HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
January 29, 1865-4 p. m.

Major-General WILLCOX,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

Are the gentlemen named in your dispatch at your picket-line, or has this letter been in under flag of truce?

JNO. G. PARKE,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS,
January 29, 1865. (Received 4.10 p. m.)

Major-General PARKE:

The message is verbal, and brought by Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch to the picket-line. Was received by Colonel Bintliff. The commissioners themselves are at Petersburg. Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch calls himself assistant commissioner of exchange.

O. B. WILLCOX,

Brevet Major-General.

(Copy sent Major-General Ord at 4.45 p. m.)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
January 29, 1865-4.25 p. m.

Major-General WILLCOX,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

General Parke desires you to reply to Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch, in case he is waiting, that an answer will be forwarded to whom by you as soon as it shall be received, and in the same manner as adopted by him in approaching our lines.

ALEX. S. WEBB,

Brevet Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS,
January 29, 1865-5.35 p. m.

Bvt. Major General A. S. WEBB:

I have communicated with the enemy, and their wish is, in case the reply does not come before sundown, that it be delivered to-morrow morning.

O. B. WILLCOX,

Brevet Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
January 29, 1865.

Lieutenant Colonel P. M. LYDIG,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps:

SIR: I have the honor to report that the Appomattox River is open in the channel the length of our picket-line. That portion which was