HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, August 3, 1864. (Received 7.15 p.m.)

General HUMPHREYS:

Following just received:

SIGNAL STATION FIFTH CORPS-6.30 p. m.

A battery of four guns and five squadrons of cavalry have just passed to our right in rear of Petersburg.

CLARK,
Signal Officer.

LOCKE,

Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Indorsement.]

Inquire why the signal officers with corps do not report through the chief signal officer at these headquarters.

GEO. G. MEADE.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT, August 3, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report no movement of the enemy's force visible to-day from our stations. They were busily working upon the earth-work about three-quarters of a mile south of the lead-works, which seems to be a large one. One train of cars passed into the city on the Weldon railroad. Several wagons passed on the road near Weldon railroad during the day. They have been bringing considerable timber to the work near the Gregory Chimneys.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. F. FISHER,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

Major FISHER:

The signal officer of the Fifth Corps reported that several squadrons of cavalry passed toward Petersburg at 6.30 p. m. How is this discrepancy accounted for?

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

GENERAL: I received no reports from the officers at corps headquarters and know nothing of the reported movement of cavalry. My lookouts at the plank road station and on the extreme right reported no movement visible to-day.

B. F. FISHER,

Chief, &c.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

Numbers 31.
August 3, 1864.

To-morrow, the 4th instant, having been set apart by the President of the United States as a day of national fasting, humiliation and prayer, the major-general commanding calls upon his fellow soldiers to observe the day with the solemnities due to the occasion, and he recommends