advance of the enemy will be discovered. A strong reserve will be placed on the plank road. Please send in a field return of your strength.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. C. WEIR,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
September 26, 1864-6.25 p. m.

Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

Five companies of the Forty-fifth U. S. Colored Troops have been forwarded and are assigned by me to the Tenth Corps; five more companies are in Washington. It is a pity that the-regiment should not be together. Please order the five companies to join their regiment.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,

September 26, 1864.

Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE A. KENSEL, Acting Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: The signal officer at Spring Hill reports as follows:

Two trains toward Richmond partly loaded with troops and one toward Petersburg with few passengers. All quiet along enemy's lines.

The railroad cannot be seen from tower on James River. The officer on duty there reports situation unchanged from yesterday. The enemy still at work on earth works.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. R. CLUM,

Captain and Chief Signal Officer.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
September 26, 1864.

Major R. S. DAVIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Butler's Headquarters:

The officer in charge of the picket-line reports as follows: There has been unusual activity on the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. Eleven trains have passed over the road to-day-nine have gone south empty and two north heavily loaded.

E. O. C. ORD,

Major-General, Commanding Corps.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,
September 26, 1864.

Brigadier General A. V. KAUTZ, Commanding Cavalry Division:

GENERAL: Brigadier-General Gregg, commanding, directs me to inform you that, in compliance with instructions received from headquarters Army of the Potomac, at an early hour to-morrow morning General Davies' brigade, of this division, will proceed to Prince George Court -House to relieve your division. Upon being relieved you will