large number of batteries and he thinks more guns there than any part of the line occupied by A. P. Hill's corps. He knows nothing of Generals Ewell or Early or their commands; thought General Ewell was down the railroad with his corps. Very respectfully. GEORGE II. SHARPE, Colonel, de. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff : July 6, 1864. GENERAL: A deserter from the Sixth Virginia Regiment, Mahone's old brigade, of Mahone's division, came into the lines of the Third Division, Second Army Corps, about 6 this p. m. He appears to be truthful in his statement, and is very intelligent. His statement disagrees with that of the deserter from Harris' brigade, of the same division, previously reported this p. m. regarding the position of Mahone's division. He states that Mahone's old brigade is on the right of the division extending to the lead-works; that Wright's brigade is on the left, and Harris' and Wilcox's old brigades are in the center, with Finegan's (Florida) brigade in reserve; that Heth's division is at some point farther to the right down the railroad, and part if not all of Wilcox's division also; that General Mahone is constructing a line of works in the rear of his present position for the better protection of his reserves, at which we have lately been throwing shell; that they have two lines of abatis in front of Hill's corps, and but a single line of battle. All parts of the line are connected with telegraphic communication, and informant is under the impression that their position can be held with a very small force; that day before yesterday a lieutenant of his regiment saw in Richmond on the bulletin board a dispatch from General Johnston's army to the effect that a fight had taken place at Atlanta, and that General Sherman was defeated and in retreat. Informant brought a Richmond paper of to-day, which he left at the picket-line. It had news of the capture of Harper's Ferry by Early's forces. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, No movement of any kind visible in enemy's camp in the vicinity of Cobb's this a. m. One gun-boat above Point of Rocks. A. T. C., Sergeant. Yesterday afternoon same station reported a drove of our cattle moving on the Broadway road east. FULLER, Lieutenant and Acting Signal Officer. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff: July 6, 1864. GENERAL: The following signal message was taking from the enemy's station at Archer's, north bank of the Appomattox: Colonel BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General : 1.45 P. M. Nine pieces of artillery moving from right of Cobb's toward the enemy's front below pontoon bridge. A. T. C., The following were reported to me from the stations along our front: Parties of enemy at work in rear of their line (about 70 or 100 yards), either digging rifle-pits or commencing a new line of works to the west of the Chimneys and plank road. Parties at work throwing up dirt in vicinity of Chimneys (near plauk road) to protect batteries from an enfilading fire. They were also strengthening said batteries. The men at work on the rifle-pits mentioned were scattered over a space of about one-quarter of a mile in length. While they were busy all day they did not seem to make much headway. I would also respectfully report that there is a point about three-quarters of a mile north of the City Point railroad, in vicinity of Point of Rocks road, from whence, if there was a tower about 100 feet high, many valuable observations could undoubtedly be made. The roads leading into Petersburg and those south and west of the city would, I think, be in view so that no movement could take place in the daytime through the city without being discovered. Would it be advisable to have such tower erected? I have the honor, general, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CIRCULAR.] B. F. FISHER, Captain and Chief Signal Officer. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 6, 1864. A field return of artillery, showing its condition at date, will he made to the chief of artillery as soon as practicable, in the ordinary form for artillery monthly returns. The remarks will state the losses of guns, gun carriages, limbers, caisson bodies, ammunition-chests, and horses in the recent operations, and state how many horses have been received since to replace them. In the losses the cause of loss, whether in action or turned in, will be stated. A nominal list of killed and wounded officers, with date and place of casualty, will be sent in with the return. By command of Major-General Meade: S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. (Commandants of artillery of corps and Artillery Reserve.) CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 6, 1864. Mr. William Swinton, a duly registered correspondent with this army for the New York Times, and Mr. Kent, a correspondent for the New York Tribune, have, by direction of the lieutenant-general commanding the armies in the field, been ordered to leave the lines for having abused the privileges conferred upon them by forwarding for publication incorrect statements respecting the operations of the troops, and they have been warned not to return. This information is published for the guidance of corps commanders, and should the parties named be hereafter found within the limits of this army they will be sent under guard to the provost-marshal-general at these headquarters. By command of Major-General Meade: General WILLIAMS: S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, No changes have occurred in the disposition of my command nor have any been observed in that of the enemy since last report. WINED S. HANCOCK, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac : July 6, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report the following organizations as having left this command since date of last report, by reason of expiration of term of service: I have just sent you over a prisoner from Anderson's division, who says it is rumored that Early is at Harper's Ferry, though he was officially heard from last at Winchester. expect Early to supply them. The rebels are out of beef, but WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General. General WILLIAMS: HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, I have to report that the disposition of my troops remains unchanged. A road has been opened by General Birney to the rear of his division, and one by General Gibbon to his picket-line. WINF'D S. HANCOCK, Major-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, No. 176. * July 6, 1864. * 3. Col. J. C. Tidball, Fourth New York Artillery, having been relieved from duty in this army, Maj. J. G. Hazard, First Rhode Island Artillery, is announced as commandant of the artillery of the corps. By command of Major-General Hancock: FRANCIS A. WALKER, HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, July 6, 1864. General BARLOW, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: I am authorized by the major-general commanding to say that one wagon to a brigade may be brought to the front, for the purpose of giving the troops the use of their camp kettles, pans, &c. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS A. WALKER, HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, Lieutenant-Colonel WALKER, July 6, 1864-7 p. m. Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Corps : COLONEL: There has been no change made in my line since morning and no enemy in my front. I am cutting a direct road out from the center of my line of intrenchments to my picket-line. Respectfully, JOHN GIBBON, Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, SECOND CORPS, Lient. Col. F. A WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Corps: July 6, 1864. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that no changes have taken place in the lines or intrenchments of this division. A new road has been opened in the rear of the First Brigade of this division, which runs from the right of Second U. S. Sharpshooters to the left of the One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, connecting with the main road on the right and left. Other than this, nothing of note has occurred since last report. Very respectfully, D. B. BIRNEY, Major-General of Volunteers. General Ayres will straighten his line so as to occupy up to the First Michigan (Bartlett's brigade). This will relieve a part of General Griffin's division in the front. General Griffin will extend his line to the left, so as to relieve all of General Crawford's men on the right of the plank road. A strong work is designed to be constructed on General Griffin's left on the plank road and two other redoubts along the plank road, to protect our left flank in case the enemy opens fire upon this point, which is very close to their batteries. By command of Major-General Warren: F. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General GRIFFIN, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: The general lines of the redoubt on your left have been marked out by a rifle-pit as near to the enemy's works as it was desirable to put them. I wish an earth-work with a strong profile made at that point, and that you should give your earnest effort to have it made promptly and thoroughly. Major Roebling, of my staff, fully understands my views, and will under you, if it suits you, take charge of the construction of the work. The men in that vicinity should prepare themselves with abundant shelter in the rear in case the enemy opens fire upon this point, which is very close to their batteries. Very respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major-General, Commanding. |