HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 25, 1865-8.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

Your dispatch of 5.50 p. m. was delayed two hours-the wire was down. The last deserter from Hill's came from Mahone's division and reported at 10 a. m., and reports no movement. From Ninth Corps front, as result of artillery fire, I have from Tidball:

The enemy's reply to our fire indicated no change whatever in their artillery-they fired from mortars and guns as usual.

I cannot yet find out that any of Hill's corps has moved.

JNO. G. PARKE,

Major-General.

CITY POINT, February 25, 1865.

(Received 8.55 p. m.)

General PARKE:

The Richmond papers to-day report nothing of interest. The following is taken from the Examiner:

VAUGN'S CAVALRY IN EAST TENNESSEE.

HEADQUARTERS,
February 24, 1865.

Honorable J. C. BRECKINRIDGE,

Secretary of War:

General Echols reports that detachments of Vaughn's cavalry struck the railroad beyond Knoxville, at Sweetwater and Athens, capturing the garrison at both places. Sixty men of the Second Ohio Regiment, with their horses and equipments, were captured.

R. E. LEE,

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

(Copy to corps commanders.)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 25, 1865-11 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

We have now received ten deserters from Johnson's division, in front of Ninth Corps, and five deserters from Ninth Florida, Mahone's division, in front of Sixth Corps. They repeat the report about cotton and tobacco. No extra rations issued; picket no stronger; have heard that heavy guns have been removed. Johnson's division still strengthening their work, and doubling abatis.

JNO. G. PARKE,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Numbers 39.
City Point, Va., February 25, 1865.

I. The using of water transportation of any kind for officer's quarters, or for headquarters of commanding officers of whatever grade, is positively prohibited throughout the Armies of the United States, except