HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS,
Bermuda Hundred, Va., May 12, 1864.

Colonel H. M. PLAISTED,

Eleventh Maine Volunteers, Commanding Third Brigade:

COLONEL: Pursuant to instructions from corps headquarters, the brigadier-general commanding directs that you hold your command in readiness to support a movement in front. The men will be in light marching order, with two days' cooked rations. It is not expected that they will be called on to go far.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ADRIAN TERRY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS,
May 12, 1864 - 4 p. m.

Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. SMITH,

Asst. Adjt. General, Tenth Army Corps:

COLONEL: I have the honor to inform you that a white man (a cripple) whom i have conversed with, reports that yesterday large bodies of infantry were passing in the road from Petersburg toward Chester Court-House. This information is corroborated by colored men, who have been brought in to me. I send this information, believing it to be correct.

I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. AMES,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS,
Near Walthall Junction, May 12, 1864 - 8.30 a. m.

Lieutenant-Colonel SMITH,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: Your instructions of 7.20 a. m. have just been received. I shall send immediately 200 cavalry (colored) to connect with the troops on my right. I shall have a patrol on the railroad and another on the pike. Everything is quiet in my front.

Yours, &c.,

A. AMES,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
May 12, 1864 - 11 a. m.

Major General W. F. SMITH,

Commanding Eighteenth Corps d'Armee:

SIR: From prisoners we learn that yesterday Kemper's, Ransom's Colonel Clarke's (Twenty-fourth North Carolina), and another brigade left Petersburg. At daybreak this morning they moved and

marched up the turnpike toward Richmond. Yesterday morning

44 R R - VOL XXXVI, PT II