Unless otherwise ordered I shall at 3 p. m send the picket detail of 100 previously ordered to Battery 6. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOS. R. HAWLEY, Colonel Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, Commanding Brigade. Brigadier-General WEITZEL, HEADQUARTERS DEEP BOTTOM, Acting Chief of Staff: July 30, 1864-8 a. m. I have strengthened my position some during the night, and am still at work. I am prepared and will give them a tough fight if they dare make the attack. I hold the bridge below Four-Mile Creek with 150 men, all I can spare. The gun-boats must keep that side clear. Will keep you advised if they attack me. Truly, yours, FOSTER, Brigadier-General. HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., TENTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. D. B. BIRNEY, Deep Bottom, July 30, 1864–11.30 a. m. Commanding Tenth Army Corps: Firing has ceased on my right below the creek. The reported attack on my center proved to be an advance of a small party who were easily repulsed by my pickets. I have strengthened my position at some points, and am still at work. Respectfully, yours, R. S. FOSTER, Major-General BIRNEY: DEEP BOTTOM, July 30, 1864. A deserter has just been brought in from Archer's brigade, Heth's division, Hill's corps, who says that all of Hill's corps, but one brigade, and part of Longstreet's corps were over here this morning at daylight. They were ordered to pack up and be ready to march at a moment's notice, and troops have been moving to the left since that time. Some of their rumors are that they are going up the Valley, and most think they are returning to Petersburg, there being a rumor in camp that [wel were to attack to-night. My lookout reports several regiments of troops moving to my left. All is quiet here. R. S. FOSTER, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General ORD, Commanding Eighteenth Corps: July 30, 1864-4.50 a. m. General Burnside is ordered if his mine has failed to open all his batteries and assault at once. You will consider the orders the same as if the mine had exploded, and the assault made in consequence. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. Just before this was finished the mine exploded and the batteries opened. It was not sent. A. A. H. Major-General ORD, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Commanding Eighteenth Corps: The major general commanding directs that you at once move forward your corps rapidly to the crest of the hill independently of General Burnside's troops and make a lodgment there, reporting the result as soon as attained. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. General MEADE: HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, July 30, 1864. General Turner, in my front, reports that the only place I can get out of the line is opposite the crater. It is already full of men who cannot develop. I shall put in my column as soon as I can. It is impossible, by reason of the topography, to charge in the manner you indicate. I must go in by head of column and develop to the right. This is reply to order from General Meade to push for crest of hill regardless of General Burnside's troops. General Ames makes similar reports. E. O. C. ORD, Major-General. Major-General ORD, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Commanding Eighteenth Corps: The major-géneral commanding directs that you withdraw your corps to the rear of the Ninth Corps in some secure place. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. [JULY 30, 1864.-For Meade to Burnside and Ord, 10 a. m., relative to withdrawal of troops, &c., see p. 662.] General MEADE: HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH CORPS, After receipt of your orders to draw out my corps from the trenches in General Burnside's front, General Turner reported that he would by drawing out leave lunette where his men were with but one brigade to man it, in his opinion not enough, and as General Burnside's men had suffered in the assault I concluded to leave two-thirds of Turner's division and all of Carr's there until night, when General Burnside could relieve them. Ames' brigade has gone to camp where Second Division was. Can I camp here to-night? E. O. C. ORD, Major-General of Volunteers. General ORD: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Can you not get your wounded off after dark_to-night? The last time we had wounded left on the field Beauregard, on my application, refused to have a flag of truce to take off the wounded. It would, therefore, be useless to try it again. GEO. G. MEADE, General MEADE: HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH CORPS, July 30, 1864. The enemy have a terrible cross-fire at short range on the ground. It would be impossible. They have many wounded and dead there, and our trenches rake the place so that an offer might be mutually acceptable. E. O. C. ORD, Major-General ORD: HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Can you not give me an estimate through your medical director of the number of wounded; also the killed to-day in your corps? I want to make a consolidated estimate for General Grant. GEO. G. MEADE, General MEADE: HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, The medical director reports 157 wounded sent to hospital. As many more were wounded or fell into hands of enemy, when cross-fire made them jump into enemy's trench to avoid it. This in Turner's division, which agrees with approximate estimate of Generals Turner, 350, and Ames 20 killed, wounded, and missing. Carr's loss will not exceed 30 I hope. E. O. C. ORD, We are so situated as to render it almost impossible to relieve your divisions to-night. Hope to be able to make a better report to-morrow night. A. E. BURNSIDE, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Maj. Gen. E. O. C. ORD, Eighteenth Corps: The major-general commanding directs that you order General Turner, with his division, to report here at once-it must come to-night; and that you send all the heavy artillery you can dispense with and cannot remove rapidly to City Point. Please acknowledge. Respectfully, I have orders to send all the siege artillery and material at once to City Point. Have sent word, via General Butler's headquarters, to Colonel Abbot. Will you cause Colonel Piper to have the siege guns, mortars, and ammunition, &c., got out and brought up to your headquarters as soon as possible and his means of transportation will permit? The teams of the field batteries could bring up the guns. No time to be lost. Please acknowledge receipt and let me know what you can do for me. H. J. HUNT, HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General BURNHAM, Commanding First Division, Eighteenth Army Corps: You will be relieved to-night by troops of the Ninth Corps. A staff officer will be in attendance to conduct you to your new position. After getting into position you will order up your camp equipage, reserve ammunition, &c., of your brigades and division. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General BURNHAM, Commanding First Division, Eighteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: When you are relieved in the trenches to-night you will move your command to a position in the rear of headquarters Eighteenth Army Corps, and bivouac in column by battalion. You will send a staff officer immediately to select the locality. By command of Brigadier-General Carr: SOLON A. CARTER, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Col. S. A. DUNCAN, Commanding Second Brigade: In the Field, Va., July 30, 1864. COLONEL: By direction of the general commanding you will, when relieved from duty in the trenches to-night, move your command to your old camp near corps headquarters. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, SOLON A. CARTER, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Brig. Gen. A. V. KAUTZ, Commanding Cavalry Division: The commanding general directs that you report with your command to General Gregg at Lee's Mill to-night. He desires me to say that Ord's corps and all the cavalry are going to destroy the Weldon road. Respectfully, G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff. |