HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,

November 11, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Deserter from Eight Alabama, received yesterday, thought Mahone's division (or part of it) was so rumored in his regiment. There has been a moved to the right, indicating a withdrawal of some portion of their force. The deserters received yesterday and to-day report the movement to the right.

Respectfully,

JNumbers C. BABCOCK.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT,
November 11, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: The signal station at Fort Davis has just reported:

At 9.30 a. m. column of infantry, numbering about 1,200, came direction of Petersburg and halted vicinity of large fort; immediately after, another column, numbering about 1,800, case direction, joined the 1,200 all moved west on road south of large fort. Ten mount men preceded the first column; apparently a general and staff. Infantry in works and woods in vicinity of large fort have also moved off in the same direction: counted twelve colors; column, moving rapidly.

The station at the Walthall house reports:

Camp in rear of works near Whitehead's Factory disappeared last night. One regiment of infantry drilling on Cemetery Hill, and one company near lead mine.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. S. STRYKER,

Acting Chief Signal Officer.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT,
November 11, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: The following has just been received from the signal officer at Fifth Corps headquarters:

The Ford Howard station sees the Boydton plank road a point half a mile northeast of lead-works to one-quarter of a mile southwest of the same place. The Church road station sees part of the same road from a point one-quarter of a mile west to toll-gate to a point three-quarters of a mile northeast from the junction of the Duncan road with the plank road. It also sees a part of the Duncan road at J. Boisseu's, and of the Durfee road at Doctor Durfee's. The reports these stations this a. m. indicate that there columns, say about there brigade, numbering at most 6,000 men, two pieces of artillery, have passed westward since 9 o'clock this a. m., the infantry being seen as far on the road as can be seen from the Church road station.

DAVIS,

Captain.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. S. STRYKER,

Acting Chief Signal Officer.