Please give the necessary order to carry this out. I refer to the division on the line occupied by Birney yesterday. Burnside thinks it is Barlow's.

MEADE.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 18, 1864. (Received 8.30 p.m.)

Major-General HANCOCK:

The major-general commanding thinks the pickets should remain until about 3 in the morning, by which time it is supposed General Burnside will have withdrawn. The pickets should be out of the way by daylight.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS

May 18, 1864-9 p.m.

Major-General MEADE:

General Birney will report to General Burnside, and remain on his flank, as you direct. My loss to-day in the division which attacked is thought to be 700 or 800 men.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK.

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 18, 1864-9. 15 p.m.

COMMANDING OFFICER SECOND CORPS:

The telegraph line will be run to Anderson's Mill to-night. Please have you operators open an office on your arrival at that place.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 18, 1864-10 p.m.

Major-General HANCOCK:

You will leave Tyler's division in its present position to-morrow.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

May 18, 1864-1 a.m.

The Second Corps, with the Sixth Corps on the right, and Burnside's army on the left, will attack the enemy's entrenchments to-day from the point at which they were taken possession of on the 12th.