HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, May 7, 1864-6.10 p. m.

GENERAL: Your dispatch as regards General Birney is received. I understand from it that it is not intended that I should give the order, but that the order will come from headquarters of the army.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General of Volunteers.

The rear of General Birney's division has passed.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, May 7, 1864-6.30 p. m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS:

SIR: Your dispatch in regard to sending only a part of Birney's division was received too late. The head of the column is probably there now. I have closed in to the right, making the line complete, but in order to do so have been obliged to abandon the strong ground on the left, which commands the Brock road, but the skirmishers are so thrown around the enemy and so far advanced that unless an assault is made from a knowledge, probably, of the nature of our movement they cannot take advantage of it. If they do we cannot pass on that road.

Your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 7, 1864-6.15 p. m. (Received 6.45 p. m.)

Major-General HANCOCK:

The major-general commanding says you may recall the whole of the division sent to the Artillery Reserve.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, May 7, 1864-6.45 p. m.

General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

SIR: Received your dispatch by Major Riddle. I have sent for Birney's division to come back.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General of Volunteers.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

May 7, 1864.

The command will move to-night on the Brock road toward Todd's Tavern, following closely the Fifth Corps. General Barlow, commanding the First Division, will move immediately after the