[Second indorsement.]

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

October 4, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Meade for report.

To be returned.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Third indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 7, 1864.

Respectfully referred to the commanding officer Second Corps, for report and recommendation.

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. F. BARSTOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Fourth indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,
October 8,m 1864.

Respectfully referred to the commanding officer, Second Division, for a verification of the facts alleged herein.

By order of Major-General Hancock:

H. H. BINGHAM,

Major, Judge-Advocate, and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Fifth indorsement.]

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS,
October 9, 1864.

Respectfully referred to the commanding officer, First Brigade, for report.

By order of Brigadier-General Egan:

A. HENRY EMBLER,

Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure Numbers 3.]

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, SECOND CORPS,
Near Petersburg, Va., October 30, 1864.

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

SIR: In conformity with directions from the headquarters Army of the Potomac I have the honor to submit the following report of the circumstances attending the order depriving the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers of the right to bear colors:

In the battle of Reams' Station, on the 25th of August last, a number of colors were lost in the Second Corps. Fourth of these were in my division. I caused reports to be made, and personally investigated the circumstances attending the loss of three of them. I considered that the loss of these colors was not justified by the circumstances, and acting upon what I considered an old established rule, that a regiment