HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
December 7, 1864-11 a.m.

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS, Asst. Adjt. General,. Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: The following change in the disposition of the troops of this corps have been made since last report: Major-General Mott reported and moved as directed. Garrisons and artillery have been placed in the rear works, except Fort Dushane, to which they have been ordered, and an infantry picket-line has been directed to be established from Fort Dushane to the left of the picket-line of the Second Corps. Six deserters came in last night.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 7, 1864-11 a.m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

Please report what arrangements you have made for holding your lines in the event of a movement being ordered; what number of men in round numbers will be left in the lines, and what number and organizations available for movement; also what batteries and the number of guns not required in the front line. In the event of any active operations all trains, &c., must be sent inside the lines at City Point, as was done on a previous occasion. Please instruct signal officers pickets, and others to be as vigilant as possible in noting and promptly reporting any movements of the enemy.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

(Same to Major-General Parke.)

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 7, 1864. (Sent 3 p.m.)

General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Commanding Second Corps:

The commanding general desires that the troops that will remain in the works in the event of the line being held by intrenched works alone keep constantly on hand eight days' full rations.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
December 7, 1864-6 p.m. (Received 6.15 p.m.)

Brigadier-General WILLIAMS:

The following report from signal officer just received. No other movements observed to-day:

CHURCH ROAD SIGNAL, STATION-5 p.m.

Captain THICKSTUN:

There is a column of infantry, followed by twenty-two ambulances and eight wagons, moving westward on the Cox road. The column was well closed; displayed thirteen colors, and was twenty-four minutes in passing a point 10 degrees west of north. No change in enemy's camps on the front.

VAN B. SLEEPER,

Sergeant, Signal Corps.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General.

54 R R-VOL XLII, PT III