may be telling the truth. Informant left his brigade at 7.20 p.m., more than an hour before the other passed along the line, finding the corps had moved. Informant came to our pickets about 8 o'clock last night to exchange papers and trade, at which time he had no idea of deserting. In conversation with our pickets, having learned that deserters were well treated, he was induced to remain on this side. Though a deserter, he is a man of considerable intelligence and may think it is dishonorable to disclose such an important movement to the enemy. We forgot to mention that the deserter from the Eighth Alabama Regiment saw the wagon trains of Anderson's old division (Mahone's) harnessed and ready for a move, and the camp of the division hospital broken up.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers C. BABCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 11, 1864-10.15 p.m.

Colonel SHARPE

Deputy Provost-Marshal-General:

Have you heard anything from the scouts you were to send to Petersburg, or from any others?

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Scouts to agent from Petersburg went out this p.m. and return in the morning. Nothing later than the deserter from Mahone's division.

Respectfully,

J. C. BABCOCK.

[JULY 11, 1864.-For Williams to Hunt and Duane communicating Meade's approval of report of 10th instant (p. 125), see Part I, p. 287.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
July 11, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: The enemy are at work on their new line in the rear of front line west of the Gregory house. A train of six box-cars backed out from the lead-works at 6 a.m., and having gone a few hundred yards returned toward the city.

I have the honor, general, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. F. FISHER,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.