JULY 21, 1864-7.45 p. m.

Lieutenant WRIGHT,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, First Brigade, [Second Division,] Nineteenth Army Corps, Bermuda Hundred:

General Butler directs that the brigade move up to the front to-night. Send notice to regimental commanders to be ready to march at 9 o'clock. Tell Crowell to provide transportation to include at least one day's rations. I return at once.

H. W. BIRGE,

Brigadier-General.

BERMUDA HUNDRED, July 21, 1864.

Governor BUCKINGHAM,

Norwich, Conn.:

Arrived yesterday. Assigned to Butler's command. Thirteenth Connecticut sailed from New Orleans on Cambria, 15th instant, for furlough.

H. W. BIRGE,

Brigadier-General.

FORT POWHATAN, July 21, 1864.

General BUTLER:

The telegraph wire is again cut between here and Swan Point, which occurs about every second or third day. Shall I hold the citizens along the line responsible that this is not repeated on fear of having their buildings destroyed near points where it is cut? Please answer.

G. S. INNIS,

Colonel, &c.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, July 21, 1864-8 p. m.

Colonel G. S. INNIS:

Unless the citizens give you information before the act, who it is and where they are that are engaged in cutting the telegraph, burn their buildings, [and] catch and hold some of the principal ones as hostages to be hanged if the outrage is repeated.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, New Berne, N. C., July 21, 1864.

Major General B. F. BUTLER,

Commanding Department of Virginia and North Carolina:

GENERAL: A citizen from Bertie County has been to me to-day to inform me that Bragg is collecting all the force he can in this State for the purpose of attacking this place. He is said now to have from 8,000 to 10,000, and they are assembling at Kinston. One deserter from Bragg's command has come down to Roanoke Island. I hardly know how he found his way there. About half an hour since I received a letter from Commander Macomb, from the fleet in Albemarle Sound, informing me that he had received news of the contemplated attack on this place by forces under Bragg. I only send these rumors for what they may be worth. Bragg perhaps thinks we are very weak here and