degree of certainty any advance of the enemy against Richmond. With my present force and long line, the safety of my position must, in a great measure, depend upon chance.

J. LONGSTREET,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
October 31, 1864.

Brigadier General E. P. ALEXANDER, Commanding Artillery:

The lieutenant-general commanding is extremely desirous of covering with the fire of artillery the crossing of White oak Swamp, where the enemy will most likely attempt another passage. He crossed in the last effort he made at Mrs. Hobson's, and if that point could be brought under the fire of some of your long range guns, it would greatly add to the security of the position. General Longstreet desires, therefore, that you will put in the works, at the nearest or most favorable point, all the long-range guns you can bring to bear on the crossing referred to. Please let me know what you will be able to do in the matter.

G. M. SORREL,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from monthly return of the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee commanding, for October 31, 1864.

Present for Pieces of

duty. artillery.

Command. Officers. Men. Effective Aggregate Aggregate Horses. Field.

total present. present and

present. absent.

First 17 ...... ...... 17 20 ...... .....

Army

Corps

(Longstreet).

Picket's 395 5,764 5,764 7,346 11,838 ...... .....

division.

Field's 398 3,994 3,991 5,592 11,860 ...... .....

division.

Hoke's 376 4,505 4,505 5,527 11,931 ...... .....

division a

Total. 1,186 14,263 14,263 18,482 35, January ...... .....

Johnson's 553 6,339 6,329 7,968 13, January ...... .....

division

(Anderson)b.

Third 19 ...... ...... 19 19 ...... .....

Army

Corps

(Hill).

Heth's 361 4,198 4,198 5,202 12,668 ...... .....

division.

Wilcox's 403 5,034 5,034 6,455 11,969 ...... .....

division.

Mahone's 395 4,546 4,546 6,010 13,659 ...... .....

division.

Total. 1,178 13,778 13,778 17,686 38,315 ...... .....

First 227 2,226 2,226 2,940 4,548 45 63

Military

District,

Department

of

North

Carolina and

Southern

Virginia

(Wise).

Third 212 3,863 3,863 5,504 7,323 ...... .....

Military

District,

Department

of

North

Carolina and

Southern

Virginia

(Whiting).

Second 18 ...... ...... 18 20 ...... .....

Army

Corps-Valley

District

(Early) c

Rodes' 198 2,316 2,316 3,434 12,746 ...... .....

division.

Early's 137 1,794 1,794 2,447 8,220 ...... .....

division.

Gordon's 196 2,073 2,073 2,782 13,680 ...... .....

division.

Wharton's 112 1,538 1,538 2,113 7,036 ...... .....

division.

Kershaw's 285 2,856 2,856 4,129 10,969 ...... .....

division.

Artillery. 65 923 923 1,184 2,448 322 24

Total. 1,011 11,500 11,500 16,107 55,119 322 24

aTemporarily in First Army Corps.

bOf Anderson's corps.

cCavalry of Valley District not reported. Kershaw's division temporarily serving in Valley District.