HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS,
July 24, 1864-11.45 a.m. (Received 12.15. p.m.)

Major DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, officer of the day for General Foster, was captured this morning while scouting outside picket-line. I hold the crest to-day. No attempt on part of enemy to retake it. The loss yesterday was small. Will send report.

D. B. BIRNEY,

Major-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
July 24, 1864-12.30 p.m.

Major-General BIRNEY,

Commanding Tenth Army Corps:

Report received. Hold the crest if possible. Let the men intrench. Only the cavalry at Malvern Hill has been brought against you, as I am informed.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
In the Field, July 24, 1864.

Major-General BIRNEY,

Tenth Corps:

I consider it very important for you to know that not a shot has been fired on our front on this neck of land for nearly a month. I think it would be well to be assured that the officers and men have not become careless and unguarded thereby.

Respectfully,

G. WEITZEL,

Brigadier-General and Acting Chief of Staff.

JULY 24, 1864.

Brigadier General R. S. FOSTER,

Deep Bottom:

The major-general commanding desires to know the effective strength of your command as soon as possible.*

ED. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS,
July 24, 1864-9.50 p.m.

Major DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

In answer to inquiries made by the major-general commanding I report the strength of General Foster's command as follows: Present

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*For reply, see Part I, 692 and next, post.

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28 R R-VOL XL, PT III