HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
November 11, 1864.

Major-General HANCOCK,

Commanding Second Corps:

The enemy appear to be concentration ion the north side of the James, and also moving toward our left. The commanding general directs that corps commanders caution their pickets and lookouts to watch closely for any appearances the troops holding the lines in their front being materially weakened, and that the troops be held ready to move at brief notice.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

(Same to Generals Warren, Parke, and Gregg.)

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
November [11], 1864.

Major-Generals HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

A deserter, Private Y. T. Mann, Forty-sixth Virginia Volunteers, has just been brought to my headquarters. He says that on last Monday night the enemy withdrew a South Carolina brigade and two North Carolina regiments, of Johnson's division, from their front line. He says these troops marched from their line on battle into Petersburg and went away, but he does not know whether they were taken away in the cars or whether they marched off.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
November 11, 1864.

The following* is published for the information and guidance of commanders, who will use every exertion to enforce the order. Attention is called to the date of the dispatch.

By command of Major-General Hancock:

C. J. MILLS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

November 11, 1864.

It is evident that" to-day's papers" spoken of in the dispatch from General Grant just published means the papers received here, i. e., those of November 10. Commanders will be governed accordingly.

By command of Major-General Hancock:

C. J. MILLS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

---------------

* See Grant Meade, relating to newspapers, p. 579.

---------------