fin's Bluff would account for the troops seen going some days since from Petersburg. I am of the opinion the estimate of Early's forces is too low. I should think he had in the Valley nearly 25,000 men. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 10, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following report: Another train of nine box-cars and two platform-cars has just passed south on the Weldon railroad. The platform-cars seemed to be loaded with material, timber or ties. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 10, 1864. GENERAL: The officer on station at the plank road did not see any but one train go down the railroad, but from what I could ascertain along the line there have been manifestly several trains that have passed down this morning. I have the honor, general, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. Captain FISHER: Intercepted rebel message: JULY 10, 1864. Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General: No movement of importance visible in enemy's camp about Cobb's. One gunboat and one transport above pontoon bridge and two schooners below it. (Same to A. B.) P. S.: Very hazy to-day. CHAS. L. DAVIS, Captain and Signal Officer. WALTHALL SIGNAL STATION, Chief Signal Officer, Headquarters Army of the Potomac: Captain FISHER, Intercepted messages: Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General : 2 P. M. Thirty-five wagons have passed open space going from enemy's front toward Cobb's. (Same to A. B.) W. S. L.. At C. 9 R R-VOL XL, PT III 2.30 P. M. Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General : Horsemen, wagons, and ambulances have been constantly passing pontoon bridge, coming from Prince George side toward Cobb's. Heavy clouds of dust on the Prince George side indicate unusual activity of the enemy. (Same to A. B.) W. S. L., At C. Have seen the smoke from a locomotive at the Weldon railroad depot for an hour past. Four more wagons, apparently loaded, just passed toward city on Richmond and Petersburg road. CHAS L. DAVIS, Captain, Signal Corps. Capt. B. F. FISHER: PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION, July 10, 1864-7 p. m. At 4 p. m. a small body of infantry, numbering about 250, moved to our left near Weldon railroad. Seemed to be a picket relief, as they marched toward their line. Nothing further since last roport. J. B. DUFF, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. I do not understand how these men could march to our left and toward their line also. B. F. FISHER. They marched from lead-works in southeast direction, and would, necessarily, strike their picket-line in front of the left of Second Corps or Sixth Corps line. J. B. D. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 10, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to forward for your information the following report which has just been received: Captain FISHER: PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION, July 10, 1864-10.30 p. m. A train of ten box-cars and one platform-car has just passed south on the Weldon railroad. Could not tell what it was loaded with. DUFF, Lieutenant. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. S. STRYKER. First Lieutenant and Adjutant of Signal Corps. General WILLIAMS, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Assistant Adjutant-General: The following changes have taken place in my line since last report: All the reserve troops have been placed in line to extend my line to the left, taking up the intrenchment vacated by Sixth Corps. I have relieved Sixth Corps picket-line. General Ferrero has reported to me with his division and forms the left of my line, extending nearly to the plank road. General HUMPHREYS: WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, The picket officer of the day reports that this morning at daylight the enemy's pickets advanced on the right of General Birney's line, crying out, "The Yanks have gone." They were fired upon and a number killed. The firing extended to the right and left. They probably inferred that we had gone from having heard the "marches," "boots and saddles," &c., and having seen the fires, caused by burning refuse material, which continued until 3 o'clock. If General Crawford will put in his reserve brigade I can get a brigade. I can get one or two brigades now in reserve for the left, which does not now extend to the plank road. Is it necessary to say anything to General Warren about this? worth while to make any change? Is it A. H. H., Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HANCOCK, Commanding Second Corps: Your dispatch received. As material changes will be made in the lines as soon as the redoubts are finished, probably to-morrow, the commanding general considers it unnecessary to make any new disposition of the troops of the Fifth Corps. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Major-General HUMPHREYS: July 10, 1864–9 p. m. I have nothing new to report since my report of this morning. The interior arrangement of my line has been somewhat modified, so as to consolidate the troops of each division. Several contrabands and deserters have been sent up during the day, notice having been given in each case to Major-General Humphreys. WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: The following just received from Colonel Bryan: Trains of cars are passing on the Weldon railroad in rapid succession. Since sending the two negroes four trains have passed, and another is now going. T. M. BRYAN, JR., C. H. MORGAN, Lieutenant-Colonel, &c. General HUMPHREYS, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Chief of Staff: I will send out to Colonel Bryan and find which way the cars were going, but I have no doubt they were going from Petersburg. The negro I sent this morning stated that the Weldon railroad was done, and fourteen to fifteen engines and passenger-cars ready to go out. WINFD S. HANCOCK, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: The negroes this morning sent over to your headquarters say that all the citizens have moved out of Petersburg to Dunn's Hill; that the town is out of provisions, &c. General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, The following dispatch just received: Another train has passed, say between 10.30 and 11 a. m., going south, so my scouts report. T. M. BRYAN, JR., C. H. MORGAN, Col. T. M. BRYAN, Jr., HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Commanding Provisional Brigade, Cavalry: Brigadier-General Gregg, commanding Second Cavalry Division, has been ordered to send out a regiment from his command and relieve the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, now doing duty with you. Very respectfully, &c. JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT CAVALRY CORPS, Lieut. Col. C. H. MORGAN, Chief of Staff : COLONEL: I send you by bearer a negro woman who lives in sight of the railroad near Doctor Gurley's house. She says the cars passed up once yesterday toward Petersburg and came back. Had on them soldiers as they went toward Petersburg. She saw three trains go out from Petersburg this morning; the cars were empty. She says General Lee told the soldiers yesterday if they would capture for him one Yankee he would give the man who did it thirty days' furlough. A scout sent out in front of the Gurley house got within twenty or thirty yards of the enemy's pickets and saw the men in little pits, very much like our infantry skirmishers or pickets use; says that in the one on the road there were two, and a few moments after four others with bayonets fixed came walking down the road toward it. They did not see him, as he was concealed by bushes. He is of the opinion that their line is a picket-line protected by small rifle-pits. I send this in Colonel Bryan's absence. J. E. CARPENTER, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, The following changes in the dispositions of troops is ordered and will take place at 1 p. m. to-day: The right brigade First Division to relieve the right brigade of General Gibbon's division, which will take position on General Gibbon's left. The regiments detached from the Third Division return to their proper commands, and General Birney will then occupy that portion of the line vacated by the right brigade of the First Division. Division commanders are requested to be present during these operations, so that in case of any trouble during the shifting of troops the necessary orders may be given to meet the emergency. In case of any firing or indications of an advance of the enemy at the hour mentioned, the movements will be postponed until further orders. By command of Major-General Hancock: FRANCIS A. WALKER, |