and your whole force should make a show of moving forward; but if your pickets or skirmishers would be in danger of being overpowered by advancing farther they should not move on. You must use your own judgment as to this and other matters connected with your reconnaissance.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

[Indorsement.]

OFFICIAL.] HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

October 8, 1864.

Furnished for the information of Generals Griffin and Ayres. The skirmishers will be pushed out until the enemy's force is developed, and the supports will be kept close at hand, so as to make as great a display of force in the face of the enemy as it is possible to do.

By command of Brigadier-General Crawford, commanding corps:

FRED. T. LOCKE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
October 8, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

Have received your dispatch of 10.30, and will act in accordance with it. Could not get off my last message to you before yours was transmitted, owing to an interruption in the wire.

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS,
October 8, 1864 - 12.15 p. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

Colonel Dana, commanding the skirmish line, reports that he has driven the enemy back to their works on our right in front of Fort Howard; that they appeared in considerable force and fired a volley at our men and yelled at them from their works. Under his instructions the right of our line has advanced as far as it can go.

Respectfully,

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

October 8, 1864 - 1 p. m. (Sent 1.12 p. m.)

Brigadier-General CRAWFORD,

Commanding Fifth Corps:

The major-general commanding directs that when you have advanced your reconnaissance as far as you can with security, and have obtained all the information of the position and force of the enemy that it is practicable to obtain by reconnaissance, you will withdraw the force