Orleans. It is healthy here; there will probably be no great suffering. Some of General Butler's hospital boats will be used. It would seem necessary to increase the number of hospital transports for the Army of the Potomac.

RUFUS INGALLS,

Brigadier-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

Numbers 43.
City Point, Va., June 27, 1864.

In all siege operations about Petersburg, south of the Appomattox, Brigadier General H. J. Hunt, chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac, will have general charge, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. Colonel H. L. Abbot, in charge of siege train, will report to General Hunt for orders.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

T. S. BOWERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, June 27, 1864-11 a. m.

General HUMPHREYS:

We have received from a detachment of the Cavalry Corps on the left, near Reams' Station, a party of contrabands, fifteen in number-men, women, and children. Most of them are from the neighborhood of Reams' Station. Two are from Petersburg, one having left more than a week ago, and the other having left last Saturday. The latter passed clear round the enemy's lines, leaving them to his left as he came. Neither of them give information changing that heretofore reported. They say that General Pickett's provost-marshal has an office in the town; that Beauregard's headquarters are now with General Lee on the Chesterfield side; and that nothing has come within the last week from the direction either of Richmond or Danville. It was understood in Petersburg on Saturday that every connection with Richmond was cut. Prior to the Weldon road being occupied by our forces it was used continually for the transportation of supplies.

Very respectfully,
GEORGE H. SHARPE,

Colonel, &c.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, June 27, 1864-7.30 p. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

Some of our men went out this a. m to make a reconnaissance on foot around the enemy's left to-night. One of them sent back says that on the Weldon railroad, on a line due south from Doctor Gurley's, they found three men on picket. Negroes said that this a. m. some forty cavalry came there for corn and oats (in one barn there were some forty