If they get out to the railroad every raid ought to be destroyed from Gordonsville back toward Richmond and toward Orange Court-House for miles, and from Charlottesville toward Staunton and toward Lynchburg in the same way.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

WASHINGTON, July 24, 1864- p.m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,

City Point, Va.:

General Wright, in accordance with your orders, was about to embark for City Point. I have directed him to await your further orders. I shall exercise no further discretion in this matter, but shall carry out such orders as you may give.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864-5 p.m.

(Received 10 a.m. 25th.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK:

Please direct General Foster to order Brigadier General William Birney to report to General Butler if his services can be dispensed with. His brigade ought to be brought here if General Foster thinks he can do without it. Whilst operations continue here much cannot be done in the Department of the South except to hold what we have got.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864-11 a.m.

Honorable C. A. DANA,

Assistant Secretary of War:

How does the pursuit after the enemy sum up? Have they been compelled to drop any of their plunder, and have we killed, captured, and scattered any of their force to speak of? What news have you from Foster? We hear nothing from him except through the papers. All quiet here. A Richmond extra of yesterday claims great victory at Atlanta; capture of a great many prisoners; 22 pieces; killed large number, among whom was celebrated Yankee General McPherson, also Giles A. Smith and T. J. Wood; that Hardee was in Sherman's rear, and they expected that victory would be decisive. Sherman's dis-