[Second indorsement.]

OFFICE OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR,

Wilmington, December 21, 1864.

I consider the obstructions herein ordered to be essential to the security of the river.

R. R. PINCKNEY,

Captain, &c.

[Third indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Wilmington, December 21, 1864.

Approved.

By order of General Bragg:

R. S. PARKER,

Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Numbers 303. Richmond, December 22, 1864.

* * * * * * * *

V. The Twenty-second Battalion Virginia Volunteers is hereby disbanded. The men composing it will be distributed among the depleted Virginia organizations under the direction of the commanding general. The commissions of the officers of the battalion are vacated, to take effect from this date.

* * * * * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JUNumbers WITHERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, Va., December 22, 1864.

General R. E. LEE,

Petersburg, Va.:

Doctor Morris reports, as received from his operator at Gordonsville, dated 12 o'clock, that the enemy were at Jack's Shop, slowly advancing.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of war.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, Val, December 22, 1864.

General R. E. LEE,

Petersburg, Va.:

The following dispatch was received from the operator at Gordonsville at 3 p. m.:

The enemy are in twelve miles of Gordonsville. It is said they number 6,000, commanded by General Torbert, Powell, and Duffie. We are fighting them now near Jack's Shop. Our main force is at Liberty Mills, seven miles from Gordonsville, where we have intrenched position. If they do not divide their forces we will be able to resist them. Our forces are under Generals McCausland and Jackson, and only number 1,300 men.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.