HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 27, 1865.

General WEITZEL,
Commanding Twenty-fifth Corps:

GENERAL: If an evacuation occurs in my absence look out for torpedoes and mines. It is now reported that large numbers of the former are put down on Chaffin's farm and Bermuda front. Don't let your columns take the roads; keep them in the woods and bypaths. Send cattle and old horses up the roads first. To-night and to-morrow keep camp-firs going as usual in empty camps, and the usual picket on. Make as little change as possible at conspicuous points. If you can do so, cover the prominent part of the vacated camps with shelter-tents for a day or two, or old newspaper; go on with drills and parades in sight as usual. Adams' fifth Massachusetts Colored Cavalry is on its way to Deep Bottom; may arrive to-morrow or day after. Better camp them near where Mackenzie's outside camps were. It is very full. Besides this, I leave 500 of Mackenzie's division, commanding officer to report to you. Birney's division will move very quietly soon as it is dark; cross at Aiken's, thence cross at Broadway, behind Turner; both put wagons in front.

Yours, &c.,

E. O. C. ORD.

DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, March 27, 1865.

Major-General WEITZEL:

In regard to all ordinary business your action will be final. The office of the department will be open here for the recording of papers.

THEO. READ,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS, In the Field, Va., March 27, 1865.

Major-General WEITZEL:

GENERAL: A deserter from the enemy reports that three brigades of Field's division moved toward the enemy's right about 3 or 4 o'clock this evening; that several batteries that have been held in reserve moved this afternoon to the enemy's left. He has been sent to you.

CHAS. DEVENS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF THE JAMES, Numbers 85.
In the Field, Va., March 27, 1865.

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3. Brigadier General and Bvt. Major General A. V. Kautz, U. S. Volunteers, having reported for duty in compliance with Special Orders, Numbers 79, headquarters Department of Virginia, dated March 20, 1865, is hereby