HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
December 26, 1864.

COMMANDING OFFICER ON BOARD THE EMPIRE CITY:

The Empire City will proceed at once to Fortress Monroe and disembark her stores and troops as speedily as possible. She will then take on coal and water and what supplies she needs with the utmost dispatch, and proceed at once on her route to New Orleans. The order of sailing already given will be in so far amended.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
ARMY OF THE JAMES,

In the Field, December 26, 1864-2.10 p.m.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,

City Point:

Richmond Whig of to-day says:

WILMINGTON, December 24.

Seventy vessels of the enemy's fleet reported off Fort Fisher this morning. No demonstrations of landing yet. Weather mild. A Yankee gun-boat grounded last night near Fort Fisher and was blown up by the enemy.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General.

CITY POINT, December 27, 1864.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Richmond papers of to-day announce the landing of our troops near Fort Fisher. I will get the papers in the course of an hour and send you full extracts.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, VA., December 27, 1864.

Colonel R. C. WEBSTER,

Fort Monroe:

Lieutenant Porter, of my staff, left here yesterday on the River Queen with dispatches for General Butler, off Wilmington. I have heard from the fleet off that place and of the troops effecting a landing. You will communicate this to him, and say to him that it is not necessary for him to go farther, and that he will return to this place without delay.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
BUREAU OF INFORMATION,

December 27, 1864.

Major General GEORGE G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: The following deserters from the enemy came into the lines of General Miles, Second Army Corps, last evening: One from