MARCH 3, 1865.

Major-General WEITZEL,

Twenty-fifth Army Corps:

Can you ascertain from your picket-line what the firing is?

JNO. W. TURNER,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS, March 3, 1865.

General TURNER,
Chief of Staff:

Messenger reports that musketry firing was by our pickets on rebel boats, which returned fire with artillery.

G. WEITZEL,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS, March 3, 1865. [Received 7.50 p.m.]

Brigadier-General TURNER,
Chief of Staff:

The rebel boats have fired three shots. There has been a little musketry firing. I have sent a staff officer to find out what it means. As soon as he returns will inform you.

G. WEITZEL,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS, March 3, 1865. [Received 8.10 p.m]

General J. W. TURNER,
Chief of Staff:

A messenger just in reports that three rebel boats came down-two stopping at our picket-line at the grave-yard, the other keeping on down. The musketry was occasioned by the rebel pickets opening on ours, and ours replying. My staff officer has not yet returned.

G. WEITZEL,

Major-General.

KAUTZ'S HEADQUARTERS, March 3, 1865.

Brigadier-General TURNER:

The First Mounted Rifles, if Colonel Sumner could go with it, would answer the lieutenant-general's purpose better than any other that I have. If the expedition is not to go immediately he could be communicated with so as to go with it. The other officers that could be trusted for such work are brigade commanders. If there will be twenty-four or forty-eight hours' time his regiment would be the one I would designate. Colonel Sumner can be communicated with at the National Hotel, Norfolk.

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Major-General.