HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 1, 1864 - 3.25 p. m.

Major-General HANCOCK:

General Ferrero reports heavy skirmishing with the cavalry in his rear. The major-general commanding thinks you had better get your reserves under arms.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

(Same to Major-General Warren.)

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,
September 1, 1864. (Received 4.15 p. m.)

General HUMPHREYS:

I have ordered my available troops under arms. If there is any trouble in the direction indicated by your dispatch, I should be authorized to move General Miles from his position at the Avery house.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 1, 1864 - 5.30 p. m.

Major-General HANCOCK,

Commanding Second Corps:

Information received from the cavalry picket-line shows that there is no longer any necessity of the reserves being under arms.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

(Same to General Warren.)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 1, 1864 - 7.45 p. m.

Major-General HANCOCK,

Commanding Second Corps:

The major-general commanding directs that during the operations to-morrow the troops be on the alert and the available force held ready to move. No details for working parties will be furnished to-morrow.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

(Same to Generals Warren and Willcox.)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

September 1, 1864. (Sent 8 p. m.)

Major-General HANCOCK,

Commanding Second Corps:

I am instructed to inform you that General Gregg will concentrate a strong cavalry column during the night, and at daylight make a dash upon the enemy's line of communication between Petersburg and Stony