GENERAL BIRNEY'S HEADQUARTERS,

May 17, 1864-11.20 a. m.

General HANCOCK:

My pickets report trains with infantry guards moving across the front to the left, about 1,000 yards to the right of General Burnside's line.

BIRNEY,

General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
May 17, 1864-1.30 p. m.

Major-General BIRNEY,

Commanding Third Division:

SIR: The major-general commanding directs me to request that you will send a staff officer to his headquarters to receive directions as to the position to be assigned your division. The headquarters of the corps will be on the flat beyond the Anderson house. General hancock also desires that you will inquire whether anything has been seen of his opera glass in the place where his sword was found.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANCIS A. WALKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS,
May 17, 1864-7.15 p. m. (Received 7.35 p. m.)

General BIRNEY:

GENERAL: You will make no change in your lines, and not move until further orders.

By command of Major-General Hancock:

W. P. WILSON,

Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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

Major-General WARREN:

I want to see you at once.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
Beverly's House, May 17, 1864.

General GRIFFIN:

As we will most probably begin an attack from this point with cannonading, to which the enemy will reply you had better have your men construct shelters where they can await the results. Send this to General Cutler.

G. K. WARREN,

Major-General, Commanding.