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WASHINGTON, July 5, 1864-4.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point, Va.:

General Hunter has just been heard from at Parkersburg. Thirteen hundred of his men are coming forward to re-enforce General Kelley at Cumberland and New Creek.

H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff.

WASHINGTON, July 5, 1864-10.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point, Va.:

All available water transportation is now at Fort Monroe and in James River. General Meigs recommends that it all be placed under General Ingalls, as, by a divided command, there is conflict of orders. As Hunter's force is now coming within reach, I think your operations should not be interfered with by sending troops here. If Washington and Baltimore should be so seriously threatened as to require your aid, I will inform you in time. Although most of our forces are not of a character suitable for the field (invalids and militia), yet I have no apprehensions at present about the safety of Washington, Baltimore, Harper's Ferry, or Cumberland. These points cover our supplies, and raids between cannot effect any damage that cannot soon be repaired. If, however, you can send us your dismounted cavalry, we can use it to advantage, and, perhaps, soon return it remounted.

H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CITY POINT, VA., July 5, 1864-11.50 p. m.

Major-General HALLECK, Washington, D. C.:

Your dispatch of 12.30 [1] p. m. received. I have ordered to Washington the dismounted cavalry and one division of infantry, which will be followed by the balance of the corps, if necessary. We want now to crush out and destroy any force the enemy have sent north. Force enough can be spared from here to do it. I think now there is no doubt but Ewell's corps is away from here.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 5, 1861-10 a. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

The usual quiet along the lines of this army prevailed yesterday and last night, disturbed only by the usual artillery and musketry practice in front of the Ninth Corps, which occurred at 2 a. m. this morning General Burnside reports the enemy as having established a morta battery in his front from which they occasionally shell his lines. I reports the casualties during the past ten days as amounting to 480 il all. An examination of the proposed point of attack in front of Burn side's line made by the chief engineer of this army has resulted in less favorable report than was anticipated. A written report will b forwarded. In the meantime a critical examination of the lines of bot

the Fifth and Ninth Corps has been ordered to ascertain the practicability of making an immediate attack, and for selecting the most suitable point in the event of regular approaches being decided upon.

Major-General MEADE:

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding.

CITY POINT, July 5, 1864.

My engineer officers make the same report of the lack of practicability of assault anywhere along our present front that you do. At present we are doing very well. All the roads are cut and the enemy are living now on half rations. This I presume is certain as well as the further fact that discontent is beginning to prevail. I believe the enemy are preparing to make an effort to establish themselves on the north bank of the river below, with a view of blockading, or it may be only a force going to the north side of James River to cover foraging parties whilst they collect and get out all they can between the James and Chickahominy. It may be necessary to march Wright over there to prevent this, but I will not do so until more is known about what the enemy are doing. The best we can do now is to strengthen our present line on Burnside's and Warren's front and advance by gradual approaches as you propose. As soon as the cavalry is in working order we will make another raid, supporting the cavalry as far as the Weldon road with infantry. The troops in North Carolina started out to cut the Weldon road, but as near as I can learn turned back on the report that the enemy were re-enforcing.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 5, 1864-1 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

GENERAL: The following information obtained from two deserters who came in this morning, is sent to you for what it is worth. They stated it to be currently reported at Richmond and in Petersburg that Early, in command of two divisions of Ewell's corps, with Breckinridge's command and other forces, was making an invasion of Maryland, with a view of capturing Washington, supposed to be defenseless. It was understood Early would reach Winchester by the 3d instant. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

Richmond papers of the 4th instant state:

July 5, 1864-10.30 p. m.

It was believed to be satisfactorily ascertained that Warren's army corps had been thrown across to the north bank of the James River near Deep Bottom. The Yankees have removed the obstructions recently sunk by them in Trent's Reach. The above may account for the sending troops from Petersburg toward Richmond. I will send the paper to-morrow.

GEO. G. MEADE,
Major-General.

Major-General MEADE:

CITY POINT, July 5, 1864.
(Received 12.20 a. m. 6th.)

The enemy have got to the Baltimore and Ohio road and have destroyed the railroad bridges from Patterson's Creek to Harper's Ferry. Send in one good division of your troops and all the dismounted cavalry, to be forwarded at once. I will not send an army corps until there is greater necessity for it. I will order the quartermaster here to have transportation ready.

Major-General MEADE,

Commanding, &c.:

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, VA., July 5, 1864.
(Received 12.30 a. m. 6th.)

Sigel has fallen back to Maryland Heights, destroying the bridges at that point. Some of Hunter's force have arrived at Patterson's Creek, where they drove the enemy. Other dispatches are just coming through, which, when deciphered, I will inform you of if they contain anything of importance. Among them I see the announcement of the sinking of the Alabama by our navy. Semmes, however, escaped. Vessels will be ready for the troops ordered from here between now and 2 p. m. to-morrow. No artillery need be sent.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

City Point, Va., July 5, 1864.

No. 49. I. Brig. Gen. E. W. Hinks, U. S. Volunteers, is hereby assigned to the command of Point Lookout, Md., and will relieve Colonel Draper, Thirty-sixth U. S. Colored Troops, now on duty there. On being relieved, Colonel Draper will report for duty with his regiment.

II. By direction of the Secretary of War, Bvt. Maj. Gen. J. G. Barnard is temporarily relieved from duty as chief engineer of the armies operating against Richmond, and will report in person without delay to the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C. During General Barnard's absence his duties will be performed by Lieut. Col. C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

T. S. BOWERS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT,

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff :

July 5, 1864.

GENERAL: Two deserters from the Twentieth Georgia Battalion Cavalry came into the lines of the Sixth Corps at about 5 o'clock this morning. They had been in hospital at Richmond, and on the 1st

instant were sent thence to Petersburg. Night before last they were ordered to go down to the right of their line, where they were told that their regiment was on picket near the Weldon railroad. They were ordered to rejoin their regiment, but sought an opportunity to escape, which they found this morning. They say that it was currently reported within their lines, both at Richmond and in Petersburg, that General Early was making an invasion of Maryland, with the intention of capturing Washington, having under his command two divisions of Ewell's corps, Breckinridge's command, and perhaps other forces belonging in the Valley. I judge, from what they say as regards a single regimental organization, that Pickett's division is still lying on the line between the Appomattox and James Rivers. They also say that some convalescents belonging to Battle's brigade, of Rodes' division, were within a few days past sent from Richmond to Petersburg, but there are no indications that their command was at Petersburg or that any troops have passed through Richmond coming from the Valley within the last week or ten days. The convalescents were probably sent to Petersburg, being fit for duty, their own command being too distant to be reached. One of these deserters heard day before yesterday that General Lee had ordered the Weldon railroad to be repaired. He did not hear the order read, but heard it only as a rumor. It is given out to the soldiers that there are six months' supplies in Richmond. All men who are wounded in such a way as to prevent their speedy return to their commands are now being sent from Richmond to hospitals farther south, many of these receiving thirty, forty, and sixty day furloughs. This is looked upon as an indication of a desire to get rid of all consumers possible. These men having been at Petersburg but a very short time give little valuable information concerning our exact front. They say that there is some cavalry on the right of the enemy's line near the lead-works; that other cavalry is strung out down toward the Weldon railroad; that there is a brigade of cavalry on the other side of the river, as they understand near Malvern Hill. They complain of rations being short, but I do not think there is any diminution.

Very respectfully,

GEORGE H. SHARPE,

Colonel, &c.

Major-General WARREN:

JULY 5, 1864–9 a. m.

Enemy are erecting a work in rear of main line and directly in front of this station. They have only one face done. This face has two very large embrasures. Cannot see any guns in this work. Large parties of enemy to work on main line. Two of their regimental flags have disappeared.

(Same to Captain Fisher.)

WARTS,
Lieutenant.

Captain FISHER:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS,
July 5, 1864.

Enemy have been at work all day upon a redoubt in front of this station; shoveling, picking, and bringing rails have been noticed. About

11 a. m. a large party, extended in a line some hundred yards in length, began to dig in open field to the rear and our left of the redoubt. They are still at work, evidently throwing up a new line of rifle-pits. The line is parallel with and about 100 yards in rear of their present high intrenchment.

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This officer is ou station near the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad.

B. F. FISHER,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

[Memorandum.]

This, I suppose, is reported to General Warren as soon as it is sent here. And so of the signal officer on the Jerusalem plank road. I presume what he sees is reported at once to the two corps commanders ou the left of the plank' road.

A. A. H.,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CIRCULAR.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

July 5, 1864.

The batteries belonging to corps and the Artillery Reserve now detached will rejoin their commands. The chief of artillery will assigu batteries to corps to make up deficiencies and losses. By command of Major-General Meade:

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

General S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

JULY 5, 1864–9 a. m.

I have nothing new to report with regard to disposition of troops on lines.

General S. WILLIAMS,

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General,

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
July 5, 1864 (Received 9.40 p. m.)

Assistant Adjutant-General :

I have no change to report in disposition of troops on lines since last

report.

WINFD S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.

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