the provost-marshal's department of any part of Longstreet's corps having left Lee's army. All the evidence concerning it is that Field's and Kershaw's divisions are on this side the river, between Hill and Beauregard; Pickett's division on the north side of the Appomattox. A. A. HUMPHREYS. Major-General and Chief of Staff. JULY 15, 1864. Brigadier-General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, Armies in the Field: The following report from the provost-marshal-general's office is sent as the last information of the kind received. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 15, 1861. GENERAL: A deserter from the Eighth Alabama, Sanders' brigade, Mahone's division, has just been forwarded from the headquarters of the Fifth Corps. He came into our lines last evening about an hour after dark. He states that he has been out on picket since day before yesterday morning, and up to that time no movements had taken place anywhere on the line, to his knowledge. It was rumored that Longstreet's corps was going to Maryland, and that Hill's corps would move farther to the left and occupy Longstreet's position. A man that left the lines about dark last night to bring rations to the pickets. brought no information that any movements had been made. He does not know the whereabouts of Wilcox's division, of A. P. Hill's corps. He saw General Wilcox about a week ago riding along the line. Heth's division was on the right when he came on picket. He does not possess any other information of importance. Very respectfully, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT: J. C. BABCOCK. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS, Your note in reference to Tenth Corps was received and referred to General Humphreys while I was on the lines. The general will take the matter into consideration, and by the time I return to my headquarters I will advise you of his decision. GEO, G. MEADE. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: General Sheridan is here. He fears that unless the infantry accompanies him to Weldon, that his return will be so obstructed as to force him to New Berne, from whence he could only return by water, which would take a very long time. He proposes the joint expedition keeping together the whole time. I think myself this is the surest and safest course, but the question arises whether you can spare the Second Corps for so long a period, say ten days, or whether you deem it judicious to send any less force of infantry than the whole corps. Your views on these points are respectfully requested. General Sheridan will await here your reply. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Major-General MEADE: Army of the Potomac : Your dispatch of 6 p. m. just this moment received. Since ordering the cavalry raid we have found that the enemy have left Maryland, and I have sent a staff officer to hasten the return of the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps. With them we can cover the Weldon road or make an infantry movement which will obviate the necessity of a raid. Under these circumstances you may suspend Sheridan's order for the present. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. Maj. Gen. E. O. C. ORD, CITY POINT, VA., July 15, 1864. Washington, D. C.: Four batteries of the Sixth Corps, Major Tompkins commanding, left here yesterday morning for Baltimore. Please order them to return at once to this point without debarking. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 15, 1861. GENERAL: A deserter from Heth's division (Fry's brigade, Archer's old) came into our lines this morning. He is a young man, very intelligent, and was forced to go into the trenches a week ago to-day. He has been living in Petersburg for the past six months, where he kept a newspaper depot. He reports no change in the position of A. P, Hill's corps, nor can he locate Wilcox's division of that corps. Last Tuesday he was informed by some men from Hoke's division that the division was moving in the direction of Richmond. He cannot say where this division has been located, but it was somewhere on the Chesterfield side. He knows of no other movements. That yesterday two officers of Hill's staff went out on the right of their line to reconnoiter our position; that when they returned they stopped near his brigade and took out maps and sketches they had been making. Informant being near by heard their conversation, understanding that it was proposed to extend the rebel lines forward to better protect the Weldon railroad, also that they were calculating upon taking possession of a part of our present line. This is all we can make of this statement, as informant is somewhat uncertain as to what he really heard. The infantry formerly under Bradley T. Johnson, known as the Maryland Line, did not accompany General Early, and is at present attached to Archer's brigade. It is the Second Maryland Battalion. They have applied to be sent to General Early, and it is expected they will go. Informant appears to be little acquainted with the position of Lee's army. He has other information that cannot well be reported concerning the location of their works, which we will have noted by Captain Paine. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. C. BABCOCK.. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, Armies in the Field: Respectfully forwarded. July 15, 1864. The deserter informed me that he received the information about the intended movement of Hoke's division from the sick and others of the division unable to march, who had been sent to Petersburg. He met them outside the town, where pies, cake, &c., are sold to the soldiers. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HDQRS. U. S. ENGINEERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. J. C. DUANE: During the last twenty-four hours the following progress has been made by officers and working parties under my direction: Captain Harwood reports embrasures pierced in the flanks of the redoubts on the left; revetment on the front completed; nearly so on the flanks, and about half finished on the gorge; the rifle-pit completed nearly to the swamp across the railroad, and commenced on the other side of the swamp. Slashing timber progresses but slowly, as there are but ninety axes, and those in bad condition. I directed Captain Gillespie and Lieutenant Cuyler to strengthen the parapets of batteries on the Fifth Corps front last night. They were unable to procure tools for that purpose. A rifle-pit near the Chieves house between the two adjacent redoubts and supporting the battery erected there is progressing. One dozen wagons were engaged in hauling siege material yesterday from the depot to points convenient for their future application. It will be necessary to have ten or twelve wagons for this and other incidental purposes. At present I am indebted to the courtesy of the commander of the Fifth Corps, who represents the corps cramped for transportation. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 17 R R-VOL XL, PT III G. H. MENDELL, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: The following report from plank road signal station: Several trains have been seen on Weldon railroad near the lead-works this a. m. None have passed south of that point for several days. (They may pass during the night.) Noticed two companies of infantry on drill about half a mile south of leadworks near railroad. Several wagons passed both to right and left on road near railroad. No movement of troops. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. DUFF. B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 15, 1864. Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: The following received from station north of City Point railroad: Smoke of an engine passing in toward Richmond railroad seen at 3.30 a. m. A heavy cloud of dust extending for half a mile from the back of the city toward our left, seen for fifteen minutes just before noon; occasional horseman and footmen could be seen, but nothing further to indicate what the movement was. opened from twelve guns on the plateau, over the river this a. m. The following rebel message 7.30 a. m.: "No movements of troops discovered." “General PENDLETON, Colonel JONES, &c.: The enemy "12 M. "The enemy are massing a large force of infantry in rear of Hare's house and near Battery 9. They seem to come from our right and their rear. "A. S. CUTTS, GENERAL: The following message intercepted at rebel station: Colonel POAGUE: It is reported by Colonel Cutts that the enemy are massing large forces of infantry in rear of Hare's house and Battery No. 1. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. F. HOKE, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. |