NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., August 17, 1864-5 p. m.

General R. E. LEE,

Chaffin's Bluff, Va.:

Have ordered our batteries to open daily for thirty minutes, at 2 and 3 a. m., to prevent enemy's concentration of troops for an attack.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

CHAFFIN'S BLUFF, August 18, 1864.

(Received 11.15 p. m.)

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War:

This morning our skirmishers reoccupied the hill north of Dutch Gap, from which the enemy had been driven by our gun-boats. This afternoon the left of our line north of James River advanced against the enemy's right to discover his strength and position; drove in his skirmish line, and finding him strongly intrenched withdrew. About noon the enemy in front of Petersburg moved his Fifth Corps toward the Weldon railroad, when he was met by General Heth, who drove him a mile, capturing 150 prisoners.

R. E. LEE.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Numbers 195.
Richmond, August 18, 1864.

* * * * * * *

XX. Captain M. T. Davidson, Signal Corps, is assigned to duty with the division commanded by Major General C. W. Field, and will report accordingly.

* * * * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNumbers WAITHERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Numbers 196.
August 18, 1864.

Brigadier General S. McGowan, having reported for duty, is assigned to the command of his brigade. General Conner is relieved from the command of McGowan's brigade, and will retain the command, for the present, of Lane's brigade and the detachments which were ordered to report to him.

By command of General R. E. Lee:

W. H. TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

August 18, 1864.

[Lieutenant Colonel W. T. POAGUE:]

COLONEL: Colonel Walker is much in need of men to work two heavy guns. Our artillery as well as infantry force here has quite as much as

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