HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, General S. WILLIAMS: There has been no change in the disposition of my troops since last report. GENERAL ORDERS, | HDQRS. SECOND DIV., 2D ARMY CORPS, July 18, 1864, The major-general commanding having obtained a short leave of absence, relinquishes the command of the division to Col. Thomas A. Smyth, First Delaware Veteran Volunteers. By order of Major-General Gibbon, commanding division: Assistant Adjutant-General. General HUMPHREYS: HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS, A deserter from the enemy, whom I send you under guard, states that a movement on the left flank of our lines is meditated by the rebels. There has been no attack as yet along my front. I am all ready for them. Major-General HUMPHREYS: G. K. WARREN, Major-General, Commanding. JULY 18, 1864–10 a. m. The attack of the enemy did not come off last night, but it was a good thing to be made apprehensive of it, as all my officers and men got into a position to meet it, and probably many little neglected preparations were attended to. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Assistant Adjutant-General: GENERAL: In accordance with the circular of the 7th instant requesting me to furnish the names of such officers of my command as in my judgment are deserving promotion to the rank of major and brigadier generals, I present the following for major-generals: First, Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin, commanding First Division. Second, Brig. Gen. S. W. Crawford, commanding Third Division. Third, Brig. Gen. R. B. Ayres, commanding Second Division. Fourth, Brig. Gen. J. C. Robinson, ab sent wounded. Fifth, Brig. Gen. J. J. Bartlett, commanding Third Brigade, First Division. All for uniform bravery and ability in the battles of the present campaign. And the following named for brigadier-generals: First, Lieut. Col. H. C. Bankhead, inspector-general, Fifth Army Corps, who is thoroughly acquainted with the duties, and whom I have sent on several occasions to virtually command brigades, in trying circumstances, deprived of their commanders by wounds. Second, Capt. Frederick Winthrop, Twelfth U. S. Infantry, who has shown most marked ability in the battles of the campaign in command of his regiment. He has been previously recommended. Third, Col. J. H. Kitching, Sixth New York Artillery, commanding Third Brigade, Second Division, who is possessed of great energy and ability and distinguished in the battle of May 19. Fourth, Col. William S. Tilton, Twenty-second Massachusetts Volunteers, commanding First Brigade, First Division, recommended by General Griffin. Fifth, Lieut. Col. William A. Throop, First Michigan Volunteers, recommended by General Bartlett. Sixth, Col. J. W. Hofmann, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanding brigade, recommended by General Cutler, who has also been recommended before. I inclose communications in relation to above officers. Two valuable officers now out of service, one of whom commanded a brigade during the most active part of the campaign, and the other till he lost his arm at Spotsylvania, should be included. The first, Col. J. B. Sweitzer, Sixty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers; the second, Col. William McCandless, Second Pennsylvania Reserves, both of whom have been before recommended. I would like to add my recommendation of the following officers to that of the officers with whom they now serve: First, Col. H. L. Abbot, First Connecticut Artillery, and Lieut. Col. Charles H. Morgan, inspector-general, Second Army Corps. Respectfully submitted. General S. WILLIAMS, G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Assistant Adjutant-General: All the rifle-pits connecting the Norfolk railroad with the one on the plank road and the abatis around the latter are completed. About 100 yards of rifle-pit remain to be completed on the right of this last redoubt. The work of strengthening the lines now held and for protecting the men are progressing night and day. The construction of batteries at points located by General Hunt is also in progress. There has been scarcely any firing either of musketry or artillery on my front to-day. The enemy continues to work on his lines also. I renew the suggestion to relieve the picket-line now held by the colored troops by a brigade from the Second Corps. I would also recommend that General Ferrero's command be detailed as engineer soldiers during the siege. G. K. WARREN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN: I am directed to acknowledge your dispatch of 9 p. m. The commanding general is not prepared to accede to your suggestion in regard to General Ferrero's picket-line, and he does not desire details for working parties to be made from that division, except for work on its front. The work on the Fifth Corps front not executed by that corps will be executed by details from the Second Corps under the direction and on the requisition of the acting chief engineer Army of the Potomac. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, General JOHN T. SPRAGUE, Adjutant-General State of New York: SIR: I beg leave to recommend for the position of colonel of the Fifth New York Volunteers, made vacant by the death of the gallant Colonel Winslow from wounds received in battle, Capt. Frederick Winthrop, of the Twelfth U. S. Infantry. Captain Winthrop is from the city of New York and has commanded his own regiment in several battles. The interest I take in this my old regiment, and in keeping it worthy of the reputation it has acquired, makes me ask this as a special request. I believe there is no officer in it now who can as well fill the vacancy as the officer I recommend. Respectfully, CIRCULAR.] G. K. WARREN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, The changes in the positions of troops proposed last night will not be made until further orders. It is enjoined upon division commanders to secure a sufficient number of men to be on the alert to-night to guard against surprise, especially toward daybreak in the morning. Artillery officers should be instructed to be prepared to direct their fire upon the flank of any force attacking to their right or left. By command of Major-General Warren: FRED. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General AYRES, Commanding Second Division: GENERAL: As the Coehorn mortar battery near your position covers General Cutler's front it will be put under his command. By command of Major-General Warren: FRED. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. Colonel LYLE, Commanding First Brigade, Third Division: COLONEL: When I was at your redoubt to-day I found that in the northwest angle they were not raising the parapet and place for the 21 R R-VOL XL, PT III guns to stand upon, as I directed you. Neither were they cutting off the front of the angle on the southwest corner as I directed. This work on the angles is the most important for its defense of anything that is to be done, and should not be neglected. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General BAXTER, Commanding Second Brigade, Third Division: GENERAL: I saw to-day that they had made the rifle breast-works on the left of the redoubt stronger than I directed, while they had not as yet touched the part laid out on the right. These two parts should have been carried on at the same time, as there is no telling which will be first needed. They would have both been made with the labor spent on one of them if my instructions had not been exceeded. Respectfully, General WILLIAMS: G. K. WARREN,Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, I have the honor to report an unusually quiet night on my front. Every precaution was taken in reference to the anticipated attack. The report of the general of the trenches, a copy* of which has been sent you, will give you all information in reference to the work in progress. A. E. BURNSIDE, HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that the siege works in front of the Ninth Corps are vigorously prosecuted day and night, and are rapidly approaching completion. The fatigue parties were withdrawn, however, last night, to assist in repelling the anticipated attack, but returned to duty on the works again this morning. The fort near the burnt house is very near completion; will be finished to-day, and the covered way leading to it will be completed by to-morrow morning. The mine at the present time has been carried to a horizontal depth of 515 feet, and reaches a point directly beneath the enemy's works. The galleries are already commenced. The lines along our front are well guarded and in good condition. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. G. GRIFFIN, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, General of the Trenches. *See next, post. General WILLIAMS, HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Assistant Adjutant-General: The day has been a quiet one on my lines. The large house opposite the right of my line, known as the Clarke house, was set on fire to-day by one of our shells and consumed. It has been a cover for sharpshooters. Generals Potter and Willcox both report the enemy building a new line of works on the crest behind their present line. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. L. RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report everything quiet along my lines last night, there being very little picket and artillery firing during the night. There were no signs of an attack. The 300 sand-bags have been placed in position on the front line of breast-works. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES H. LEDLIE, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Before Petersburg, Va., July 18, 1861. Lieut. Col. LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: Brigade commanders report that all was quiet during the night, and no movement of the enemy discerned. Every precaution was taken to guard against surprise and meet the anticipated attack. The regiments on fatigue duty were relieved for the night, and kept under arms with the supporting force; they have been returned to fatigue duty this morning. The Seventh Rhode Island Volunteers (engineers) was also under arms, and prepared to support my line in possible emergency. I have the honor to be, colonel, your obedient servant, ROBERT B. POTTER, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps: COLONEL: The commanding officer of the First Brigade reports steady firing by the rebels on a portion of our front, but no movement detected. That it is evident they are building a new line of works in rear of the wood that skirts their present line, extending in a continuous |