SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. 1ST Brigadier, 3rd DIV., 2nd CORPS,

No. 86.
October 8, 1864.

I. During the temporary absence of Brigadier General R. de Trobriand, Colonel William R. Brewster, Seventy-third New York Volunteers, will assume command of this brigade.

II. Second Lieutenant P. Crawford, Seventeenth Maine Volunteers, is hereby detailed for duty as engineer officer of this brigade, and will report to Colonel William R. Brewster, commanding brigade, for duty.

III. First Lieutenant J. F. Kavangh, Fortieth New York Volunteers, is hereby relieved from duty as engineer officer of this brigade and will at once report to the commanding officer of his regiment.

By command of Brigadier General R. de Trobriand:

JAMES M. LINNARD,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
October 8, 1864 - 8.50 a. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

General Parke sends word that his line is advancing on the left. My own line is pushing out, but its right is so close to the enemy's line that they cannot advance over fifty yards without drawing fire from the enemy's works. Our signal officer reports our skirmish line pushed out on the Squirrel Level road and slowly advancing.

Respectfully,

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
October 8, 1864 - 9.50 a. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

GENERAL: Our line has advanced on the left nearly a mile in front of our present position. It occupies a line of old works of the enemy. The enemy have a thin line in their works. Their advanced sentinels have been driven from their line of pits on our right of the railroad and the line advanced. The distance is so great that i desire to know if I shall still go toward the enemy's works. Scales' and McGowan's brigades, of Wilcox's division, are in our front.

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

P. S. - The picket-line is well supported by a brigade of each division.

S. W. C.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 8, 1864 - 10.30 a. m.

Brigadier-General CRAWFORD,

Commanding Fifth Army Corps:

Your dispatch of 9.50 is just received. The object of your movement is not to attack the enemy, but to make him believe that you intend to attack. A supporting force should follow your picket or skirmish line,