SPECIAL ORDERS.] HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 15, 1864.

1. The battalion of the heavy artillery now with the Artillery Reserve will at once take post at the intersection of the Telegraph road with the Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg road, some 4 miles from the latter place. The battalion will extend its pickets well on both roads.

2. Two days' rations will be issued to the troops, with the least practicable delay. In this issue two day's salt meat will be included. The wagons thus emptied will be sent to Belle Plain, accompanied by a commissary form each division, to be filled with subsistence stores, excluding meat.

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 15, 1864-3.30 p.m.

Major-General HANCOCK:

You will hold that portion of the Second Corps under your immediate command ready to move at a moment's notice.

Respectfully, yours,

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION,
May 15, 1864-1 a. m.

[Lieutenant-Colonel MORGAN:

COLONEL: Please to inform me whether the pickets of my Third Brigade, posted to the rear of General Birney's right, are to be withdrawn in time to move with the division, or are they to remain until General Birney withdraws his.

Respectfully,

JOHN GIBBON,

Brigadier-General.

RIFLE-PITS, May 15, 1864.

Brigadier-General MOTT,

Commanding Third Brigadier, Third Div., Second Corps:

GENERAL: It will be impossible to hold this line longer if the enemy continue their enfilading fire. The men are compelled to be perfectly quiet, while numbers of them are being mangled. Lieutenant Bladwin was just killed by a solid shot. The right has fallen back up to the point occupied by the Fifth and Eleventh New Jersey.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. McALLISTER,

Colonel Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers.