Today in History:

382 Series I Volume XLVI-III Serial 97 - Appomattox Campaign Part III

Page 382 N. AND SE. VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA. Chapter LVIII.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
April 1, 1865-6 p.m.*

Major-General SHERIDAN:

General Meade has directed all the spare ambulances he can get hold of to go down to Dinwiddie. Bartlett's brigade is at Crump's house, on Gravelly Run. Griffin, with three brigades, is ordered down Boydton plank to attack in rear of force menacing you. General Grant is requested to authorize the sending of Warren's other two divisions down the dirt road past Crump's to hold and cover that road and to attack at daylight.

ALEX. S. WEBB,

Brevet Major-General and Chief of Staff.

P. S.-Griffin will join you by the plank road, and Warren will attack with two divisions.


HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

March 31, 1863.

Brigadier-General SMITH,

Commanding Third Brigade:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to say that General Sheridan says that the same line is held by Merritt and Custer as when you left. Will organize your command and supply it with ammunition as speedily as possible.

Very respectfully,

H. C. WEIR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.


HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
Near Hatcher's Run, Va., March 31, 1865-7.40 p.m.

Bvt. Brigadier General THEO. READ,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

GENERAL: I was directed (on arriving here) by Brevet Major-General Webb to remain until ordered away. The trains of the Army of the Potomac which were collected here have just finished crossing, and there is no apparent necessity of my command remaining here longer. Are there any orders for my command?

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RANALD S. MACKENZIE,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Cavalry Division.

GRAVELLY RUN, March 31, 1865.

Major-General WEITZEL:

Prisoners captured near Hatcher's Run this morning report that part of their line strongly re-enforced from their left. What news do you get from your front?

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

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*So recorded in Meade's letter-book and so dated in the original draft. But in the latter the date is in ink (while the dispatch is in pencil) and in a different hand from the next. It was probably written between 10.15 and 10.45 p.m. March 31, 1865. See Grant to Meade, 10.15 p.m., p. 342, and Meade to Grant, 10.45 p.m., p. 342.

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Page 382 N. AND SE. VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA. Chapter LVIII.