railroad. The major-general commanding directs you to relieve them with your own men. An officer from General Willcox will point out the place. He accompanies this.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRED. T. LOCKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS, August 21, 1864.

Lieutenant-Colonel LOCKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Corps:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that the left of the Ninth Corps are constructing a rifle-pit in rear of my right (Lieutenant Van Reed's) battery, cutting it off and rendering it impossible to draw it back if desired.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. B. AYRES,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, August 21, 1864.

Brigadier-General AYRES,
Commanding Second Division:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that if you would rather put [up] that work yourself he will take the Ninth Corps men off of it. He directed them to construct it last night.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRED. T. LOCKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

P. S.-The general intends to have a roadway made, so that Van Reed's battery can be withdrawn by the right.

F. T. L.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, August 21, 1864-9.30 a.m.

General AYRES:

I wish you to occupy with your troops the place where the brigade of General Hartranft [is] if you think it necessary. I shall have to entrust that part of the line to you and take him away.

G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, August 21, 1864-9 p.m.

General AYRES:

I wish you to take command of General Cutler's division while in its present position and distribute that force so as to strengthen any part