HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
October 8, 1864 - 3.50 p. m.

Major-General PARKE,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

I have given instructions for my troops to withdraw as soon as it is dark; the picket-line to be established in [the] advanced position.

Respectfully,

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS,
October 8, 1864 - 4.30 [p. m.].

General CRAWFORD:

Your dispatch of 3.50 received. I have given directions for the retiring of my force on the extreme left and at Hawks' house, and establish the new picket-line on my center and right; will correspond with yours.

JNumbers G. PARKE,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
October 8, 1864 - 5.05 p. m.

Major-General PARKE,

Commanding Ninth Corps:

Your dispatch received. The picket-line of Griffin and Ayres will be to-night very near the same position as last night. The right of the line from the railroad to Hancock's left has been advanced. Report from our signal station says about 1,000 of enemy's infantry have just passed a point on Boydton plank road going westward.

Respectfully,

S. W. CRAWFORD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

October 8, 1864.

The entire corps will be under arms at 6 a. m. and ready to move. At 7 a. m. the enemy's picket-line will be driven in along our whole front. General Ayres' division, with Bragg's and Hofmann's brigades, of Baxter's division (Third), will move in support of the line and threaten an attack on the enemy's works in their front. Brigadier-General Griffin will hold his division in readiness to support the attack in case it is necessary to make a more extended attack. The chief of artillery will supply the necessary batteries in case of an advance. General Ayres will select an officer to advance the picket-line of the whole corps. One brigade from each division will support its own picket-line in the advance.

By command of Brigadier-General Crawford:

A. S. MARVIN, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

9 R R - VOL XLII, PT III