issue. I would, therefore, respectfully recommend that no more salt fish be issued to this brigade while on the march or anticipating a march.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. R. PIERCE,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

HDQRS. THIRD Brigadier, THIRD DIVISION, SECOND CORPS, November 21, 1864.

Captain J. P. FINKELMEIER,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division, Second Corps:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state that a heavy fire was kept up by our picket-line last night so as to prevent the enemy working. Notwithstanding, they have succeeded in advancing and connecting many of their pits, with the apparent intention of continuing to their left, in front of the Crater fort.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. McALLISTER,

Colonel Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, November 21, 1864.

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report all quiet along my front during the past twenty-four hours. Five rebel deserters arrived-one from Sixth Virginia, one from Sixteenth Virginia, one from Eighth Alabama, one from Tenth Alabama, one from Sixteenth Mississippi.

Respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, November 21, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

Nothing new along our lines during the past twenty-four hours.

JNumbers G. PARKE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, November 21, 1864. (Sent 2.41 p. m.)

Major-General PARKE,
Commanding Ninth Corps:

Could it be distinguished which way those cars were running-whether toward Petersburg or from it?

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.