CITY POINT, VA., December 14, 1864.

Major-General MEADE:

I am unexpectedly called away. Please address all dispatches for me to General Rawlins at these headquarters, and they will be forwarded.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

(Same to Major-General Ord.)

OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, December 14, 1864.

Major General G. G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: A deserter from the Donaldsonville Light Artillery, Richardson's battalion, A. P. Hill's corps, came into the lines of the First Division, Sixth Army Corps, about 1 o'clock this p.m. States that his battery is stationed near Fort No. 29, near the Jerusalem plank road, and did not move on the late march of A. P. Hill's corps. Understood that Hill's corps had returned and taken their old position, and Wilcox's division also. Troops from Early's command moved down on the extreme right (enemy's right); consider the late movement a failure on our part; endeavor to convey the idea that our attack was upon Weldon, and that we got cut off and gave it up. Hill's corps suffered badly for want of overcoats and blankets. W. H. Alley, a refugee that came into our lines last evening, also brings news of the return of Hill's corps by the Military road yesterday afternoon.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNumbers C. BABCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, December 13 [14], 1864-6.20 p.m. (Sent 6.30 p.m.)

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

The above dispatch forwarded for your information. I should judge there was no doubt of the return of Hill's corps, although a part may, perhaps, have been left behind or sent farther south.

GEO. G. MEADE,
Major-General.

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

December 14, 1864.

Major General G. G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Two deserters from the Twenty-first North Carolina Infantry, Lewis' brigade, Pegram's division, came into the lines of the Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, about midnight; left the trenches at dark last evening, at which time Lane's brigade, of A. P. Hill's corps,