[CHAP. XLI.

The commanding officer will be instructed to keep his command in readiness at all times to move at any moment.

An officer of cavalry, Lieutenant Baker, will report to the officer of the brigade, to point out the route.

By command of Major-General French.

O. H. HART,

Lieutenant-Colonel, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

December 1, 1863.

Corps commanders will hold themselves in readiness to move with their trains and artillery at a moment's notice.

Please acknowledge.

By command of Major-General Meade:

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 1, 1863-1 p.m.

Major-General FRENCH,

Commanding Third Corps:

GENERAL: You will be withdrawn to-night by the plank road. Captain Mackenzie's engineers will show you a road by which you can carry your artillery to the plank road. He says it will require a few hours' work on it. Please furnish him with a strong working party under an efficient officer, and have this road ready before dark, so that you will encounter no delay after starting.

Yours,

GEO. G. MEADE.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS,
December 1, 1863-1.25 p.m.

General WILLIAMS,

Asst. Adjt. General, Army of the Potomac:

Your dispatch received. Will be in readiness.

WM. H. FRENCH,

Major-General.

HDQRS. FIRST CORPS SIGNAL STATION,
December 1, 1863-1.40 p.m.

Major-General NEWTON:

SIR: We can see no change in enemy's position. It has cleared off enough for us to get the following fragment of a rebel message from Clark's Mountain, evidently referring to our trains:

On a road leading from the Wilderness to Germanna.

Very respectfully,

WIGGINS AND CAMP,

Lieutenant, and Signal Officers.