HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS,
August 5, 1864-6 p. m. (Received 7 p. m.)

Captain NORTON:

Enemy have opened fire from Howlett's battery on the Water Battery. Shots fall short.

G. S. DANA,

Captain, &c.

General BIRNEY:

Do not reply to Howlett's battery until they seem to get the range.

B. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 5, 1864-6.45 p. m.

Major-General ORD,

Commanding Eighteenth Corps:

General Hancock is ordered to send two division to your left to support you if you need it; the other will follow if required. If the affair should be over before they reach you, send a staff officer to meet them and turn them back. The commander of the two division is ordered to inform you of his arrival.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 5, 1864-6.45 p. m.

Major-General ORD,

Commanding Eighteenth Corps:

Major-General Meade wishes to know what the firing in you front amounts to?

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
August 5, 1864. (Received 7 p. m.)

Major-General MEADE:

A blast of a mine apparently exploded some fifteen minutes ago, followed by musketry on the left of my line. The heavy musketry lasted but a short time. Since then there has been heavy cannonading along the line and to my left. I have sent staff officers to the front to notify me of the location of the mine if on my line.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 5, 1864-7 p. m.

Major-General ORD,

Commanding Eighteenth Corps:

Do you mean that a mine was sprung on your left?

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.