HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
On Board Transport Metamora, May 5, 1864.

Brigadier General GODFREY WEITZEL,

Commanding Second Division, Eighteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: The commanding general directs me to send you the following instructions: You will move your command promptly at daybreak to-morrow, marching by the flank, the left in front, to the point where the road crosses the creek, at which point you will form in column closed en masse, then deploy in echelon, the right refused. Your whole force will be dispersed in two lines, the left battalion resting with its right on the road leading to your left, and the next battalion with its left on this road with skirmishers to the front.

General Brooks will form column of battalion closed en masse, the head of the column in echelon with your line. The skirmishers will connect with yours. This will be the order of march to the point indicated. Should any artillery arrive, it will be distributed according to circumstances.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. BOWEN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

PORTSMOUTH, May 5, 1864.

Colonel SHAFFER,

Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: General Kautz, commanding cavalry, requests me to inform you that he is moving and will pass through Suffolk about noon.

VODGES,

General, Commanding.

Captain Ashby, of Battery E, Third New York Artillery, four 20-pounder Parrotts, reports that his guns have gone with but 1 officer and a few men; no horses.

H. T. SCHROEDER

NORFOLK, May 5, 1864.

(Received 12 m.)

Major R. S. DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

Kautz has moved. I need more cavalry for picket duty. Can you send me any cavalry? Please have Colonel Dutton, Twenty-first Connecticut, sent to his regiment. Want him to command entrenched camp at Portsmouth.

G. F. SHEPLEY,

Brigadier-General.

[Indorsement.]

Told him there was no cavalry. Colonel Dutton on staff of General Smith.