sume General Hancock is doing same on the right. As Foster garrisons lower side demonstrations will be weak. Casualties in this corps on 26th and 27th about fifty. D. B. BIRNEY, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, General WEITZEL, Chief of Staff: General Foster has telegraphed to you his position should Second Corps withdraw. I have answered him that Birge's brigade will doubtless remain for the present, and two brigades should hold the works. D. B. BIRNEY, Major-General. General BIRNEY: DEEP BOTTOM, VA., July 28, 1864. General Birge says his regimental commanders disobeyed orders. The delay has not been of any consequence as General Hancock is waiting for the cavalry to operate. The enemy are very strongly intrenched in his front. General Foster is waiting for General Hancock before making any demonstration. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FIRST DIV., TENTH ARMY CORPS, * IV. Col. J. B. Howell, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanding First Brigade, having received leave of absence on account of illness, Col. Francis B. Pond, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the brigade during the absence of Colonel Howell. By order of Brig. Gen. A. H. Terry: A. TERRY, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., TENTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. D. B. BIRNEY, Commanding Tenth Army Corps: I made no demonstration against the enemy this morning at daybreak, as directed in your dispatch. I saw Major-General Hancock at a late hour last night, and he said he thought he should advance this morning, and he would let me know when he did, and I was to make a demonstration at the same time on this side. I have had my troops under arms and ready since 3 a. m., but have heard no firing or no notice of an advance from General Hancock. The enemy's line is so short that unless the demonstration was made at the same time as that of General Hancock I could use but a small portion of my force, as an advance on my part would leave my camp exposed, and I should have to leave a strong force in it. I am all ready and will make a vigorous push when the forces below the creek attack. Did I do right? Respectfully, yours, R. S. FOSTER, General FOSTER: HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Make demonstration but hold troops well in hand to secure your works. I presume General Hancock will make a real full attack in his front. How is this? D. B. BIRNEY, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General FOSTER, Deep Bottom: I ordered General Birge to cross pontoon bridge before daylight and report to Major-General Hancock. Two of his regiments have been left here without guide and contrary to orders express and explicit. I have sent them down. Send a staff officer to find General Birge, probably at General Hancock's or near there with the portion of his brigade, and give him this. Major-General BIRNEY: D. B. BIRNEY, Major-General, Commanding. GENERAL FOSTER'S HEADQUARTERS, July 28, 1864. I have the honor to forward copy of a communication received from Brigadier-General Birge in answer to your dispatch. Respectfully, General FoSTER: [Inclosure.] R. S. FOSTER, [JULY 28, 1864.] General Birney is mistaken. I reported to General Hancock with my command at the bridge at 5.30 a. m. The two regiments were fifteen minutes in rear of the rest, being detached from the brigade when the order was received. The distance to the bridge was three miles farther than General Birney's staff officer told me it was. I left a guide, a staff officer, with the two regiments, and they closed up before the regiments were assigned position. Please send this to General Birney. The enemy are moving troops in small bodies from left toward the right. H. W. BIRGE, Brig. Gen. R. S. FOSTER, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, Commanding at Deep Bottom: GENERAL: Major-General Hancock requests that you will inform him what troops, if any, of your command are in the works at the lower bridge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, NOTE. The orderly will wait. FRANCIS A. WALKER, HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Deep Bottom, Va., July 28, 1864. (Received 11 a. m.) Lieut. Col. FRANCIS A. WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Army Corps: COLONEL: Your note received. There are no troops of my command at the lower bridge. If General Hancock moves with his force and desires me to do so, I will send a force to hold it, and also make as strong a demonstration as possible on my front when you attack. Please send me word. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. S. FOSTER, HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., TENTH ARMY COrps, Maj. Gen. W. S. HANCOCK, Commanding Second Army Corps: GENERAL: I am in receipt of your communication and have ordered a garrison for the works at lower bridge, from the Eleventh Maine Volunteers. I will as soon as possible make a demonstration with all the troops I can spare from my line. My lookouts report the enemy busily engaged in throwing up works in the field where the gun-boat is shelling. Respectfully, yours, R. S. FOSTER, HDQRS. THIRD Brig., FIRST DIV., TENTH ARMY COrps, Brig. Gen. G. WEITZEL, Chief of Staff: A note just received from Major-General Hancock states that the enemy have made a heavy attack on Sheridan's cavalry on the Long Bridge road. He desires a demonstration against the enemy on my part, which I shall make at once. He has called on me for a garrison for the works at the lower bridge, which I shall furnish, but which will necessarily make my demonstration somewhat weaker. My casualties on the 26th and 27th were about fifty. (Same to General Birney.) R. S. FOSTER, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General FOSTER, Commanding, &c.: July 28, 1864–1.30 p. m. GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that he does not think it necessary that the garrison of the works by the lower bridge should be very large, as he has a great deal of artillery in position there, which will be nearly sufficient to hold the place. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS A. WALKER, Major-General BIRNEY: DEEP BOTTOM, July 28, 1864-2.15 p. m. I am pushing the enemy's pickets, as directed by General Hancock. Major Ludlow, of General Butler's staff, was here a few moments since, direct from General Hancock's headquarters, and said he did not think General Hancock would attack to-day. This is all the information I have regarding his intentions. R. S. FOSTER, General FOSTER, Commanding: HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, I approve of your course. You cannot attack without General Hancock does. D. B. BIRNEY, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. H. W. BIRGE, Commanding Brigade, Nineteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: I am instructed by Major-General Birney to say, in reply to your telegram of this morning, that he is not mistaken as to the time when your command should have moved. The order was explicit for you to move with your command immediately and cross the pontoon bridge precisely at daylight. The order left these headquarters at 11.15 p. m. yesterday, and your brigade should have been assembled at the bridge ready to move as ordered at daylight. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ED. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General. General BIRGE, Commanding Brigade: HEADQUARTERS SECOND Corps, GENERAL: Major-General Hancock directs me to say that he wishes you to get your intrenchments in the best order possible with the least delay practicable. The flanking force to our left was two divisions, which have continued farther on and may be heard of hereafter, but they were relieved about 9 a. m. by other divisions (from Hill's corps) which came over last night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS A. WALKER, General FOSTER, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Commanding &c.: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that prisoners taken this a. m. from three brigades of Kershaw's and Wilcox's divisions say that they were relieved this morning by other divisions of Hill's corps, so that you have probably as many troops in front of you as ever. Respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS A. WALKER, HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., TENTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. D. B. BIRNEY, Commanding Tenth Army Corps: In advancing my lines this afternoon I drove the enemy into their main line of works at several points. Officers of the skirmish line who had a good view of their works report them. protected by a strong abatis and lined with men as far as they could see. All my movements after reaching the Grover house had to be made in sight of the enemy's lookout on Spring Hill. I disposed of my force so as to mislead them regarding my strength as much as possible. Casualties few. Respectfully, yours, (Same to General Hancock.) R. S. FOSTER, |