HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
October 30, 1864 - 11.20 a. m.

Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS:

I propose to relieve General Miles by the other two divisions. Does General Meade approve?

Very respectfully, &c.,

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 30, 1864 - 11.40 a. m. (Sent 11.50 a. m.)

Major-General HANCOCK,

Commanding Second Corps:

The commanding general approves.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
October 30, 1864 - 10.30 p. m.

General HUMPHRYES:

Just after I returned this evening I learned that the enemy captured a few of General Miles' picket-line between Forts Davis and Alexander Hays about 9 p. m. How many were captured I cannot say. General Mott is re-establishing the line. He was about relieving General Miles. It is said the pickets understood the enemy to be our own relief, and so did not fire a shot. I have manned the rifle-pits up to Battery 24. Perhaps General Crawford had better do the same beyond, though I anticipate no further advance unless because the enemy effected such easy capture. I know very little of the actual truth of the affair. It is said some of the vedettes remained in front after the posts had been captured, ignorant of the whole affair. The captain who brought in the report and who escaped has been in service only two weeks.

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,

Major-General.

CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,

October 30, 1864.

The following disposition of troops is ordered for to-night:

The Third Division, Major-General Mott commanding, will relieve the First Division in the garrisons of Battery 24, 150 men; Fort Hays, 300 men; Fort Davis, 550 men; Fort Sedgwick, 800 men; Fort Rice, 250 men; Fort Meikel, 150 men; Fort Morton, 400 men; and Battery 14, 150 men. This division will relieve also the picket-line of the First Division between Battery 24 and Battery 13. The reserves of the division will be placed in rear of Fort Hays, in the second line at Fort Sedgwick, and in rear of Fort Morton. The picket details will be made up from the garrisons and reserves.

As fast as it is relieved the First Division will be massed near the Southall house. General Miles will place about 250 men in Fort Bross,