HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS, August 15, 1864.

Brigadier General O. S. FERRY:

GENERAL: You can reduce the picket-line in front of Port Walthall seventy-five men and on Mill road twenty-five men. With this reduction can you do the picket duty with your force? I am unable to get any more white men and I do not like to sent out colored. Over one-half of my force was on picket yesterday and last night.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. W. TURNER,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.

[Indorsement.]

Respectfully returned.

I can picket the Port Walthall and Mill road lines.

O. S. FERRY,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, August 15, 1864-3.50 p.m.

Brigadier General WILLIAM BIRNEY:

Make the movement heretofore indicated with as little delay as possible.

By order of Major General D. B. Birney:

ED. W. SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

DEEP BOTTOM, August 15, 1864. (Received 1.30 p.m.)

Major-General BUTLER:

I have the honor to report the arrival at this headquarters of Major Torrance with the remaining three companies of the Twenty-ninth Connecticut Volunteers.

W. B. WOOSTER,

Colonel Twenty-ninth Connecticut Volunteers, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, August 15, 1864.

Brigadier General J. B. CARR:

I am instructed by the major-general commanding to direct you to repair the railroad bridge, which has been damaged by the flood, so that troops can safely pass over. For this purpose you will make the necessary details.

Very respectfully,
THEODORE READ,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

14 R R-VOL XLII, PT II