CITY POINT, December 31, 1864-11.10 a. m.

Major-General PARKE:

To the end that our men may spend a quiet New Year's Day, direct that there be no firing to-morrow, except in reply to guns from the enemy. The usual vigilance, however, is to be preserved.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

(Same to Major-General Butler.)

Sent to all corps and independent commanders for their information and guidance.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
December 31, 1864. (Received at 10.30 a. m.)

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

No changes have occurred in the disposition of this command since last report. Ten rebel deserters came into our lines last night. Three men of the Sixty-fourth New York deserted to the enemy.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
December 31, 1864-5.10 p. m.

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

A deserter who came in last night and was forwarded by my provost-marshal this a. m., giving his name as Foster, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment, is reported to have said that the enemy meditates a dash on my picket-line to-night or to-morrow. I would suggest that he be examined on this point.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 31, 1864-7 p. m. (Sent 7.50 p. m.)

Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Commanding Second Corps:

Your dispatch in relation to the statement of Foster, Twenty-sixth North Carolina Regiment, as to a contemplated attack on your picket-lines, was referred to Mr. Babcock with instructions to examine Foster upon that point. Mr. Babcock states that Foster has been sent to City Point, but that in his examination to-day he gave no information respecting the reported demonstration. Mr. Babcock will be directed to have Foster questioned at City Point about the matter.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-Genera.