NEW BERNE, April 6, 1865.

Major General W. T. SHERMAN,

Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi:

GENERAL: Norfolk paper of the 4th reports Richmond and Petersburg in our possession. New York papers of the 3rd give official accounts of severe fighting going on all along the line. Everything going well; 25,000 prisoners captured. General A. P. Hill killed.

O. O. HOWARD,

Major-General.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Goldsborough, N. C., April 6, 1865.

Major General F. P. BLAIR,

Commanding Seventeenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: The general-in-chief has just sent his compliments to the major-general commanding, with the information that our troops occupy Richmond and that the rebel army is retreating toward Danville, General Grant in pursuit.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. E. STRONG,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Inspector-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF GEORGIA,
Goldsborough, N. C., April 6, 1865.

Major L. M. DAYTON,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

MAJOR: I have been endeavoring to find a command fro Major-General Schurz, knowing that he desires to serve with the Twentieth Corps. Ward's division is the only one that could under any circumstances be given him, both the other commanders having been with their divisions since the commencement of the war. General Ward has also bee in command of his division during the past two campaigns. He has served faithfully, and is extremelyanxious to remain with it one more campaign. In view of the excellent service done by his command since we left Atlanta, and of his earnest patriotism, I cannot think it would be just to relieve him at this time. I regret exceedingly that I have no command suitable for Major-General Schurz.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. SLOCUM,

Major-General, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. FIRST DIV., 14TH ARMY CORPS, Numbers 32.
Goldsborough, N. C., April 6, 1865.

I. The Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteers is hereby relieved from duty as guard to train of First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and the commanding officer will report to his brigade commander for duty immediately.

* * *

By command of Brigadier General Charles C. Walcutt:

J. E. EDMONDS,
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.