HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July 11, 1864.

Captain CLARK,
Signal Officer on Jordan's House, near General Smith's Hdqrs:

CAPTAIN: You failed to make a report to me this a.m. of matters reported to Colonel Burton. Hereafter you will place in the telegraph office a message for me prior to, or simultaneous with, the one you may hand to a member of Smith's staff. You must strictly bear in mind that you are connected with this army, and that you report to me. How about the cars with troops?

B. F. FISHER,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

JORDAN HOUSE SIGNAL STATION, July 11, 1864-2 p.m.

Captain B. F. FISHER:

I have made no report to Colonel Burton. At the request of Lieutenant Paul, of Colonel Burton's staff, I directed Sergeant Sleeper to report to him to assist in diverting the fire of the

13-inch mortar. I report no movement of troops on railroad. A heavy column of dust in Petersburg, extending about two miles in a northwest direction.

T. R. CLARK,

Captain and Acting Signal Officer.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, July 11, 1864.

Captain T. R. CLARK,
Signal Officer, Eighteenth Corps:

Is column of dust all this side of Appomattox, or does it extend from Petersburg across the Appomattox and two miles from it in a northwest direction?*

B. F. FISHER,

Chief Signal Officer.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, July 11, 1864.

Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following report from the officer at the station near Eighteenth Corps headquarters:

JULY 11, 1864.

Captain FISHER:

I report no movement of troops on railroad. A heavy column of dust in Petersburg, extending about two miles in a northwesterly direction.

CLARK,

Captain.

By order:

I am, general,very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. S. STRYKER,

First Lieutenant and Adjutant of Signal Corps.

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*For reply, see p.150.

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