General Johnson's lines. These men, as well as the men of my company, are without a surgeon. I would therefore request that a surgeon be in attendance at this camp daily. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge of Mining, &c. Colonel FAISON, HEADQUARTERS JOHNSON'S DIVISION, Commanding Ransom's Brigade: July 15, 1864–9,25 a. m. COLONEL: The covered way leading from your left to the railroad is still incomplete and insecure. You will immediately send a detail to increase the depth of the covered way or to run it out more to the left, so as to make a secure passage-way. The working parties can be concealed by bushes perhaps. Respectfully, &c., SPECIAL ORDERS, * B. R. JOHNSON, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, XVI. Brig. Gen. J. A. Walker, Provisional Army, C. S., will assume command of the line of railroad between Richmond and Danville, to take effect July 8, 1864. He will establish his headquarters at such point on the railroad as he may select. XLV. Maj. James H. Alexander, assistant adjutant-general, will remain on duty with Maj. Gen. J. F. Gilmer, Chief of Engineer Bureau in Richmond, until further orders. * By command of the Secretary of War: SAML. W. MELTON, CAMP ENGINEER TROOPS, Col. W. H. STEVENS, Engineer Corps: COLONEL: At Colquitt's salient the gallery was driven forward to a point 10 feet from the entrance at 8 p. m. on the 15th; was driven an additional distance of 43 feet last night, making a total distance of 143 feet, and a distance of 9 feet for the day's work. The salient was shelled very severely yesterday afternoon. I have instructed the officer in charge of the working detachment to-day to deposit his waste material near and around the mouth of the shaft so that it can be removed back at night, as this point is exposed to the view of the enemy's lines. At Pegram's salient, in mine No. 1, the gallery has been driven forward to a point 24 feet 6 inches from the entrance. The day detachment made a distance of 4 feet 6 inches, and the night detachment of 4 feet, a total 8 feet 6 inches in twenty-four hours. In mine No. 2 a total distance has been made in the gallery of 25 feet 6 inches, a distance of 5 feet 6 inches for the day's work. The detachment at work in this gallery was exchanged on the morning of the 15th and transferred to mine No. 1, the miners and assistants of this detachment having more experience, and the night detachments at work at No. 2 were reduced to increase the strength of the detachment at No. 1, as this last is considered the most important mine. A total distance in mining has been made in the past twenty-four hours of 23 feet. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge Mining Operations. HEADQUARTERS JOHNSON'S DIVISION, July 16, 1864—9 p. m. Colonel MCAFEE, Commanding Ransom's Brigade: COLONEL: Should General Gracie's brigade fire a volley at any time on the enemy's works in front of his right that part of your line in vicinity of Colonel Faison's headquarters and as far to the right as practicable will fire a few rounds on the same front. It is believed that a concentrated fire on this part of the enemy's advanced works will render it untenable, as we can obtain a cross-fire from both flanks and a direct fire from Gracie's right upon it; at short range, such as you have for some parts of your line upon this work, guns loaded with two bullets would perhaps have a telling effect, as the balls on their descending curve would drop into their trenches. In the general volley proposed above please notify the artillery on your line that I wish them to join so far as their guns will bear on the part of the enemy's line designated, and extend this notice to mortar batteries on your line. I am, colonel, respectfully, &c., B. R. JOHNSON, CAMP ENGINEER TROOPS, Col. W. H. STEVENS, Chief Engineer, &c.: COLONEL: At Colquitt's salient the gallery was driven forward to a point 20 feet 4 inches from the entrance at 8 p. m. on the 16th, was driven an additional distance of 5 feet 3 inches last night, making a total distance of 25 feet 7 inches, and a distance of 11 feet 1 inch for the day's work. At Pegram's salient, in mine No. 1, the gallery has been driven forward to a point 31 feet from the entrance. The day detachment made a distance of 3 feet 6 inches, and the night detachment of 3 feet, a total of 6 feet 6 inches in twenty-four hours. In mine No. 2 a total distance has been made in the gallery of 30 feet 2 inches, a distance of 4 feet 8 inches for the day's work. The detachment at work in this mine was reduced to increase the strength of the detachment at work in mine No. 1, my present force not being sufficient to form six full detachments from the number required to work the mines. A total distance in mining has been made in the past twenty-four hours of 22 feet 3 inches. Inclosed find papers* marked Nos. 1 and 2: No. 1, organization of the engineer troops for mining operations, and No. 2 regu lations and instructions for the government of engineer troops in min ing operations. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge Mining, &c. CAMP ENGINEER TROOPS, Col. W. H. STEVENS, Chief Engineer, &c.: COLONEL: At Pegram's salient mine No. 1 was extended up to 8 p. m. on the 17th 4 feet, by the night detachment an additional distance of 4 feet, a total distance of 8 feet for the day's work, and a total distance of 39 feet from the entrance. At mine No. 2 extended up to 8 p. m. on the 17th 3 feet 6 inches, and by the night detachment 2 feet, a total distance of 35 feet 8 inches from the entrance. At Colquitt's salient the gallery was extended up to 8 p. m. on the 17th 6 feet 8 inches, and by the night detachment an additional distance of 3 feet, a total of 9 feet 8 inches for the day's work, and a total distance of 35 feet 3 inches from the entrance. The accumulation of material during the day at this mine, which had to be removed at night, caused the less distance that was made in this gallery by the night detachment. A total distance for the day's work was made at all the mines of 23 feet 2 inches. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge of Mining, &c. General T. H. HOLMES, Weldon, N. C.: RICHMOND, VA., July 18, 1864. You are relieved of command at Weldon. Resume command of North Carolina Reserve Corps. S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, General S. COOPER, July 19, 1864. Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond: GENERAL: I inclose for the information of the Department a copy of an order which the enemy has endeavored to circulate among our troops with the view of encouraging desertion. I believe that the disposition of his own men to desert is great, and that it is in a measure restrained by the difficulty they experience in getting home. I have * See pp. 776, 777. thought that something might be done to encourage them by offering them facilities to reach the North, and inclose the draft of an order, the substance of which it might be well to publish and circulate among them if practicable, should it meet the approval of the Department. It would do no harm in my judgment, and might have a good effect. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JULY 25, 1864. Respectfully submitted to the President. I see less objection to the order proposed by General Lee than to that of which you spoke this morning, recommended by General Beauregard. Still some embarrassments will attend the redemption of the promise, and I prefer submitting it to your judgment before ordering its issue. J. A. SEDDON, Secretar of War. [Third indorsement.] AUGUST 9, 1864. SECRETARY OF WAR: There are certainly objections to allowing deserters from the enemy to go at large in our country, but by close inquiry and strict surveillance they may be overcome, and it is probably better to make the attempt, the effect of which is to be inferred from the reported efforts of the enemy to impress their soldiers with the belief that they will be cruelly treated by us if under any circumstances they should fall into our hands. There is a serious difficulty which does not appear to have been considered, that of the treatment of slaves who might desert from the enemy and claim to be entitled by promise to be sent to the border, &c. Thus we could not entertain the proposition and should not be placed in the attitude of having made the promise. You will observe the notes inclosed suggesting change in the terms of the proposed order. HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, It having been falsely circulated among the insurgent soldiers that all refugees and deserters into our lines are forced into the armies of the United States to fight their former neighbors and friends, the foi lowing order from the War Department is published for the information, as a solemn pledge of the Government, that no man heretofore in rebellion will be forced to fight in the armies of the United States dur ing this rebellion. Humanity and propriety of govermental action alike forbid it: GENERAL ORDERS, Į WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., February 18, 1864. Whenever refugees from within the rebel lines or deserters from the rebel armies present themselve at the United States camps or military posts, they will be immediately examined by the provost-marshal, with a view to determine their character and their motives in giving themselves up. If it appears that they are honest in their intentions of forever deserting the rebel cause, care will be taken to explain to them that they will not be forced to serve in the U. S. Army against the rebels, nor to be kept in confinement. The President's proclamation of December 8, 1863, will be read to them, and, if they so desire, the oath therein prescribed will be administered to them. They will then be questioned as to whether they desire employment from the United States; and if so, such arrangements as may be expedient will be made by the several army commanders for employing them on the Government works within their commands. Those who come to the Army of the Potomac will be forwarded to the military governor of the District of Columbia, at Washington, with reports of their cases, that employment may be given to them, if desired; or if not, that they may be sent as far north as Philadelphia. By order of the Secretary of War: By command of Major-General Butler: [Col. G. W. BRENT, E. D. TOWNSEND, R. S. DAVIS, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS JOHNSON'S DIVISION, proper Assistant Adjutant-General:] COLONEL: In reply to your note of the 18th instant, suggesting for consideration the propriety of keeping one regiment of each brigade in reserve for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, instead of one regiment as at present, I have to state that I have thought it particularly desirable to adopt the former method at this time in my command and that arrangements are now made by which each brigade will to-night have about one-fourth of its strength in reserve. I would suggest that there is, however, no good cover for the reserve at a distance from my main line, and I would I would be pleased if the commanding general would direct that certain commanding grounds in rear of our lines, especially near the Jerusalem plank road, should be fortified and occupied by the reserves, making a system of detached works. A battery, with trenches flanking it for a regiment of infantry, should be first staked out on each commanding height. In making this proposition I do not desire to prepare a line to fall back on. I think our troops should fully understand that the present line has to be held; the system of detached works proposed will cover our reserves and bring them in a position for immediate service; it will give confidence to our men and discourage the foe; and should any part of our line be carried for a moment, it will enable us to drive the enemy back and to reoccupy that point; with formidable batteries in rear, our troops on the flanks of a breach would not be likely to abandon their positions. If I may be permitted in this not very formal communication to introduce a very different subject, I would suggest that if the present |
