HEADQUARTERS NINTH CORPS, August 4, 1864.

General HUMPHREYS:

Will you please ask the general commanding if I can have permission to visit General Grant to-day.

A. E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, August 4, 1864-8.20 a. m.

Major-General BURNSIDE,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

The major-general commanding sees no objection to your visiting General Grant to-day.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, August 4, 1864. (Received 9.10 p. m.)

General WILLIAMS:

I have nothing of importance on my line to report. Fresh abatis has been prepared and will be put down to-night. During last night it is reported the enemy were heard moving artillery to their right. My signal officer reports as follows:

Major-General BURNSIDE:

GENERAL: From 3 until 5.30 p. m. two different columns of dust appeared over the city, both moving in direction of the enemy's right. A regiment of infantry also moved toward evening from camp near plank road in direction of earth-work opposite our extreme left. Condition of the atmosphere since 3 p. m. prevented a more distinct observation of these movements, which might have been made. Nothing else-where visible.

J. C. PAINE,
Captain and Signal Officer.

A. E. BURNSIDE,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS NINTH CORPS,

Numbers 132.
Before Petersburg, Va., August 4, 1864.

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4. Leave of absence is hereby granted the following-named officers for the number of days and for the reasons set opposite their respective names: Brigadier General J. H. Ledlie, U. S. Volunteers, for twenty days on account of physical disability.

5. Brigadier General Julius White, U. S. Volunteers, is hereby relieved from temporary duty as chief of staff of the major-general commanding.

6. Brigadier General Julius White, U. S. Volunteers, is hereby assigned to the command of the First Division, Ninth Corps, relieving Brigadier General J. H. Ledlie, U. S. Volunteers.

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By command of Major-General Burnside:

LEWIS RICHMOND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.