HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, General BARLOW, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you move your division down the Jerusalem or plank road at once to the point where the Reams' Station road intersects the Jerusalem road. General Gregg has two regiments of cavalry at this point now. You will hold the cross-roads in order that General Gregg may move with his whole division down either road without any apprehension of an attack on his rear. At dark, if there should be no trouble, and the cavalry be returning without difficulty, you can withdraw your division to the position you now occupy. Respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. MORGAN, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, General BARLOW, Commanding Division: Unless something of importance transpires requiring you to remain, before this reaches you, the major-general commanding directs me to say that you can at once return to this place. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS A. WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SECOND CORPS, Lieutenant-Colonel WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Corps: COLONEL: General Gregg is unable to say at this moment whether he will push down the Jerusalem road to-morrow or not. If two regiments which he has sent out do not succeed in finding out what force is on the road, he (General Gregg) will push down the Jerusalem road in the morning with his whole division, and in that case will need my assistance to hold the cross-roads. Under these circumstances, I feel bound under my order to remain here to-night. My headquarters are on the left of the Jerusalem road at the house of Mr. Davis, just a little north of the cross-roads. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANCIS C. BARLOW, Brigadier-General, Commanding. NEAR CROSS-ROADS, July 12, 1864–8.40 p. m. Lieutenant-Colonel WALKER, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: Your dispatch of 7.40 p. m. is just received. General Gregg may have to move his division down the Jerusalem road in the morning and may require an infantry force here. Under the circumstances I decided to remain unless otherwise ordered. I have previous to this informed you of the circumstances of the case. Respectfully, Major-General BIRNEY, FRANCIS C. BARLOW, Brigadier-General, Commanding.. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, Commanding Third Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to inform you that the portion of your picket-line directly in the presence of the enemy will not be relieved until after night, when it can be removed absolutely on due notice to Brigadier-General Crawford, who will either take it up or form a new line as General Warren may direct. If the corps should move, therefore, that part of your line not yet relieved on account of its proximity to the enemy will be left on till after dark. Respectfully, C. H. MORGAN, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. [Indorsement.] Lieutenant-Colonel GILKYSON, Sixth New Jersey Vols., Division Officer of the Day: The general commanding the division directs me to say you had better have your headquarters at General Crawford's, of the Fifth Corps, so that in case it is necessary for him to communicate with you you may be easily found. JOHN HANCOCK, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT CAVALRY CORPS, Lieut. Col. C. H. MORGAN: General Gregg met the enemy in heavy force about 2 p. m. beyond my extreme post across Warwick Swamp. The Second Pennsylvania went in dismounted and were forced to fall back with a major and lieutenant wounded, and a number left in the hands of the enemy. I suppose he must have advanced eventually, as my informant writes: "Firing is now heard in the direction of Reams' Station." General Gregg's headquarters are opposite Alley's farm at the point where the Reams' Station road forks from the Jerusalem plank road. Colonel Gregg's headquarters are on Alley's farm. Four regiments of rebel cavalry were seen in the fight. T. M. BRYAN, JR., Colonel, Commanding. PICKET OUTPOST, Jerusalem Plank Road, July 12, 1864. (Received 4.45 p. m.) Col. T. M. BRYAN, Jr., Commanding Cavalry Brigade: COLONEL: General Gregg asked me to go with General Davies' advance to show the road to Reams' Station. He met the enemy about one mile from our pickets and drove him to his earth-works, about one mile and a half this side the railroad. He was opening on them with one piece when I left. Colonel Gregg has been skirmishing on the plank road or near it. Respectfully, JAS. W. SMITH, Lieutenant, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN, Commanding Fifth Corps: July 12, 1864-7.45 a. m. Brigadier-General Ferrero, commanding division of the Ninth Corps, who occupies the line on your left, will be at once ordered to report to you and receive your directions. He moved from the Williams house at daylight to take up his position and should now be there. Col. P. S. Davis, Thirty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers, in Crawford's division, was severely wounded about 5 p. m. last evening. All quiet during the night in my front. G. K. WARREN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN, Commanding Fifth Army Corps: July 12, 1864. The camp of general headquarters Army of the Potomac has been moved to a point about three-quarters of a mile east of General Burnside's headquarters. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN: July 12, 1861—10 p. m. General Hancock has been directed to withdraw his corps to-morrow after daylight from his present position near the Williams house, and to mass it at some convenient position in rear of your left. He has also been directed to withdraw the pickets which he has hitherto had in advance of his former position. This he is to do after conference with you, as I desire you to picket your front from there. Your line leaves the enemy around to Ferrero's left. General Ferrero and his division were this morning placed under your orders, and I wish you for the present to consider them as part of your line and command. As there are many demands on your corps, I have directed General Hancock to furnish you such force from his corps as you may require to enable you to do the picketing above ordered. I am somewhat doubtful of depending on the colored troops for this duty, and perhaps while the Second Corps is in reserve it would be well to assign the picket duty of Ferrero's division to that corps. This would render available more colored troops for working parties, which duty they perform very well. General Gregg, in command of a cavalry division, has been ordered to picket strongly all the ground in front of your left, which has hitherto been held by cavalry and infantry pickets. After General Hancock is withdrawn General Gregg has been directed to report to you all that occurs in his front. GEO. G. MEADE, General GRIFFIN: HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, The detail working on the redoubt near General Crawford's headquarters will cease working at that point. The finishing will be done by the engineers and troops ordered to occupy it. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS, General WARREN: A prisoner just in says that Heth's division and other troops have gone down the railroad toward our left or Reams' Station. The report was that it was for the purpose of trying to turn or attack us in the rear. I have sent the man to army headquarters in order to enable the information being sifted out. He is from the Florida battalion, and seems to be very candid. I believe his story has some truth. Respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. GRIFFIN, CIRCULAR.] JULY 12, 1864. The officer in charge of the Coehorn mortars on General Ayres' right will serve the mortars and receive orders while in his present position according as General Ayres directs. G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS, Brig. Gen. JOSEPH HAYES, Commanding First Brigade: GENERAL: The brigadier-general commanding directs that you move out your brigade quietly to-morrow at 4 a. m., and mass it a little to the right of General Griffin's headquarters. Reveille call will not be sounded. You will take at least one day's rations in haversacks. Lieutenant Parke, of your staff, has received verbal instructions for you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRED. WINTHROP, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. FRED. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General: July 12, 1864-—2.30 a. m. COLONEL: I have the honor to inform you that the troops of A. P. Hill's corps still picket the front of my division. Very respectfully, &c., S. W. CRAWFORD, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General CRAWFORD, Commanding Third Division: GENERAL: I have just returned from examining our left and find my proposed arrangements very incomplete as yet, and anticipate an effort of the enemy to press us back to-morrow morning. I wish, therefore, you would have Colonel Carle's brigade under arms by 3 a. m., prepared to sustain Colonel Lyle, and moving out in that direction at that time. I shall also have a brigade from Ayres in the vicinity a little later and be there myself. I then mean to put all the axes I have at work by means of these two brigades, and put the ground around Colonel Lyle in the right condition. If necessary, I shall drive the enemy's skirmishers in. Let Colonel Carle's men have their breakfast and dinner with them. You had best, I think, be at hand yourself in person to-morrow morning early on the left. After to-morrow I shall have affairs all snug. GENERAL: I send you this communication. I think if you extend our pickets, relieving General Hancock's to-night as far south as the 13 R R-VOL XL, PT III |
