HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 1, 1864.

Major-General PARKE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac, Headquarters Ninth Corps:

The following just received from the staff officer I sent out. I have notified Hancock and Warren:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
September 1, 1864 - 5.10 p. m.

General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

The picket-line of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, on right of Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Colonel Smith, on right of plank road, was attacked. Colonel Smith, temporarily commanding Cavalry Division, strengthened his lines and sent out reconnoitering force. It has returned, and Colonel Smith reports they found no enemy, and thinks the attack was only a raid on the picket-line. All quiet now.

C. D. EMORY,

Captain and Aide-de-Camp.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 1, 1864.

Major-General PARKE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

The following dispatch just received by General Gregg:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION CAVALRY,
September 1, 1864. (Received 4.40 p. m.)

Brigadier-General GREGG,

Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

Pickets of Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry attacked by enemy. Colonel Smith has sent out First Maine. All quiet on other parts line. the Fourth is near Gurley's house.

H. C. WEIR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

U. S. SHIP ONONDAGA,

James River, September 1, 1864.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,

Commanding Armies of the United States:

GENERAL: I have respectfully to inform you that since the morning of the 29th ultimo the boats of the U. S. steamer Sassacus have been employed dragging the river with grapnels below City Point to Harrison's Landing for the torpedoes supposed to have been placed in that vicinity, but have not succeeded in finding any. It is thought that their locality is not correctly defined, or that the parties reporting them have been misinformed. I have ordered a steamer to patrol the river nightly from City Point to Harrison's Landing to prevent the enemy from indulging in any such diabolical tricks hereafter.

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

MELANCTON SMITH,

Captain and Divisional Officer, Commanding in James River.