HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, December 17, 1864.

Brigadier-General BENHAM,
Commanding Engineers:

The commanding general directs that you hold the infantry under your command in readiness to move to Bermuda Hundred in case of being called upon so to do by Major-General Ord, commanding Army of the James.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

CITY POINT, December 17, 1864-12.15 p.m.

General S. WILLIAMS:

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of to-day. I was last night ordered from headquarters Armies of the United States to send, 1,000 men to report to General Ferrero, commanding Defenses Bermuda Hundred. I sent all my men, except the Sixty-first Massachusetts, guarding Bailey's Creek, and 500 engineers.

H. W. BENHAM,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, December 17, 1864.

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

General S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

No changes in the disposition of my command since last report and nothing of interest has occurred. Three deserters came into our lines last evening and have been forwarded.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, December 17, 1864-6.40 p.m.

(Received 6.50 p.m.)

Brigadier General S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

The general officer of the day reports to me that the deserter from the cavalry who came into our lines near the Weldon railroad stated that there were some three scouts in a house about half a mile outside of our picket-line near the road. The general officer of the day proposes to capture them to-night. Is there any objection to it?

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, December 17, 1864-7 p.m.

COMMANDING OFFICER SECOND CORPS:

The commanding general will be glad if you will have the three scouts alluded to in your dispatch of 6.40 p.m. captured to-night.

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.