HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
Camp and Defenses, City Point, December 10, 1864.

Brevet Brigadier-General ABBOT:

DEAR COLONEL: General Benham has been ordered to the Petersburg front, with nearly all the troops on these lines. They go to-night or to-morrow morning, for an emergency, I understand. He says it is proposed to leave me here in charge of artillery, and infantry, and camp, &c. I write to learn if you know anything of the matter, or wish to give me any orders on the subject.

In haste, yours,

THOS. S. TRUMBULL,

Lieutenant-Colonel, &c.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
December 10, 1864-1.50 p.m.

General ORD,

Twenty-fourth Army Corps:

An officer just from Jourdan reports the affair as very small; but little firing. The enemy have shown no force of any size. The cavalry came in, but Jourdan sent them back.

JNumbers W. TURNER,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
December 10, 1864-1.50 p.m.

General ORD,

Twenty-fourth Corps:

The following just received from Kautz:

The enemy is in considerable force in front of Spring Hill and Camp Holly. I have two regiments skirmishers with the enemy in front of the work. One officer and several men reported wounded. The enemy is also advancing down Four-Miles Creek. The strength of the enemy is not fully known, but the cavalry report it much superior to their force, but are not able to say whether it is cavalry dismounted or infantry.

JNumbers W. TURNER,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
December 10, 1864. (Received 2.30 p.m.)

General TURNER,

Chief of Staff:

Order the infantry from Dutch Gap as proposed, provided it uncovers nothing of importance.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.