ler last night sent a party of fifty men across from Deep Bottom to Dutch Gap. At 2.30 this morning they crossed to Cox's Wharf and cap. tured one officer and twelve men, burned a mill, shop, and dwelling, and captured a quantity of small-arms, a galvanic battery, two boxes of powder and a torpedo, and returned without casualty. U. S. GRANT,' HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT, July 12, 1864–10.45 a. m. Headquarters Armies of the United States: I send you the latest information received. It shows how conflicting is the information we receive, and how accurately the enemy is posted in our affairs. Malone's division, of Hill's corps, has now been positively placed in our front, on our left and rear, and on its way to Pennsylvania. General WILLIAMS: GEO. G. MEADE, HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, July 12, 1864. General Crawford sends the following, received 10 a. m.: Lieutenant-Colonel STRANG: SKIRMISH LINE FIRST BRIGADE, July 12, 1864. COLONEL: The troops in front of our line belong to Mahone's division, Hill's corps. The regiment in our immediate front is the Eleventh Alabama Sharpshooters. The communicative rebel with whom my agent conversed asked if our Second Corps had not moved, and also if we had not contracted our lines. He said they knew all about our movement. A deserter from the Second Corps went into their lines yesterday morning and gave them considerable information. He said that their regiment was usually put out to the front when an attack was expected. Mahone's division was formerly Anderson's division, opposite us last winter. No paper was obtained, but one would be given in the afternoon. I did not allow any paper to go, save Harper's Weekly. The rebel was very anxious to see our latest papers; did not know anything about the Maryland campaign. W. B. KIMBALL, Captain, Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers, &c. FRED T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: July 12, 1861-1.30 p. m. The latest intelligence from Gregg, at 2 p. m., he had met the enemy's cavalry, both on the Reams' Station road and also on the plank road near Proctor's Tavern. I have moved my headquarters to the Prince George Court-House road, about half a mile west of Birchett's and near the Fifth Corps hospital. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant-General GRANT: Gregg reports encountering the enemy in force, cavalry and infantry, ́behind earth-works, at Reams' Station. No report from the force sent down the plank road. Hancock has sent a division to support Gregg and holds the balance of his corps ready to move. I have no doubt that by to-night the enemy will have all of Hampton's cavalry at the scene of action, supported by one or more divisions of infantry. With a superiority of cavalry it will require all of Hancock's corps, and if the enemy are strongly posted and re-enforced from Petersburg it may be difficult for him to dislodge them. It becomes a question whether, under existing circumstances, it is judicious to make the attempt now, or whether we had better wait till all of Sheridan's cavalry can be brought to bear and some of our absent troops returned. I should like to have your views on this. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. CITY POINT, VA., July 12, 1864-8.20 p. m. Major-General MEADE, The present move is not intended as anything more than a reconnaissance to determine the position and designs of the enemy, and especially to determine if A. P. Hill's corps has left its position in our front. I would not permit any attack against the enemy in an intrenched position. It may be advisable even to direct your troops to start back to-night. What is the distance from Gregg and his infantry support from the other two divisions of the Second Corps? Unless near enough to be readily supported I would certainly direct their return to-night. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 12, 1861-9.30 p. m. Lieutenant-General GRANT: Your directions have been received and the necessary orders sent to Hancock and Gregg. Hancock's two divisions are at the Williams. house in front of the left of Warren's line, with pickets on the line he picketed before we contracted our lines. His third division is supporting Gregg, and is down the plank road three miles from the Williams house, and four miles from Reams' Station, in good supporting distance. The last report from Gregg, 6.40 p. m., he had withdrawn from Reams' Station and intended to move down the plank road to Proctor's Tavern to feel the enemy in that direction and ascertain if they had infantry there. He reported to Hancock that he did not require the division sent him. Hancock has been instructed to withdraw the division sent to Gregg to-night, and to-morrow, after daylight, to withdraw his corps within the line held by the Fifth Corps and ready to support that corps. Gregg is ordered to take a position on the plank road in front of our left, and to picket strongly in front of the left of the infantry and round on his own front. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 12, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following reports just received from the signal stations at Jordan's house and near plank road: JORDAN'S HOUSE, July 12, 1864-6 p. m. Same as usual along this line. Enemy are strengthening their works on the platean opposite. CLARK, Captain. NEAR PLANK ROAD, July 12, 1864-6 p. m. No movement of troops since this a. m. near lead-works, but none south of that point. The enemy have been at work almost all day on their lines north of station. DUFF, Lieutenant. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer, Army of the Potomac. WALTHALL SIGNAL STATION, July 12, 1864–7.45 p. m. Captain FISHER, Chief Signal Officer, Headquarters Army of the Potomac: A heavy smoke hangs over everything in view. Enemy very busy about Farley's this p. m. The steam reported in direction of Whitehead's has been visible all day and may be a steam-mill. Intercepted' rebel message: Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General: No movements of troops in enemy's camp about Cobb's this p. m. off Point of Rocks and one gun-boat above pontoon. Three gun-boats OPERATOR, At C. Same to A. B.) CHAS. L. DAVIS, CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General headquarters is located near the Prince George Court-House road about half a mile west of Birchett's house. July 12, 1864. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, 5. Brig. Gen. R. De Trobriand, volunteer service, is assigned to duty with the Second Army Corps, and will report for further instructions to Major-General Hancock, commanding that corps. By command of Major-General Meade: S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. General HUMPHREYS: HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, I am about to move my headquarters to the Ginn house. My troops are now moving. Is General Ferrero to take any part of the picketline, or is it understood that I am to keep it all? If I hear nothing to the contrary I will leave a division to hold the line as indicated in your confidential note of yesterday. The line will, however, be contracted somewhat at daylight. WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General. General HUMPHREYS: HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, To prevent any accident I wish to inquire whether my pickets are to be relieved by General Ferrero, as your telegram does not state explicitly, and I do not like to withdraw without a full understanding. When General Ferrero establishes a picket-line am I to withdraw mine? WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General HANCOCK: Major-General. HEADQUARTERS, Major-General Humphreys directs me to inform you that General Ferrero is to picket from General Warren's left over to the Norfolk road. CHAS. E. CADWALADER, HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General HANCOCK: If you have to leave to-day I would like to have you leave your pickets on your right where they are in contact with the enemy, and if you leave please also communicate direct with General Crawford. I have a good deal of work to do everywhere on our new line, and am working so many men that I could not have so many ready to fight as I would like. G. K. WARREN, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, General G. K. WARREN, Fifth Corps: My picket-line on the right in sight of the enemy will not be relieved under any circumstances until dark, and then only after due notice to General Crawford. WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION, Major-General HANCOCK, Commanding Second Corps: GENERAL: Brigadier-General Davies reports his command within one mile and a half of Reams' Station. About one regiment of cavalry is resisting his advance. He finds the road frequently obstructed by felled trees; nothing as yet heard of the enemy's infantry. On the plank road the enemy's dismounted cavalry are strongly posted in the woods; the force is about one brigade. A sharp skirmish took place on the plank road beyond Warwick Swamp, in which we had some casualties. The force on the plank road is not strong enough to advance to Proctor's, eight miles distant, and no more can be sent there. I will state that the cavalry horses of this command are suffering for water, not having had any since yesterday afternoon. There is no water to be had anywhere in this vicinity. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. McM. GREGG, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Comdg. Second Division. (Copy to General Humphreys.) HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, Brigadier-General GREGG, Commanding Cavalry Division: GENERAL: Your dispatch of 2.15 is just received. After carrying out the orders you have received from General Meade you can camp near the left of our line where you can find water, probably at Lee's Mill, as it is understood there is no water at Sturdivant's Mill, which would be the better place. General Meade desires you to picket the road on the left of Colonel Bryan's detachment after your return. Without indicating to you any line of operations, I would suggest that after determining what is on the Reams' Station road, you should recall the main force sent in that direction and proceed toward Proctor's Store, and ascertain what is in that direction. If necessary to your safety I will send a force of infantry to the cross-roads near Gary's Church to hold that point during your advance. I will send a division or more, if necessary. General HUMPHREYS, WINF'D S. HANCOCK, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Chief of Staff: The following dispatch just received from Colonel Bryan: An orderly from General Gregg has just arrived-time not noted. He left the advance about two miles from the junction of the plank road and the Reams' Station road near Reams' Station; slight skirmishing was then going on, but nothing severe. C. H. MORGAN, Chief of Staff. |