CITY POINT, August 17, 1864.

General HANCOCK:

I have sent General Barnard and Colonel Comstock to Dutch Gap to see if the works carried by General Butler's men there last evening, and still held by them, give us any advantage in turning the enemy from that direction. I cannot go up until I get their report, and likely will not go up at all to-day. Rest your men all you can unless you see some decided advantage to be gained.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, August 17, 1864.

General GRANT:

I send you a note just received from General Birney, which I have not thought proper to act on without referring to you.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS TENTH ARMY CORPS, August 17, 1864.

Lieutenant-Colonel WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Army Corps:

The point where most of the dead and wounded, both of our own and of the enemy, lie [is] under both their fire and ours. I respectfully request that a flag of truce be sent, proposing a suspension of hostilities in order that the wounded may be removed and dead buried.

D. B. BIRNEY,

Major-General.

CITY POINT, August 17, 1864.

General HANCOCK:

Send a flag of truce to the commanding officer on the enemy's front where the wounded lie, proposing cessation of hostilities there until the dead wounded of both parties are collected.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, August 17, 1864-3.50 p.m.

General GRANT:

Between 4 and 6 this p.m. the dead and wounded between the lines at Fussell's Mill will be delivered to the contending parties under flag of truce.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.

(Same to General Meade.)