privates receiving commissions will be mustered into the grade to which they may be appointed for three years or for the unexpired portion of their original term of service at their option, such a regulation to have retrospective action.

Very respectfully, &c.,

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, September 10, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Five deserters and fifty-seven prisoners of war were forwarded this a. m. from General Mott's division, Second Army Corps. The deserters are all from the Eleventh Florida, Finegan's brigade, and came into our lines shortly after dark last evening, just previous to the capture of the prisoners. The prisoners represent two brigades of Mahone's division, Finegan's and Harris'. Ten of them are from the Twelfth, Nineteenth, and Forty-eighth Mississippi, of Harris' brigade, and the remainder from all the regiments of Finegan's brigade. The picket-line of Harris' brigade was attacked by us near its left where it joins Finegan. Harris' brigade lies to the right of Finegan. None of the deserters of prisoners give any information of importance. The position of Hill's corps remains unchanged. Some of them report a division of Longstreet's in rear of Mahone; suppose it to be Field's division. More than half of Finegan's men seem anxious to take the oath of allegiance and go North.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. C. BABCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, September 10, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Twenty-four prisoners of war from the Twelfth, Sixteenth, and Nineteenth Mississippi have been forwarded from the Second Army

Corps in addition to those received early this a. m. The total number received thus far is eighty-three, representing only Harris' and Finegan's brigades. The last bring no additional information.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. C. BABCOCK.

CITY POINT, September 10, 1864.

J. C. BABCOCK,

Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

I was over at General Butler's yesterday p. m. and examined prisoners and deserters there. The troops on the north side of the James are