command, now on picket duty. One of the above regiments is at Prince George Court-House, the other at McCann's place. The regiments detailed will march without delay, and will carry three days' subsistence and forage. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier-General WILSON, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Commanding Third Cavalry Division: GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you detail one brigade of your division for picket duty. It will march at once and relieve Colonel Alger's brigade, of the First Division, now on duty picketing on the left of the army. Colonel Alger's headquarters are near R. Williams' house, on or near the plank road. The brigade detailed will carry three days' subsistence and forage. The general desires that this brigade [march] with the least possible delay. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Col. J. B. MCINTOSH, Commanding First Brigade: July 25, 1861-1.50 p. m. COLONEL: You will move with your brigade to the left of the amy to relieve the command of Colonel Alger, of the First Division, Cavalry Corps, now on picket there. Colonel Alger's headquarters are near R. Williams' house, on or near the plank road; the men to be provided with three days' subsistence and forage. You will start with your command at once, and, if necessary, have the rations and forage brought out to you early to-morrow morning. By command of Brigadier-General Wilson: L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General The regiment now on picket at Cocke's Mill will be relieved to-morrow and be sent to you. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Col. J. B. MCINTOSH, Commanding First Brigade: July 25, 1864. COLONEL: The regiment of your brigade now on picket at Cocke's Mill will not be relieved to-morrow, and will have to stay three days longer. You will have them supplied with rations and forage accordingly. By command of Brigadier-General Wilson: 29 R R-VOL XL, PT III L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Col. GEORGE H. CHAPMAN, Commanding Second Brigade: COLONEL: The brigadier-general commanding directs that you detail two regiments of your brigade to relieve two regiments of General Gregg's command, now on picket duty. One of the above regiments is at Prince George Court-House, the other at McCann's place. The regi ments detailed will march at once; they will be provided with three days' rations and forage, which may be sent after the regiments to save time. I am, very respectfully, colonel, your obedient servant, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: The following dispatch has just been received from General Foster at Deep Bottom: Two prisoners just captured from Humphreys' (Mississippi) brigade, of Kershaw's, formerly McLaws', division, report their division came to this place Saturday night. It consists of two Georgia brigades, one South Carolina brigade, and one Mississippi brigade, thus making seven brigades in my front. I have stirred them up, if nothing more. They came from Petersburg, they say, A. P. Hill having relieved Kershaw to-day of command of all the forces here. Our signal officers report that the enemy in some force has just encamped on a hill three miles northwest of the Walthall house. This is beyond all doubt a force established as a reserve midway between our line here and Petersburg, and indicates that they are expecting an attack here. G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff. BUTLER'S HEADQUARTERS, July 25, 1864-8 p. m. (Received 8.30 p. m.) Lieutenant-General GRANT: General Foster reports an appearance of activity by the enemy in his front, not before noticed, slashing, &c. The slashing would show that the enemy was preparing for an attack there. G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff. Major-General BUTLER, CITY POINT, VA., July 25, 1864–9.15 p. m. Commanding, de.: The concentration of the enemy between the Appomattox and James may result in an attack on your lines. Have you got all your force at or near the front? I saw a large vessel arrive at Bermuda to-day loaded with troops. Are these from New Orleans? U. S. GRANT, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, Commanding, &c.: I don't think the concentration of troops between the Appomattox and the James means an attack upon me. I think from the point where the enemy's forces are put that it means to repel an advance upon Port Walthall Junction. They are in a convenient position as a reserve either against an attack upon Petersburg or from my lines. About 1,300 men arrived to-day from New Orleans. They are a portion of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, Commanding, &c., City Point: I have just examined some prisoners and deserters. There are opposite Deep Bottom Johnson's brigade, of Beauregard's forces; MeGowan's brigade (now Conner's), and Lane's brigade. These brigades will average about 900 men. On last Saturday McLaws' division, of Longstreet's corps, came there, consisting of Kershaw's old brigade, Kershaw now commanding the division; Humphreys' brigade, about 700 men; Wofford's brigade, about 800; Bryan's brigade, about 800; Kershaw's brigade, about 800. They are intrenching themselves in front of Foster, between Three and Four Mile Creek. I cannot learn that they extend to our right beyond Four-Mile Creek. It is reported, but this is not certain, that A. P. Hill has relieved Kershaw and is in command of all the troops on the north of the James. A refugee left Richmond on Saturday, reports no troops in Richmond, save the second-class militia that is under eighteen and above forty-five and the foreign legion, of 500 or 600, guarding prisoners and bridges. This is also confirmed by two other refugees that left Richmond yesterday. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General. [Note in General Grant's handwriting.] The above dispatch just received. It indicates a nervousness about any force going to the north. Col. J. W. SHAFFER, Chief of Staff, Fortress Monroe: HEADQUARTERS, By direction of the lieutenant-general commanding, no passes or permits to recruiting agents of States will be given allowing such agents to come to the front. BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General, Commanding. Col. H. L. ABBOT: WASHINGTON, July 25, 1864-5 p. m. How much of the mortar powder and mortar fuses have you left of what you took with you originally? G. D. RAMSAY, Brigadier General and Chief of Ordnance. HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, General WEITZEL, Chief of Staff: July 25, 1864. General Foster has captured an orderly of Captain Cochran, Seventeenth Mississippi, who reports two Mississippi regiments advancing toward my pickets on the lower side of Four-Mile Creek. I have strengthened the line. A telegram just received reports heavy firing on picket-line below Four-Mile Creek. D. B. BIRNEY, Major DAVIS, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Assistant Adjutant-General. Foster has captured two prisoners from Kershaw's division. They report that division with three other brigades in Foster's front. They came from Petersburg and report A. P. Hill in command of the troops in Foster's front, having relieved Kershaw to-day of command of all the force there. The enemy seem to be uneasy as to Foster's position. I will forward the prisoners. D. B. BIRNEY, GENERAL BUTLER'S HEADQUARTERS, July 25, 1864. Maj. Gen. D. B. BIRNEY: The general commanding directs me to acknowledge your dispatch and to ask you to send the prisoners over here as soon as possible. G. WEITZEL, Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff. General WEITZEL, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Chief of Staff : Will send prisoners without delay. I still hold crest and picket-line on the New Market and Malvern road. There is an appearance of activity on part of enemy not noticed before, slashing, &c. I sent two sections artillery to General Foster. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 18. D. B. BIRNEY, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, In the Field, near Hatcher's, Va., July 25, 1864. I. The design adopted for the badge of this corps is the trace of a four-bastioned fort, of the pattern in the office of the chief quartermaster, and will be worn on the top of the cap or the side of the hat by all the officers and enlisted men of the corps. The badge will be cut from red cloth for First Division, white cloth for Second Division, and blue cloth for Third Division. Commanding officers will see that requisitions are made at once to supply the troops in their respective commands, and that the badge is constantly worn. II. The acting chief quartermaster will procure at once, by requi-. sition or purchase, the cloth to supply the badge to divisions, and stencils to cut the cloth and also mark the transportation of the corps. The transportation will be marked with the letter in large size, and in the division color. By command of Maj. Gen. D. B. Birney: ED. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS, Deep Bottom, Va., July 25, 1864–7.45 [a. m.] Brigadier General WEITZEL, Chief of Staff: I should like to have you send me 100 or 150 more axes. I have slashing on both sides of Four-Mile Creek that is important; should be done as soon as possible. I can supply the men. Respectfully, yours, R. S. FOSTER, HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General FOSTER, Deep Bottom: Do you still hold the crest and picket across the New Market road? Are there any changes indicating an increased force of the enemy? D. B. BIRNEY, Major-General. |
