"Major P.:

"Evening report: There have passed rear of Battery 5, going toward enemy's left, three trains-one of fifteen box and one of eight box and five flats, also fifteen wagons; rear of same, going toward City Point, two trains-one of ten box and four flats, one of thirteen box, and also nineteen wagons.

"W.,

"Sergeant, at D."

H. W. HOLMAN.

Respectfully forwarded.

J. C. PAINE,

Captain and Signal Officer.

PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION,

December 29, 1864-12 m.

Captain C. L. DAVIS,

Chief Signal Officer:

At 11.20 a.m. a scattering column of infantry appeared coming from the direction of Petersburg and disappeared on Boydton plank road, moving toward our left; numbered about 800, and were followed by six ambulances and seven wagons.

A. K. C[AROTHERS],

Sergeant.

SPECIAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE,

No. 473. Washington, December 29, 1864.

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21. By direction of the President the following officers are hereby assigned to duty according to their brevet rank: Brevet major-generals, U. S. Volunteers-Henry J. Hunt, Orlando B. Willcox, R. B. Potter, Nelson A. Miles, S. W. Crawford, Charles Griffin, Romeyn B. Ayres, David McM. Gregg, George W. Getty, Frank Wheaton, J. J. Bartlett. Brevet brigadier-generals, U. S. Volunteers-C. S. Wainwright, H. A. Morrow, J. Irvin Gregg, J. W. Hofmann, C. H. Smith, John C. Tidball, Fred. Winthrop, G. N. Macy, A. W. Denison, N. B. McLaughlen, J. Warren Keifer, W. H. Penrose, Joseph E. Hamblin, H. G. Sickel, Robert McAllister, John Ramsey. Brevet colonel, U. S. Army-J. C. Duane. Brevet colonels, U. S. Volunteers-Ralph Ely, Percy Daniels, Thomas Wilson, Byron M. Cutcheon, Charles P. Herring. Brevet lieutenant-colonel, U. S. Army-T. A. McParlin. Brevet lieutenant-colonels, U. S. Volunteers-J. G. Hazard, Ellis Spear, Henry O'Neil. Brevet majors, U. S. Army-W. W. Swan, W. W. Sanders. Brevet majors, U. S. Volunteers-George Lockley, George Shorkley, A. H. Merritt, C. H. Salter, A. W. Clark, J. C. Farwell, Robert A. Hutchins, Silas J. Marlin, J. D. Bertolette, Samuel Wright. Brevet captain, U. S. Army-J. W. Roder. Brevet captains, U. S. Volunteers-A. E. Fernald, Benjamin F. Conlin, J. D. Black. Brevet first lieutenant, U. S. Army-William B. Beck.

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By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.