HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieutenant-General GRANT: Have just received a telegram from Foster that all is quiet on his front, and that he will hold his position. No troops have yet passed to Petersburg; might I suggest that as soon as they begin to move if all our batteries and mortars that bear on the bridges should open it might trouble them to get across. How gets on the movement? Nothing has stirred in our front. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. JULY 30, 1864. " Major-General BUTLER: We gained a portion of the enemy's line, but cannot hold it. Our men will be withdrawn to-night. The batteries and guns bearing on the bridge will open on the enemy if they attempt to cross. U. S. GRANT, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, In the Field, July 30, 1864-12.30 p. m. General Meade's Headquarters: Two infantry regiments crossed Chaffin's farm going west at 2 p. m. This is the first movement observed to re-enforce Petersburg. I have ordered a corps of infantry and all the cavalry to keep on, now that we are in motion, to cut some fifteen or twenty miles of the Weldon road. Please order Kautz to report to General Gregg, at Lee's Mill, with his cavalry, to-night. Ord's corps, being the only one out of line, will go. They need not take but five days' rations with them. I want to do this damage now, whilst we rest up and prepare for a bigger operation. U. S. GRANT, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: In the Field, July 30, 1864—3.30 p. m. Your dispatch received and attended to. General Ord has been directed to report to you for orders. Two more regiments of infantry crossed Chaffin's farm at 2.50 p. m., going west. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: There is now a constant passing of troops across the river, going west, with artillery in proportion. Foster has taken another deserter, who, reports all of Hill's corps, except one brigade, and part of Longstreet's corps in his front at daylight, with orders to march at a moment's notice. All quiet in this front., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. JULY 30, 1864-8.15 p. m. (Received 8.30 p. m.) Lieutenant-General GRANT: Have just received a notice from Ord that raid on Weldon road is suppressed, and he takes his old position. Shall I recall Kautz? Can save him a thirty-mile march. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General BUTLER, Commanding, &c.: CITY POINT, VA., July 30, 1864. Recall Kautz by all means. It was neglect in me not thinking to so direct before. Major-General BUTLER, U. S. GRANT, CITY POINT, VA., July 30, 1864. Commanding, &c.: Send all the remainder of the Nineteenth Corps to Washington at once, and withdraw from the Eighteenth Corps what may be necessary. to secure your position. Direct General Ord to send to this place his heavy artillery, or such of it as can be dispensed with and cannot be rapidly removed in case of necessity. U. S. GRANT, JULY 30, 1864-7 p. m. General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, City Point: Fort Monroe. General Butler wishes to know whether General Grant has gone to J. W. SHAFFER, Colonel and Chief of Staff. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: A rebel brigade just crossed the pontoon bridge at Chaffin's farm, going west. A heavily laden train just passed the Junction going toward Petersburg. Respectfully, &c., BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General BUTLER, Commanding, &c. : CITY POINT, VA., July 30, 1864. I leave here some time in the course of the night for Fortress Monroe to meet the President there in the morning. I will return to-morrow night. Should it be necessary to communicate with me during the day telegraph me there. U. S. GRANT, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieutenant-General GRANT: In the Field, July 30, 1864-11 p. m. Dispatch received and will meet promptest attention. A pleasant voyage. I could wish I was going with you, but use my house. Mrs. Butler will be happy to entertain you. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. General BUTLER: JULY 30, 1864–7.45 a. m. Troops are being concentrated in rear of the works blown up. The colored regiments have gained the same position. I can see ten regi mental flags now on the destroyed works, others to the right and left. The rebels still hold their rifle-works on our left, but will soon have to evacuate or be taken prisoners. I should think that we have taken 200 or 300 prisoners. The position looks very encouraging, if they but push along. There is but one line of rifle-pits in our immediate front, and that does not extend more than 200 yards. The main work has been taken, which is the blown-up fort. Major-General BUTLER: LUDLOW. JULY 30, 1864–9.20 a. m. The colored troops appear to have been massed, and charged over the breast-works, which appear to be held on one side by us, and the other side by the rebels. The colored troops were repulsed with considerable slaughter, and fled to the rear line of the breast-works; were rallied once; repulsed again, and again rallied to be repulsed. From my position I see them trying to rally them without avail. Some are yet in the advance with white regiments who do not retreat. I see many prisoners, whether white or black I cannot say, going to the rebel rear, in numbers greater than we have taken. The black troops are not doing well, but there are many reasons for their not acting well. The delay has been unfortunate, as undoubtedly the rebels have concentrated troops at that point along their covered way. Yours, truly, B. C. LUDLOW, Major, &c. General WEITZEL: JONES' NECK, July 30, 1864. This a. m., after crossing all the troops except about 150 men, I swung the bridge down stream to the right bank of the river, where it is now anchored. I respectfully suggest that if the bridge is not to be used immediately that it be dismantled and removed to a more secure position than its present situation. Captain NORTON: T. LUBEY, Captain of Engineers. COBB'S HILL, July 30, 1864—6 a. m. South 5 degrees west cannonading for the last half hour about five. miles distant; also a line of smoke indicating musketry fire. Our shells bursting thickly over and beyond the enemy's lines south 30 degrees west. About one and three-quarters miles distant a house burning. BARTLETT, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. GENERAL:* The firing herein indicated ceased about 7.10 a. m. Captain, &c. SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, Captain NORTON: July 30, 1864-7 a. m. About 150 cavalry moving past the railroad junction on turnpike toward Richmond. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. Captain NORTON: SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, Ten freight and two passenger cars just passed the Junction toward Petersburg. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. * Weitzel. Captain NORTON: WATER BATTERY SIGNAL STATION, About forty wagons and a cavalry company have crossed Chaffin's Bluff going east this a. m. A few wagons occasionally cross going west. A large tent has been pitched in open field on the west side of river, about half way between river and turnpike. G. S. DANA, Captain, Signal Corps, U. S. Ármy. SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, Captain NORTON: toward Petersburg. About 200 head of cattle just passed on turnpike at Junction going SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. Captain NORTON: SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, July 30, 1864-1 p. m. Two cars with passengers and seven with freight have just passed the Junction toward Richmond. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, Captain NORTON: A train of seven empty cars just passed the Junction toward Peters burg. Twenty wagons loaded with forage just passed along turnpike at Junction going toward Richmond. Captain NORTON: A. G. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. WATER BATTERY SIGNAL STATION, Two squadrons of cavalry going east across Chaffin's farm; also fifteen wagons going east and eight going west across same point. G. S. DANA, Captain, Signal Corps. Captain NORTON: SPRING HILL SIGNAL STATION, VA., July 30, 1864-1.40 p. m. Five hospital-cars with sick or wounded troops just passed the Junc tion toward Richmond. SIMONS, Lieutenant and Signal Officer. |