SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

No. 156. City Point, Va., December 24, 1864.

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2. The siege train of the armies operating against Richmond, commanded by Bvt. Brigadier General H. L. Abbot, is hereby permanently attached to the Army of the Potomac, and will report accordingly.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

T. S. BOWERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
December 24, 1864. (Received 11.20 a.m.)

Brigadier-General WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

No changes in the disposition of my command since last report. Eight rebel deserters came into our lines last night. One from Davis' brigade, Heth's division, states that he heard that Hoke's and another division, name not known, had gone to North Carolina, or were to go, and he also states that they are throwing up another line of works from the right of Cooke's brigade in a straight line to Burgess' Mill. One man of the Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers deserted to the enemy last evening.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
December 24, 1864. (Received 9.45 p.m.)

General S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

General Miles reports occasional musket shots, in all perhaps a hundred or more, with some little cheering, during the past two hours in his front within the enemy's main line of works. Has been unable to ascertain the cause. Also reports that Private Julius Hanson, B, Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers, deserted to the enemy from the picket-line at 7 o'clock this p.m.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FIRST DIV., SECOND ARMY CORPS,

Numbers 611. December 24, 1864.

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2. In order to bring together the regiments of the several brigades of this division, the following changes in the disposition of the troops are hereby ordered, and will be made to-day under the supervision of brigade commanders:

The One hundred and eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, First Brigade, will relieve the Thirty ninth New York Volunteers, Third Brigade; the Sixty-third New York Volunteers, Second Brigade, will relieve the One hundred and twenty-fifth New York Volunteers, Third Brigade; the Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers, Second Brigade, will