CITY POINT, September 25, 1864.

Lieutenant DAVENPORT,

General Butler's Staff:

Agent left Richmond yesterday at 3 p. m. Early's second fight was known in Richmond about noon, and was spoken of at the Spotswood House as a defeat. Two regiments of infantry from Petersburg and one of the city battalions were sent yesterday to Lynchburg. Eight more guns were also sent down to be put in position at Chaffin's farm, and when the heavy firing of the salute here yesterday morning was heard in Richmond, another of the city battalions was formed and sent down to Chaffin's farm. Hampton's cavalry still reported on New Market Hill. Please telegraph me if you hear of any changes on your front, and whether you have anything confirming the reports received by me about Hampton's cavalry with the last two or three days.

SHARPE,

Colonel.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF SIGNAL OFFICER,

September 25, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE A. KENSEL,

Acting Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: The signal officer at James River tower reports situation unchanged from yesterday. Work is continued day and night on the rebel earth-works. One of our gun-boats near Jones' Landing shelled a clump of woods in rear of Aiken's but no cause could be discovered from the tower. The officer at Spring Hill reports all quiet along the enemy's lines to-day.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. R. CLUM,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. C.,
ARMY OF THE JAMES,

Numbers 264. In the Field, Va., September 25, 1864.

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IV. Brigadier General G. F. Shepley, commanding District of Eastern Virginia, will direct Company M, Thirteenth New York Artillery, to report without delay to Brigadier-General Graham, commanding Naval Brigade, near Point of Rocks, Va.

V. Major F. R. Hassler, Thirteenth New York Artillery, will report to Brigadier-General Graham, commanding Naval Brigade, to perform the duties of inspector-general and engineer officer.

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IX. Colonel Potter, commanding Provisional Brigade, will cause the Two hundredth and Two hundred and fifth Pennsylvania Regiments to be prepared, with ten day's rations (one day's at least of which should be cooked), to march early to-morrow morning, and report to the officer in command of the troops near Old-Court-House, part of General

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