able force to slash trees in front of the new line toward Petersburg so as to give an unobstructed view from one main redoubt to the other. As soon as a line is staked out from the Gurley to Williams house I will throw on it all the available white troops, say two-thirds, exclusive of the parties on the road. Please telegraph me if this arrangement is satisfactory to the major-general commanding.

O. B. WILLCOX,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 4, 1864.

Brigadier-General WILLCOX,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

Your dispatches received. The work on the Gurley house redoubt and the line from there to Warre's line should be commenced at once and continued through the night. The slashing you mentioned should be continued to-morrow. One-half the available white troops for the line between the Gurley and Williams house would be better than two-thirds.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 4, 1864.

Brigadier-General WILLCOX,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

Major Duane says the engineer officer who staked the work out is at the Gurley house with the engineer company there. He belongs to the Fiftieth New York. Major Duane is instructed to order him to report to you in person at once.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, September 4, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: All quiet along cavalry line of pickets.

D. McM. GREGG,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 4, 1864-8.20 p.m.

Brigadier-General GREGG,

Commanding Cavalry:

Information has been received of the passage through Gordonsville, on their way to Richmond and Petersburg, of a large part of Eearly's troops, beginning on the 28th ultimo and continuing when the informant left there on the 1st instant. The lieutenant-general commanding