service before he was killed in it; Brigadier-Generals Harris and Jourdan are also ordered out of service; Colonel Cullen is ordered out of service; and I beg leave to state that if these orders are to go into effect I be released from command of this army; for, with the best officers being ordered out, I do not feel myself competent to command the new troops and new officers.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
February 23, 1865-12.15 p. m.

Brevet Major-General BARNARD,

Washington, D. C.:

From deserters this a. m. I locate sixteen heavy guns, principally rifles and columbiads, on the river front of Chaffin's Farm, bearing down the long reach toward Bishop's.

PETER S. MICHIE,

Major, U. S. Army.

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,

ARMIES OPERATING AGAINST RICHMOND,

February 23, 1865.

Lieutenant-Colonel MANNING,

Headquarters Army of the James:

A. P. Hill's corps seems to be held in readiness to move at short notice. I don't find any changes except the relief of Cowand's brigade, Grimes' old, by Cox's the former taking the latter's camp. Please let me hear from you before dusk how many deserters you get, and what changes, if any.

GEORGE H. SHARPE,

Assistant Provost-Marshal-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA ARMY OF THE JAMES,
In the Field, February 23, 1865-1.50 p.m.

Brevet Brigadier-General SHARPE,

City Point:

One brigade of Grimes' division is sent weekly to the right of Pickett's line. Two deserters from Cox's brigade say that a sergeant from the division reported that the three remaining brigades on Swift Run are under marching orders, with four day's cooked rations. Evidently that division is kept in readiness to move at a mement's notice.

FRED. L. MANNING,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General, Army of the James.