Today in History:

408 Series I Volume XL-III Serial 82 - Richmond, Petersburg Part III

Page 408 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. Chapter LII.

In addition to the staff already attached to corps headquarters the following officers of my personal staff are announced: Major S. S. Seward, aide-de-camp; Captain A. B. Sharpe, aide-de-camp; Captain H. G. Brown, aide-de-camp. They will be respected accordingly.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General, Commanding.

CITY POINT, VA., July 23, 1864.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

The order sending regiments whose time expires by the 25th of August to Washington will take Colonel J. D. McIntosh, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Colonel George H. Chapman, Third Indiana, both commanding brigades in Third Division Cavalry; I have therefore to request their immediate promotions in accordance with previous recommendations.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

WASHINGTON, July 23, 1864-1 p.m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,

City Point, Va.:

General Wright in person arrived this morning, and most of his forces will encamp at our outer line to-night. He says it will take about two days to refit his men with shoes and clothing and to have them paid. Our cavalry yesterday followed the enemy to Strasburg. He is still moving south. General Hunter telegraphs to the President that, without the assistance of Wright, he cannot prevent Early's return, if attempted. A man just in from Gordonsville says the railroad is repaired and the bridge across the Rapidan nearly completed. In regard to Early's force, General Wright was assured by Union men, who saw both armies, that Early's was much the larger. The rebels generally said to the country people that as soon as they secured their plunder they would return to Maryland and Pennsylvania for more, and that they expected to meet a force from Richmond to receive their plunder. They were probably directed by their officer to say this. The President (who has seen all the dispatches on the subject) directs me to say that you alone can judge, of the importance of sending with Sixth Corps to the Army of the Potomac, or of its operating with Hunter against Gordonsville and Charlottesville, and that you alone must decide the question. The part of the Nineteenth Corps which returns with General Wright will be sent to City Point as soon as they can be refitted.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CITY POINT, VA., July 23, 1864-6 p.m.

Major-General HALLECK,

Washington, D. C.:

If Wright has returned to Washington send him immediately back here, retaining, however, the portion of the Nineteenth Corps now in


Page 408 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. Chapter LII.