HDQRS, DEPT,. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,
August 25, 1864-3.55 p. m.

Colonel J. W. SHAFFER, Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: The following rebel message was intercepted from the Arched house station:

HEADQUARTERS PICKETT'S DIVISION,
August 25, 1864-2 p. m.

General BEAUREGARD:

I have felt the enemy's line in my front and discover them in force along my line.

G. E. PICKETT,

Major-General, Commanding.

Respectfully,

L. B. NORTON,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

(Copy to General Grant.)

BATTERY 3, August 25, 1864-4.25 p. m.

Captain NORTON:

The enemy open with one heavy gun. We are replying.

BAKER,

Sergeant, Signal Corps.

SPECIAL ORDERS
HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. C.

Numbers 233. In the Field, Va., August 25, 1864.

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VI. Brigadier-General Ames, with his division, will relieved the colored troops now stationed near the signal tower. These colored troops, upon being relieved by General Ames' division, will relieve all the colored troops now serving with Major-General Ord. The colored troops now serving with General Ord, upon being relieved, will relieve General Foster's command at Deep Bottom.

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XVI. The Second Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers will be sent without delay to relieve the regiments of 100-days' man now at Fort Pocahontas. The latter regiments, upon being relieved, will be placed en route for Washington, D. C., preparatory to being sent home to be mustered out. Quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation.

XVII. The brigade consisting of the Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth, and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, and Ninth New Jersey Volunteers, will be sent to North Carolina, reporting to Brigadier General I. N. Palmer, commanding District of North Carolina, who will order the One hundred and fifty-eight New York Volunteers, and the Ninth Vermont Volunteers, to be sent to Bermuda Hundred, to report to Major-General Ord, commanding Eighteenth Corps. Two of the first named regiments will be sent first, and the transportation which takes them will bring back the One hundred and fifty-eight New York Volunteers; then the next two regiments will be sent, and the some transportation bring back the Ninth Vermont Volunteers. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation, and the movements will be made as promptly as possible.

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