Today in History:

563 Series I Volume XXXIII- Serial 60 - New Berne

Page 563 Chapter XLV. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. -UNION.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 15, 1864.

COMMANDING OFFICER CAVALRY CORPS:

By direction of the major-general commanding, General Merritt has been ordered to send out a force to ascertain the nature of the reported movement of the enemy. The order was sent direct to avoid delay in communication. Major-General Meade desires to see General Pleasonton at these headquarters.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 15, 1864-5. 45 p. m.

COMMANDING OFFICER CAVALRY CORPS:

The report respecting the movement of infantry in front of the pickets of the Third Corps has been ascertained to be unfounded.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 15, 1864-5. 45 p. m.

Brigadier-General MERRITT:

The report of the enemy being in front of the First Division of the Third Corps has been ascertained to be unfounded. The cavalry reconnaissance may be recalled.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

TUESDAY NIGHT, February 15, 1864-9. 30 p. m. (Received 9. 56 p. m.)

Captain GEORGE S. SHAW,

Aide-de-Camp, Hdqrs. Dept. of Washington:

Mr. Childs, employed by Engineer Department, writes to Colonel Tannatt this evening:

Arrangements are now complete for barricading Aqueduct Bridge. Twenty-five or 30 men are required to do it. No orders have been received by guard at south end of bridge. I leave a foreman and 6 men at south end of bridge, and will be obliged if you will send an officer to direct when the bridge shall be closed. Everything is ready to close the bridge at five minutes' notice.

Tannatt has sent the men, and says:

It now remains for some one to name the hour when the passage should be closed. Will the general telegraph upon that point and inform me of the result, that I may be fully advised for any emergency.

I have been past the south end of the Aqueduct Bridge. Rifle-pits have been dug this afternoon this side the guard-house on both sides the bridge, and logs are ready near at hand to close the avenue entirely.

G. A. DE RUSSY,

Brigadier-General.


Page 563 Chapter XLV. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. -UNION.