HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 20, 1864-6.45 p.m. (Received 6.50 p.m.)

Major-General BUTLER:

I have received your dispatch, and have given orders for my batteries on the left of Birney's line to open so soon as that officer ceases firing.

GEO. G. MEADE.

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS,
September 20, 1864

Brigadier-General WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

My line has been very quiet; nothing of interest, except the opening of the Brooke gun. I will withdraw to-night a portion of my center to the new line in rear, which is completed that far, still holding the advance line. The work on second line is progressing rapidly, and I think a week will complete the redoubts.

D. B. BIRNEY,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
September 20, 1864.

Major-General BIRNEY,

Commanding Tenth Corps:

The following report from General Hunt, chief of artillery, as to the measures taken to silence the Brooke gun, is communicated for your information:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Before Petersburg, September 20, 1864

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I yesterday examined the position of the large gun, apparently a columbiad, recently placed in position by the enemy about 1,600 yards northwesterly from Fort Morton. It is west of the railroad cut, about opposite Fort Haskell, from which it is hidden by a wood. Fort Morton can bring four guns to bear upon it, and I have directed the two siege guns now there, and two others transferred from Battery 17, near the Avery house, with the 10-inch mortars, to be opened upon it whenever it fires. In the meantime measures are being taken to determine accurately the bearing and distance from the 8-inch mortars near Forts Haskell and Stedman that a heavy fire may be concentrated upon it.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

HENRY J. HUNT,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Artillery.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HDQRS. LIGHT ARTILLERY Brigadier, TENTH ARMY CORPS,
Before Petersburg, Va., September 20, 1864.

Captain CHARLES H. GRAVES,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Tenth Army Corps:

CAPTAIN: I have nothing to report this morning, except the expenditure of 113 rounds of ammunition, fired at the enemy's works and working parties. I have the honor to request that the chief quarter-