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equipped for duty, officers and men, Third Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army Corps, 2,374; Third Brigade, Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, 1,252; First Connecticut Light Battery, six guns, 119; two companies First New York Mounted Rifles, 115; total, 3,860. D. B. BIRNEY,

Major-General.

Brig. Gen. G. WEITZEL,

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Deep Bottom, July 24, 1864-9.05 a. m.

Chief of Staff, Department of Virginia and North Carolina: This morning at daylight the Eleventh Maine, acting under my orders, advanced and occupied the enemy's battery on the New Market and Malvern Hill road, and now have a strong picket fifty yards beyond. I shall hold it, if possible. The regiment lost yesterday 2 killed and 6 wounded. They deserve great credit, having been continually engaged day and night for three days, and I deem the position they hold of great importance to this command.

Respectfully, yours,

R. S. FOSTER,
Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,

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In the Field, July 24, 1864,

The general commanding understands fully the importance of the service rendered by the Eleventh Maine, and has given them credit in his book for the full amount. I telegraphed General Grant last night that I felt confident you would take and hold that battery now.

G. WEITZEL,
Brigadier-General,

HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., 19TH ARMY CORPS,
Camp near Deep Bottom, Va., July 24, 1864.

Capt. P. A. DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: I have the honor to report for the information of the brigadiergeneral commanding that I have visited the picket-line and surveyed the vicinity of the command, and that I am of opinion the line is strong. I think it, however, most desirable that the woods on our left front should be held, if possible, under any circumstances, and should the brigadier-general coincide with this view I would submit that on any attack on that point being made that a regiment should be immediately sent to support the pickets. This arrangement, I am aware, would weaken my reserve, but if successful would, I am of opinion, save much trouble in retaking the woods unless they are completely commanded by the gun-boats. I am now relieving the One hundred and seventy-third New York by the Thirtieth Maine Veteran Volunteers, but I am going to leave the former regiment during the night until after broad daylight in support. I propose to relieve both regiments

about that hour by a detail of 300 men, under a proportionate number of officers and non-commissioned officers. In the meantime I will press the working parties to the utmost.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
L. D. H. CURRIE,

Colonel 133d New York Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS,
In the Field, Hatcher's, Va., July 24, 1864.

Brig. Gen. O. S. FERRY, Commanding Third Division:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you send two sections of Captain Follett's battery (D), Fourth U. S. Artillery) to-mor row morning to report to Brig. Gen. R. S. Foster, commanding, Deep Bottom, Va.

ED. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General.

JULY 24, 1864.

Maj. F. E. GRAEF,

First New York Vol. Engineers, Hdqrs. 18th Corps: The commanding general directs that you repair to the headquarters of your regiment here and assume command. Major Walker will be sent over to take your place. Turn over in the meantime your command to your next in rank. Acknowledge receipt of this.

G. WEITZEL,
Brigadier-General.

ORDERS.]

JULY 24, 1864.

Brigadier-General Wild will be relieved from arrest and report to Fortress Monroe and await orders. His personal staff may go with Will General Ord transmit this order?

him.

BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
July 24, 1864.

Brigadier-Generał KAUTZ, Commanding Cavalry Division:
Please get ready to move with everybody you can muster. You will
want when you do move six days' rations of hard bread, coffee, and
salt. Your beef will be taken on the hoof. Report to me how many
you can mount within forty-eight hours.

Major-General AUGUR:

BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding.

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 24, 1864.

Please have any dismounted cavalry detachments here remounted immediately, so that surplus horses can be sent to Army of the Potomac. General Hunter has been directed to send any in he has at Harper's Ferry.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major General and Chief of Staff.

President A. LINCOLN:

CITY POINT, VA., July 25, 1864.

After the late raid into Maryland had expended itself, seeing the necessity of having the four departments of the Susquehanna, the Middle, West Virginia, and Washington, under one head, I recommended that they be merged into one, and named General Franklin as a suitable person to command the whole. I still think it highly essential that these four departments should be in one command. I do not insist that the departments should be broken up, nor do I insist upon General Franklin commanding. All I ask is that one general officer, in whom I and yourself have confidence, should command the whole. General Franklin was named because he was available and I know him to be capable and believe him to be trustworthy. It would suit me equally as well to call the four departments referred to a "Military Division," and to have placed in command of it General Meade. In this case I would suggest General Hancock for command of the Army of the Potomac, and General Gibbon for the command of the Second Corps. With General Meade in command of such a division I would have every confidence that all the troops within the military division would be used to the very best advantage from a personal examination of the ground, and [he] would adopt means of getting the earliest information of any advance of the enemy, and would prepare to meet it. During the last raid the wires happened to be down between here and Fort Monroe, and the cable broken between there and Cherrystone. This made it take from twelve to twenty-four hours each way for dispatches to pass. Under such circumstances it was difficult for me to give positive orders or directions, because I could not tell how the conditions might change during the transit of dispatches. Many reasons might be assigned for the changes here suggested, some of which I would not care to commit to paper, but would not hesitate to give verbally. I send this by Brigadier-General Rawlins, chief of staff, who will be able to give more information of the situation' here than I could give you in a letter.

Hoping that you will see this matter in the light I do, I have the honor of subscribing myself, &c.,

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, VA., July 25, 1864-10.30 p. m.
(Received 2.25 p. m. 26th.)

Major-General HALLECK, Washington, D. C. ·

If the enemy move back toward the Potomac he must be promptly met by Wright and all the force that can be collected. Dispatches being so long between here and Washington orders must be given from there to meet pressing emergencies.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

WASHINGTON [July 25, 1864]—10 a. m.
(Received 26th.)

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

Your telegram of 24th, suggesting change of Special Orders, No. 236, is received. The change has been made accordingly.

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 25, 1864-6.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

A deserter from the Nineteenth Regiment Mississippi Volunteers, Anderson's old division, Hill's corps, came into our lines last night. He states that Hood's old division, of Longstreet's corps, is still in our front, on the left of Hill's corps, but that McLaws' division, now commanded by Kershaw, removed to the north side of the Appomattox some days since. It was first rumored they were going to re-enforce Early, but it was subsequently reported they did not go, but are still north of the Appomattox. This confirms the report made to General Foster.

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
City Point, Va., July 25, 1864. (Received 8.30 a. m.)

Maj. Gen. G. G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac :

GENERAL: Before making an expedition down the Weldon road 1 propose to make a demonstration on the north side of the James River, having for its real object the destruction of the railroad on that side. To execute this, the Second Army Corps, two divisions of Sheridan's cavalry (Sheridan commanding in person), will be required. Kautz's cavalry will also be ordered to report to Sheridan for the occasion. This whole force should be got, if possible, to Deep Bottom without attracting the attention of the enemy and before our own people are allowed a clue as to what is really intended. There are now two pontoon bridges at Deep Bottom, and in the evening before the movement commences a second should be thrown across the Appomattox at Broadway. This would give two roadways the whole distance to be traveled. There are now two brigades at Deep Bottom and on the New Market and Malvern Hill road. These troops will continue to hold their present position, thus securing the crossing for our troops on their return. After crossing the James River, the cavalry will advance rapidly as possible on the Virginia Central Railroad (in fact the bridges over the Chickahominy on both roads should be destroyed) as near to the city as possible. From this point they will work north as far as the South Anna, unless driven off sooner. I will direct General Ingalls to send with the expedition 200 of his railroad men to aid in the work of destruction. The Second Corps will also advance as rapidly as possible from Deep Bottom until they get opposite Chaffin's Bluff. Here they will take up a line to prevent the enemy throwing a force across the river to cut off the return of our cavalry. If, in the judgment of the commanding officer, his whole force is not necessary for this he will advance toward Richmond with his available force and hold such positions as he may think will insure the greatest security to the expedition. No wagons will be taken with the expedition except to carry necessary intrenching tools and tools for destroying roads. Wagons, however, to carry forty rounds of ammunition and five days' rations and three days' grain, may be sent in advance and parked near the pontoon bridge over the James, ready to be forwarded if required. The troops will carry four days' rations with them, commencing from the time they leave Deep Bottom. To give them these, the commissary at Deep Bottom will be instructed to have on hand 60,000 rations ready to issue. When the work of de

stroying the railroad is accomplished the whole expedition will return and resume their present places. It is barely possible that by a bold move this expedition may surprise the little garrison of citizen soldiery now in Richmond and get in. This cannot be done, however, by any cautious movement, developing our force, and making reconnaissances before attacking. The only way it can be done, if done at all, is to ride up to the city boldly, dismount, and go in at the first point reached. If carried in this way, the prize could be secured by hurrying up the Second Corps and sending back word here, so that other dispositions could be made. This expedition has for its object, as first stated, to destroy the railroads north of Richmond. If anything more favorable grows out of it it will be due to the officers and men composing it, and will be duly appreciated. In the absence of the Second Corps and cavalry great watchfulness will be required on the part of the other troops and readiness to take advantage of any movement of the enemy. In preparing for this move let it be understood that it is for a grand raid toward Weldon. I do not mean to imply the necessity of saying anything untrue, but simply to make the necessary preparations for starting without giving out the idea of what is to be done and leave our troops to guess that it is to go south, as they will without contradiction. I should like this expedition to get off to-morrow night if possible; if not then, the night following.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

Maj. Gen. GEORGE G. MEADE:

City Point, Va., July 25, 1864.

You may direct the loading of the mine in front of the Ninth Corps. I would set no time when it should be exploded, but leave it subject to orders. The expedition ordered may cause such a weakening of the enemy at Petersburg as to make an attack there possible, in which case you would want to spring Burnside's mine. It cannot be kept a great while after the powder is put in. I would say, therefore, if it is not found necessary to blow it up earlier, I would have it off during the afternoon of Wednesday.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, July 25, 1864-11 p. m.

Brig. Gen. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General:

In former dispatches to you and General Rucker I stated that some of the transports in the Potomac could make a trip here with animals and forage, and return in time to bring down the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps. There are very few now here. Events may make it necessary to have them here. General Grant directs me to state that he will not expect the troops now at or near Washington to return until further orders, and that most of the transports had better be sent here at once for use, if found necessary, in consequence of movements of the enemy toward your place.

RUFUS INGALLS, Brigadier-General and Quartermaster.

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