HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
January 24, 1865.

General RAWLINS,

Chief of Staff:

This is the way the rebels report the position of the gun-boats. The following message was intercepted at 10.30 a. m.:

Colonel B and A:

The heavy firing heard last night was all, except a few guns, from Battery F, in Steuart's front, on Terry's front, at our left. A good deal of picket-firing toward the James. Afterward a gun-boat near Dutch Gap opened, and was answered by our batteries at Howlett's and Bishop's. The firing was brought on by an attempt of Terry, on our left, on Saturday last, to advance his picket-line. From C: No change on hand or noticed.

R.,

Sergeant at C.

ALEX. S. WEBB,

Brevet Major-General and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Numbers 18.
City Point, Va., January 24, 1865.

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III. Bvt. Major General A. H. Terry will order the return to this place of Brevet Brigadier-General Abbot's siege train and the detachment of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He will retain at Fort Fisher the three 30-pounder Parrot guns he now has there and the detachment of volunteer engineers.

IV. Major-General Gibbon, commanding Army of the James, will send forward without delay to their respective commands all detachments of men belongings to regiments and batteries now with General Terry at Fort Fisher, N. C., who were left behind when their commands moved; and also one company of artillery without guns.

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By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

E. S. PARKER,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

January 24, 1865.

CORPS COMMANDERS;

General A. S. WEBB,

Chief of Staff:

The following dispatch just received:

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,

"January 24, 1865.

CORPS COMMANDERS;

"General GRANT:

"The signal tower reports one of the rebel rams coming down the rive to meet the Onondaga, which is on its way up.

"JOHN GIBBON,

"Major-General."

JNO. A. RAWLINS,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

A. S. WEBB,

Brevet Major-General and Chief of Staff.