HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
February 28, 1865-9.35 a.m.

Colonel G. D. RUGGLES,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

I have the honor to report all quiet on this front for past twenty-four hours.

Respectfully,

G. B. HALSTED,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
February 28, 4 p.m. (Received 4.20 p.m.)

General WEBB,

Chief of Staff:

I forward the following:

GENERAL: Five contrabands from Petersburg yesterday morning came into my lines this morning. They report that the tobacco is being removed from Petersburg, and that some is now being piled up outside of the store-houses preparatory to being burnt, as they think. They speak of the evacuation of the place an anticipated generally by the inhabitants. The most intelligent among them, William White, seems to have the most accurate information.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brevet Major-General.

Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
February 28, 1865.

General WEBB,

Chief of Staff:

Five contrabands just received from provost-marshal of Third Division. One of them, William White, states that they left Petersburg on the 27th at 10 a.m. The enemy is moving tobacco from the city, and there are orders to move all the cotton. It is not certain that any has been moved yet. Saw four 32-pounders taken off the carriages in readiness to move to the rear; saw Mahone's moving to the right (enemy's right). There is a rumor in the rebel lines that Petersburg is to be evacuated. He was a teamster in the rebel army. The rest, with one exception, were laborers in the army. They have been sent to army headquarters.

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS,
February 28, 1865.

Colonel F. T. LOCKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: An order has been received to bring the railroad track on to the side of the Vaughan road occupied by First Division, and General Humphreys objects, as I am informed by the engineer of the