troops after dark in wooded countries, I suggested to General Butler the following: To station cavalry vedettes from Hancock's camp all the way to Deep Bottom; these cavalry vedettes to light fires at dark and keep them burning until the whole column had passed. All this was done. The two roads were so brightly lit up that I feared the fires would be seen by the enemy. In addition I muffled both bridges over the James with hay. Is this accusation the reward for my extraordinary care and precaution? A blind man could have found the way by the heat of the fire. If this charge has gone to Lieutenant-General Grant I want it refuted and this shown him. G. WEITZEL, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieutenant-Colonel COMSTOCK, City Point: After thinking over the matter, and firmly believing that charge to be unfounded, I must, in justice to myself, insist upon it that an officer be ordered from your headquarters to ride over and inspect that road before I touch it. G. WEITZEL, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In the Field, July 28, 1864. (Sent 3.20 p. m.) Lieutenant-Colonel COMSTOCK, SO. City Point: Your note received. All right. General Butler and I both thought Your dispatch was unfortunately worded. G. WEITZEL, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, At 1.15 p. m. five cars, loaded with troops, passed toward Richmond. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In the Field, July 28, 1864—4.50 p.m. Received 5.18 p. m.) General U. S. GRANT: The following dispatch has just been received from the signal officer at Spring Hill: A train of twenty cars, partly loaded with troops, just passed the Junction toward Richmond. Very respectfully, G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff. Lieutenant-General GRANT: BUTLER'S HEADQUARTERS, July 28, 1864. GENERAL: The following dispatch has just been received from the signal officer on the right, and is respectfully forwarded for the information of the lieutenant-general: A long column of cavalry, probably two regiments, and an ambulance train, are passing Chaffin's farm, going east. Over 100 wagons have gone same route since my last report. There is much signaling between rams and shore. Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: G. S. DANA, Captain and Signal Officer. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. JULY 28, 1864-11.50 p. m. The following dispatch has just been received.* shall be given to Foster? Major-General BUTLER, What instructions BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. CITY POINT, VA., July 28, 1864—12 m. Commanding, &c.: I will send you full instructions in the morning. General Hancock is only withdrawing one division, for purposes which will be explained. Sheridan's cavalry all remains north of the river. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, Lower Pontoon Bridge, July 28, 1864-7.20 p. m. Major-General BUTLER: GENERAL: Will you do me the favor to have small picket-fires built to-night along the road from your headquarters to the pontoon bridge at this point? WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Major-General HANCOCK, Deep Bottom: The fires will be lit as you request, and as soon as possible. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, See Foster to Weitzel, 11.40 p. m., p. 589, General WEITZEL, Chief of Staff: BERMUDA, July 28, 1864. I have the honor to report that the transports having on board Colonel Currie's brigade started this morning at 3 a. m. for Washington, D. C. Steamer Idaho, 420 officers and men; Saint Cloud, 421 officers and men; Diamond State, 559 officers and men; Thomas Jefferson, 269 officers and men. Total, 1,669 troops, embarked as ordered. Very respectfully, JOHN B. HOWARD, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Quartermaster BERMUDA, July 28, 1864. Maj. R. S. DAVIS, The Sixteenth New York Heavy Artillery left here at about 6.30p m. yesterday, July 27, 1864. Very respectfully, p. Captain NORTON: JULY 28, 1864–12.15 p. m. Lieutenant Ireland is at the old rebel signal station. At 10.30 a. m. the cavalry on the north side of river left W. Hall's place and moved through the woods in a north-northeast direction, since which nothing has been seen in that direction. G. S. DANA, Captain, Signal Corps, U. S. Army. Captain NORTON: SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, Five cars loaded with troops just passed the Junction toward Rich mond. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. Captain NORTON: HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, A train of twenty-eight wagons with small cavalry escort is passing from left to right to cross the river above Chaffin's Bluff. Captain NORTON: G. S. DANA, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, At 12.30 p. m. our cavalry returned to W. Hall's place. Captain NORTON: Yes. At Gill's farm. them farther than W. Hall's. JULY 28, 1864-2.40 p. m.. He can only see our cavalry and nothing of Captain, &c. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Brigadier-General WEITZEL, Chief of Staff: July 28, 1864. GENERAL: The following dispatch has just been received, and is respectfully forwarded: Captain NORTON: SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, July 28, 1864-7.30 p. m. Nine freight and two passenger cars, empty, just passed the Junction toward Petersburg. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. Respectfully, &c., L. B. NORTON, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, The following orders of Lieutenant-General Grant are approved by the President: SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 62. HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, IV. Subject to the approval of the President, Maj. Gen. W. F. Smith is hereby relieved from the command of the Eighteenth Army Corps, and will proceed to New York city and await further orders. His personal staff will accompany him. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į No. 64. HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, I. Subject to the approval of the President, Maj. Gen. E. O. C. Ord, U. S. Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the Eighteenth Army Corps, and will relieve Brig. Gen. J. H. Martindale, temporarily commanding. II. Subject to the approval of the President, Maj. Gen. D. B. Birney, U. S. Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the Tenth Army Corps, and will relieve Brig. Gen. A. H. Terry, temporarily commanding. By order of the Secretary of War: Major TRUMBULL, E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. BROADWAY LANDING, VA., July 28, 1864. First Connecticut Artillery, Headquarters Eighteenth Corps: The company of Fourth New York will report at 9 a. m. to-day. The mortars will arrive with the train to-night. Only fifty rounds are sent with each, and by direction of General Hunt no more will be sent for 37 R R-VOL XL, PT III them until more is received here, which I hope to soon obtain. The officer in command must understand this and not waste his ammunition. Fully explain, also, to him our system of ordnance responsibility, memorandum receipts, &c. HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding. Brig. Gen. HENRY J. HUNT, HEADQUARTERS SIEGE TRAIN, Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac: July 28, 1864. GENERAL: In accordance with your request of yesterday I forward a list of guns for which I am expected to provide ammunition, they being under my charge, with the amount of ammunition in depot on 25th instant. Those guns and mortars reported in position have about 100 rounds each in their magazines besides that in depot. I have also the following interesting collection of flanking field guns in the lines of Bermuda Hundred, which I supply by requisition upon the chief of ordnance of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina: 20-pounder Parrotts, 8; 3-inch rifles (Sawyer), 1; 32-pounder howitzers, 2; 24-pounder howitzer, 1; 12-pounder howitzers, 6; light 12-pounder guns, 3. Total, 21. By this you will perceive that my aggregate of ordnance in position is 88 pieces, and in depot 63 pieces; total, 151 pieces, of which 130 pieces are siege. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain EDSON, HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SIEGE TRAIN, Broadway Landing, Va., July 28, 1864. Ordnance Officer at Fort Monroe : If you have any ammunition for me at Fort Monroe please hurry it forward, especially for Coehorn mortars, 8-inch mortars, and 30-pounder Parrotts. I have had to suspend firing with Coehorns from want of ammunition. I want at least 4,000 rounds as soon as possible. Your 800 rounds is received. Please telegraph me what to expect. HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding. |