visit Richmond for the purpose of arranging for the comfort and care of the French subjects there and to return to his consulate, which he lately left. He assures me that the baggage he has with him are matter for his personal convenience and comfort. We will receive at the point where this flag is received any communication which may be necessary to be sent from the French consul, either to these headquarters or to his minister at Washington.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

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

December 2, 1864 - 1.30 p. m.

General J. W. TURNER,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: The signal officer at Crow's Nest tower reports that the enemy seem to be getting ready to open fire on Fort Brady with all their guns at Cox's Ferry, and to the right and left of it.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. B. NORTON,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

I have notified General Ord.

J. W. T[URNER].

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. CAROLINA,

ARMY OF THE JAMES,

Numbers 158.
In the Field, Va., December 2, 1864.

The following-named officers are hereby assigned to duty according to their brevet rank, subject to the approval of the President, as follows:

Bvt. Major General A. H. Terry, U. S. Volunteers, to command the First Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.

Bvt. Brigadier General J. Jourdan, U. S. Volunteers (colonel One hundred and fifty-eighth New York Volunteers), to command the Fourth Brigade, First Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.

Bvt. Brigadier General N. M. Curtis, U. S. Volunteers (colonel One hundred and forty-second New York Volunteers), to command the First Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.

Bvt. Brigadier General S. A. Duncan, U. S. Volunteers (colonel Fourth U. S. Colored Troops), to command the Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty-fifth Army Corps.

Bvt. Brigadier General A. G. Draper, U. S. Volunteers (colonel Thirty-sixth U. S. Colored Troops) to command the First Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-fifth Army Corps.

Bvt. Brigadier General B. C. Ludlow, U. S. Volunteers, to command the Cavalry Brigade, Twenty-fifty Corps.

Bvt. Major P. S. Michie, U. S. Corps of Engineers, to be chief engineer of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.

By command of Major-General Butler:

ED. W. SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General.