HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 18, 1864-1.15 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

Respectfully forwarded.* Your telegram of 12 m. received. I will await the developments of the day before sending Warren any instruction based on it. Indeed, his orders last night contemplate his making and retaining a lodgment on the railroad.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 18, 1864-1.30 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

I have endeavored to ascertain the probable cause of the heavy cannonading last night, but without success. It commenced a little before 2 a. m., on the right of the Eighteenth Corps, by the enemy, and was quickly taken up by all their batteries to our left, and as quickly responded to by ours. The enemy, in the afternoon previous, told the pickets of the Ninth Corps not to be alarmed in the night because they were going to shell the negroes. The probabilities are that they suspected some movement on our part which they thought they might interrupt, or they suspected we were, or had been withdrawing and they would draw our fire. From all I can the casualties on our side are: Ninth Corps, 2 killed, 10 wounded; Eighteenth Corps, 5 killed, 15 wounded; in all, 7 killed, 25 wounded. I have given orders hereafter our batteries are not to open at night unless there is evidence they are able to accomplish something.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT,
August 18, 1864.

Major-General Humphreys, Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the following report just received:

PLANK ROAD STATION, August 18, 1864-1.30 p. m.

Cannonading on our left, apparently on line of Weldon railroad, one mile and a half south of large fort near Weldon railroad. Five hundred cavalry standing in road in front of said fort. column of infantry now passing on line of Weldon railroad in direction of firing.

FULTON,

Sergeant.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. S. STRYKER,

Acting Chief Signal Officer.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 18, 1864-3.15 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

I forward the above just received. No dispatch from Warren since the one sent ;you at 1.15 p. m. Heavy musketry firing, as well as cannonading, has recently been heard in that direction.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

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*See Warren to Humphreys, 11 a. m., p. 273.

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