HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, September 17, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: The following prisoners of war have been forwarded: One from the Third North Carolina Cavalry, Barringer's brigade W. H. F. Lee's division; three from the Fifth North Carolina Cavalry, Barringer's brigade, W. H. F. Lee's division, taken near Rector's house, on the Jerusalem plank road; also forwarded from Kautz's division, two from McGregor's battery, Stuart House Artillery; one from Second North Carolina Cavalry, Barringer's brigade, W. H. F. Lee's division; one from Jeff. Davis Legion, Young's brigade, Butler's division; eight in all. From them we learn that the force sent out to capture the cattle herd amounted to two divisions and two batteries of artillery. The divisions were W. H. F. Lee's and Butler's; the batteries, McGregor's, two guns, and Dearing, four guns. Part of W. H. F. Lee's division was left near Lee's Mill, on the Jerusalem plank road, to protect Butler's division from being cut off by any force of ours advancing on that road. All agree that no infantry accompanied the expedition. They all desire to be exchanged.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. C. BABCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, September 17, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Two deserters have just been forwarded from the headquarters Tenth Army Corps,one from the Forty-sixth Virginia, Wise's brigade, the other from Ransom's brigade, Forty-ninth North Carolina Regiment, both of Bushrod Johnson's division. They came into our lines early this a.m. Their information corroborates that received yesterday regarding the withdrawal of Hoke's division, and the extension of Johnson's division from the Burnside mine to the Appomattox. It was generally understood that three division had been sent down the Weldon road, some thought to Reams' Station. They state that a member of their division saw three or four brigades in Petersburg last Wednesday night that had just come from some place north of the Appomattox River. They have no further information of any importance.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. C. BABCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, OFFICE OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, September 17, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Our men returned from over the river this morning, having during the night met two of our agents who left Richmond yesterday, from one of whom eleven refuges from Richmond were received and brought within our lines. The refuges left Richmond last evening after dark. The other agent spoken of left Richmond in the morning, and from the agents and refugees the following information is obtained: The rumors about the evacuation of Petersburg were quite

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