try force of about 2,000, and field battery of fifteen guns are encamped from two to three miles from that landing. They say it is Early's troops, but this must be a mistake. I send this for your information.

E. S. PARKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER, August 4, 1864-2.15 p. m.

Colonel J. W. SHAFFER,
Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: The following dispatch was received from the signal officer at Water Battery at 2.10 p. m.:

About 330 men armed and dressed in light-colored clothes and straw hats are removing the engine from Cox's Mill to the wharf, piece-meal. Is it our party?

G. S. DANA,

Captain, Signal Corps.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. B. NORTON,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF VA. AND N. C.,

Numbers 212.
In the Field, Va., August 4, 1864.

* * * * * * *

XIV. In relation to recruiting and the recruiting rendezvous in this department, it is hereby ordered:

Brigadier-General Wild will fix the headquarters of recruiting at Newport News, a healthy point, with plenty of good water and wood, where the recruits will be exposed to no temptation or interference. General Wild's headquarters will be at Newport News. The First Regiment of Colored Cavalry will do guard duty for the camp. No persons recruited in this department will be allowed to be sent out of it, but will be assigned to some regiment here.

By command of Major-General Butler:

R. S. DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, In the Field, August 4, 1864-9.50 p. m.

Major-General ORD,
Commanding Eighteenth Army Corps:

A deserter, claiming to be a lieutenant recently serving on Clingman's staff, reports that the rebels have a mine dug and nearly completed, and that it extends to the Hare house, and that it is, in fact, very close thereto. Please send me any rebel papers you may get.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.