CITY POINT, December 9, 1864.

(Received 4.30 p. m.)

Brigadier-General WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Your telegram relative to Captain Soper's company received at 1.45 p. m. to-day. At that time the company were drawing rations, and were unable to get off with the 3 o'clock train. Will be sent by special train.

M. R. PATRICK,

Provost-Marshal-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, OFFICE OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,
December 9, 1864-9.30 a. m.

Major General G. G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Just received from City Point the following telegram:

Agents from Richmond report the following: Early's command arriving in Richmond. Troops were coming in and going to Petersburg all night day before yesterday evening. Yesterday morning they commenced arriving at Petersburg. Field's division has moved to the left of enemy's line, and taken position on the Nine-Mile road.

Early's command, since the withdrawal of Kershaw's division, of Longstreet's corps, consists only of the reorganized remnants of Ewell's old corps. Our latest information of the strength of this corps is 12,000 muskets.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers C. BABCOCK.

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

December 9, 1864-10.30 a. m.

Major General G. G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Five deserters from Ninth Army Corps just received; all from Sixtieth Alabama, Gracie's brigade, of Johnson's divisions;

came in at 3 a. m. No movement of Johnson's division at that hour as far as informants knew. Have been under marching orders for forty-eight hours. Rumor that Early is landing his troops in Richmond. They have no news of their arrival here.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers C. BABCOCK.

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

December 9, 1864-10.30 a. m.

Major General G. G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Deserter from the Forty-second Virginia, Terry's brigade, Gordon's division, Early's command, came into the lines of the Second Army Corps about one hour before day this a. m. Ha states that his