Washington for further orders. Early is undoubtedly returning here to enable the enemy to detach troops to go to Georgia. Hunter's troops must be tired. I would say, therefore, for him to take up such of the advanced positions suggested by him as in his judgment will best protect the line of the Potomac. If Wright and Hunter have started after the enemy with the view of following on the road from Charlottesville to Gordonsville let them go.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, VA., July 23, 1864-10.30 p.m.

(Received 7 a.m. 24th.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Washington, D. C.:

Please send here all cavalry detachments, whether mounted or not, belonging to regiments here, with the exception of those belonging to the First Pennsylvania, Third Pennsylvania, First New Jersey, Third Indiana, Sixth Pennsylvania, and Eighth Pennsylvania. These regiments are being sent back, having but a short period to serve.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 23, 1864-2.30 p.m.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,

City Point, Va.:

A man who left Gordonsville on the 12th instant arrived here yesterday. He is intelligent and seems honest. He reports that when he left the cars were running through from Richmond to Gordonsville, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Lynchburg. The rebels were building a bridge over the Rapidan to get hay from Culpeper.

C. A. DANA.

CITY POINT, VA., July 23, 1864.

(Received 8 p.m.)

Brigadier General M. C. MEIGS,

Quartermaster-General:

The animals called for in my dispatch to you of the 9th instant have not been received. They are greatly needed. I am directed so to inform you. There are vessels now in the Potomac which can bring these animals here and return in time for any troops that will be ready to embark for these armies.

R. INGALLS,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
OFFICER OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,

July 23, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: A deserter from the Eleventh Alabama Regiment, Sanders' brigade, Mahone's division, Hill's corps, came into the lines of the