CITY POINT, VA., August 20, 1864-12.40 p.m.

Major-General ORD,

Commanding Eighteenth Army Corps:

Statements of deserters and refuges go to shaw that the enemy are mining in your front. Can you not countermine against them?

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

BUTLER'S HEADQUARTERS, August 20, 1864.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

I have had reports of the mines in my front for some time. Have two counter mines going now; can't hear much yet in them.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, August 20, 1864.

(Received 4 p.m.)

General HUMPHREYS:

Nothing reliable denoting a change in my front. No prisoners in. No movements of troops have been seen, except some small squads reported unofficially as seen moving toward left and rear yesterday p.m.

E. O. C. ORD,
Major-General.

HDQRS. SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, KAUTZ'S DIVISION, August 20, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel F. T. LOCKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Warren's Corps:

SIR: I have the honor to report the arrival of the First District of Columbia Cavalry. From a reconnaissance I know the position of the enemy's cavalry. I have sufficient force to attack and rout them, and respectfully ask permission to do so.

With high respect, your obedient servant,

S. P. SPEAR,

Colonel, Commanding Cavalry.

CITY POINT, VA., August 21, 1864-11 a.m.

(Received 6 p.m.)

Major-General HALLECK,

Washington, D. C.:

Taking possession of the Weldon road has made the enemy apparently very nervous. They have been constantly attacking to regain possession. I cannot report accurately the result, but apparently our in that respect must have been heavy, from the fact of his being repulsed so often. The second day, however, we lost heavily in captured,

23 R R-VOL XLII, PT II