HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
ARMY OF THE OHIO,

Federal Point, N. C., February 17, 1865.

Major General A. H. TERRY,

Commanding U. S. Forces, Fort Fisher, N. C.:

GENERAL: I expect General Cox to advance against Fort Anderson this afternoon and attack or invest it as far as practicable, as may seem advisable after a reconnaissance.

Please be prepared to take advantage of any success that may be gained; also have a division ready to cross the river to-night, if it becomes necessary, which I expect it will. Let the men have three days' rations in haversacks, and their intrenching tools. I will be in communication with you be signal from Reeves' Point.

Very respectfully,

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Numbers 34.
Fort Fisher, N. C., February 17, 1865.

I. Brigadier General Joseph R. Hawley, U. S. Volunteers, is announced as chief of staff at these headquarters, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

* * * * *

By order of Major General A. H. Terry:

A. TERRY,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

CIRCULAR
HEADQUARTERS NORTH LINE U. S. FORCES, Numbers 5.
Federal Point, N. C., February 17, 1865.

The troops of this command will be held in readiness to move at a moment's notice, with three days' cooked rations and at least sixty rounds of ammunition upon their persons.

By command of Brigadier General C. J. Paine:

SOLON A. CARTER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Smithville, N. C., February 17, 1865-7. 30 a.m.

Major J. A. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of North Carolina:

Rations have arrived and are issuing. We shall be off in an hour. The road to Fort Anderson from here leaves Reeves' Point three miles to the right. Shall I move more than one brigade down to the Point?

J. D. COX,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
February 17, 1865-2 p.m.

Major J. A. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of North Carolina:

I have struck the river some two miles above Reeves' Point. One brigade here; the others on the direct road from Smithville to Fort