Today in History:

375 Series I Volume XLII-III Serial 89 - Richmond-Fort Fisher Part III

Page 375 Chapter LIV. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 27, 1864-4 p.m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Deserters from Eleventh Florida, Finegan's brigade, came into the lines of the First Division, Second Army Corps, last evening, about 12 o'clock. Up to that time no movement took place on Mahone's front. Neither the men nor company officers of the Eleventh Florida knew of our movement. A very unintelligent deserter from Twenty-seventh North Carolina, Cooke's brigade, came in about noon to-day; came in from the picket-line. Went out on picket last evening, at which time his brigade had not moved. Understood this morning about 11 o'clock that the brigade had moved to the right. Cannot say that any other brigades have moved. Heard that his brigade (Cooke's) had gone toward the South Side Railroad.

Respectfully,

JNumbers C. BABCOCK.

JERUSALEM PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION,

October 27, 1864-7.30 a.m.

Major B. F. FISHER:

Enemy's force in works on our front and left remains unchanged. Camps west of Weldon railroad apparently the same. Enemy is drilling in small squads in vicinity of railroad.

[A. K. CAROTHERS.]

JERUSALEM PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION,

October 27, 1864-9 a.m.

Major B. F. FISHER:

Camp consisting of about two brigades west of Weldon railroad and half a mile to the left of the lead-works partially broken up and troops moving southwest, taking no road visible from this point.

A. K. CAROTHERS,

Sergeant.

CHURCH ROAD SIGNAL STATION,

October 27, 1864-9.05 a.m.

Major B. F. FISHER,

Chief Signal Officer, Army of the Potomac:

The enemy along this whole front are breaking camps and moving west. The largest column noticed was eight minutes in passing a point. There are apparently but very few men left in their works north from this station.

SLEEPER,

Sergeant.

JERUSALEM PLANK ROAD SIGNAL STATION,

October 27, 1864-10 a.m.

Major B. F. FISHER:

All camps west of Weldon railroad and to the right of large fort broken up and troops moving west on road south of large fort; number about 3,000, including those of last report.

[A. K. CAROTHERS.]


Page 375 Chapter LIV. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.