ORDERS.] HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS,

October 25, 1864.

In accordance with permission from the general commanding Ninth Army Corps, the following change will be made in the troops garrisoning the forts on the line held by this command: The Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers will be relieved as part of the garrison at Fort Welch by the Fifty-first New York Volunteers. The commanding officer Twenty-first Massachusetts will report to his brigade commander. Twenty-first Massachusetts will report to his brigade commander. The commanding officer Fifty-first New York Volunteers will report to Lieutenant Colonel John C. Whiton, commanding Fort Welch and the forces holding the line of Second Division, Ninth Army Corps.

By command of Brigadier-General Potter:

SAMUEL WRIGHT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
October 25, 1864-11.40 a.m.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

Tracing my communication on the subject of brevets, I find it left General Grant's office, directed to the War Department, some ten day ago. In that communication and in others I have had the honor to recommend the following list of officers for promotion to brigadier-general by brevet, excepting First Lieutenant Peter S. Michie, whom I desire, for reasons set forth and for most meritorious services, should have two brevets in the army, making him major as he is assigned chief engineer of this army. The reasons for these promotions will be found set forth in my written communication and in General Orders, No.-, of this department:* Colonel Francis A. Osborn, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers; Colonel Alvin C. Voris, Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteers; Colonel N. Martin Curtis, One hundred and forty-second New York Volunteers; Colonel Alonzo G. Draper, Thirty-sixth U. S. Colored Troops; Colonel Samuel A. Duncan, Fourth U. S. Colored Troops; Colonel Joseph C. Abbott, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers; Major B. C. Ludlow, Fourth Missouri Cavalry; First Lieutenant Peter S. Michie, U. S. Engineers.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General.

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

October 25, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel G. A. KENSEL,

Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: The signal officer at James River reports:

Enemy building a line of rifle-pits from Cox's Ferry in a southwest direction in rear of other works. Buildings at the ferry are being torn down on south side of the river. Think the enemy has mounted two guns in a work to their right of three-gun battery near the river, bearing toward the Eighteenth Army Corps lines to the left of Fort Harrison; also building a battery a short distance to their left of the two-angled battery on north side of river.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. R. CLUM,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

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*See address of October 11, p. 161.

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