HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
Near Petersburg, June 16, 1864-10.30 a.m.

Major-General BURNSIDE,

Commanding Ninth Army Corps:

GENERAL: Mass your corps on the left of the Second Corps in such position as General Barnard, chief engineer, may direct, and prepare as soon as possible either for attack or defense. From appearances the enemy are massing heavily on our left, and may attack this afternoon. If they do not, we want to prepare to improve the advantage gained by Smith last night.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 16, 1864-2.30 p.m.

Major-General BURNSIDE:

I am endeavoring to ascertain the practicability of attacking at 6 p.m. this day. If an attack is ordered you will have to take part in it. Hold your command in readiness. Send out skirmishers and reconnoiter in your vicinity and let me have any information you can gather. I shall, for the present, be with Hancock,and it would be well, as my staff are all behind, if you would send a staff officer and a few orderlies to receive and deliver to your orders.

Respectfully,
GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 16, 1864-4 p.m.

Major-General BURNSIDE:

You will move one of your divisions to your right, in rear of General Barlow, to act as a support to that officer in the attack he will make this p.m. General Barlow will indicate to the commanding officer the position he is to take.

Respectfully,

GEO. G. MEADE.

[JUNE 16, 1864.-For Sheridan to Humphreys, reporting arrival of command near Guiney's Bridge, &c., see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p.784.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Near Point of Rocks, Va., June 16, 1864-7.45 a.m.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,

Commanding Armies of the United States, City Point, Va.:

The enemy have evacuated our front. I have ordered out Foster's division to make a reconnaissance. The enemy have all gone to Petersburg. Hoke's division has come from the Army of Northern Virginia and gone to Petersburg. Will try to reach the railroad.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

7 R R-VOL XL, PT II