HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
February 25, 1865.

Lieutenant-Colonel BOWERS:

The 9.20 dispatch from Cobb's Hill referred to in previous telegram reads as follows:

Two regiments of rebel infantry, about 800 men in all, and fully equipped for march, are moving inside an parallel with enemy's line toward Swift Creek.

BAIRD,

Sergeant.

E. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CITY POINT, February 25, 1865.

Colonel E. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Signal dispatches received. Please ascertain in what direction these troops are moving-to or from Richmond.

T. S. BOWERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
February 25, 1865. (Received 12. 25 p. m.)

Lieutenant-Colonel BOWERS:

The troops mention were moving from north to south inside their intrenchments.

ED. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

FEBRUARY 25, 1865-12.45 a. m.

General WEITZEL,

Twenty-fifth Army Corps:

General Ord directs that in case of firing on the river to-night or to-morrow you get your command under arms.

JNO. W. TURNER,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

(Same to General Devens, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.)

FEBRUARY 25, 1865-10.30 a. m.

Major General E. O. C. ORD,

Commanding Department of Virginia:

Rebel deserters say that the rumor is quite current in their lines that Petersburg is being evacuated, and their troops massing at some point unknown to them.

G. WEITZEL,

Major-General.