Today in History:

238 Series I Volume XL-II Serial 81 - Richmond, Petersburg Part II

Page 238 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. Chapter LII.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 20, 1864 - 8.30 a. m.

Major General D. B. BIRNEY, Commanding Second Corps:

I am directed to invite your attention to the large number (1,145) of men reported as missing in your statement of casualties sent in yesterday. The commanding general presumes that but a portion of these men were taken prisoners, and that many of the stragglers must have joined their companies. He therefore desires that you will furnish, as soon as practicable, a revised statement of the casualties in your command during the operations in front of Petersburg, specifying the number of men supposed to have been taken prisoners.

S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Indorsement.]


HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, June 20, 1864.

The data for the above report will be furnished without delay.

FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 20, 1864 - 8.45 a. m.

Major-General BIRNEY, Commanding Second Corps:

The major-general commanding instructs me to inform you that General Wright is directed to relieve one division of your troops on the right as far as the Hare house, and General Burnside to relieve the remainder of your line, his right to rest at the Hare house. Upon being relieved, the commanding general directs that the Second Corps be held in reserve in read of the left center at some point easily accessible from all parts of the position now held by the army, and from the crossing of the Blackwater.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

[Indorsement.]


HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, June 20, 1864.

Division commanders will at once make the necessary preparations for the movements indicated in the above telegram, and will hold their commands well in hand to prevent all confusion. Trains will be sent from the front and entrenching tools at once returned to the wagons.

By command of Major-General Birney:

FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.


HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, June 20, 1864 - 10 a. m.

General WILLIAMS:

I have directed some of my artillery to open slowly this morning, firing in the direction of the town and bridge.

D. B. BIRNEY,

Major-General.


Page 238 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. Chapter LII.