HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, August 16, 1864. (Received 17th.)

General GRANT:

Your dispatch is received and the necessary steps will be taken to carry out your views.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,

August 16, 1864-10.50 a.m.

General Birney is making quite an attack; has captured some prisoners. The pickets should threaten an advance at all times. Troops should be shown on the left. Any commander may take advantage at once of any weakness in the enemy's lines. General Gregg will push the reconnaissance beyond White's Tavern with his cavalry.

By command of Major-General Hancock:

FRANCIS A. WALKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(To Brigadier-General Barlow and Mott and Colonel Smyth, commanding division.)

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,

August 16, 1864.

The troops will be held ready to move at once-this not to interfere with any previous instructions given in regard to feeling or trying the enemy's lines.

By order of Major-General Hancock:

FRANCIS A. WALKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(To General Mott and Barlow and Colonel Smyth.)

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS,

August 16, 1864-4.40 a.m.

Colonel Craig, commanding brigade of Second Corps, temporarily attached to this command, will report immediately to Brigadier General A. H. Terry, commanding First Division, Tenth Corps.

By order of Major-General Birney:

ED. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE,
Near White's Tavern, August [16], 1864-11 a.m.

Colonel C. H. MORGAN,

Chief of Staff, Second Corps:

My advance is within less than a half mile from White's Tavern. We have driven them steadily thus far from Deep Bottom. We have met strong force in front, also struck a line of flankers marching toward