to strengthen your line by intrenchments and post all the artillery practicable, so that your front can be held by the minimum force. I propose, if practicable, to relieve you by a division of the Sixth Corps, expected this morning, when I shall return you to General Butler, in order to get back two division of the Sixth, sent to him last night. Burnside assaulted at 4 p.m., taking some works, 5 guns, 500 prisoners, and some colors.

Respectfully,

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS GENERAL BURNSIDE, June 17, 1864.

Major-General SMITH:

I have just ordered an attack from my lines and will be glad if you will occupy the enemy as much as possible, in case of repulse to us, in order to prevent any concentration of the troops on this quarter. I will telegraph you the result very soon.

A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 17, 1864-4 p.m.

Major-General SMITH,

Commanding Eighteenth Corps:

Will 5,100 men and the artillery of the Sixth Corps be sufficient to hold the line now occupied by you? Please answer at once.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, June 17, 1864.

General WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

Fifty-one hundred men will be sufficient to hold my present line, save the covering of the Spring Hill road. I will leave a sufficient force to cover the Spring Hill road until I can relieve the two divisions of the Sixth Corps now on north side of Appomattox.

W. F. SMITH,

Major-General.

JUNE 17, 1864-4.50 p.m.

Major General W. F. SMITH,

Commanding Eighteenth Corps:

Please telegraph how many men in addition to the 5,100 of General Neill's command will be required to hold the Spring Hill road. They will be supplied by the Ninth Corps.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.