HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, OFFICE OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL, October 4, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Deserter from Mahone's division (Harris' brigade, Sixteenth Mississippi Regiment) came into General Ferrero's lines about 9 p. m. yesterday. No change in the position of Mahone's division. Informant is unintelligent and can give no information of importance. Information from Colonel Sharpe to the effect that Hoke's and Field's divisions are at Chaffin's farm, with a regiment from each brigade of Pickett's division. Whole number of prisoners of war received during present operations has been 498 officers and men. Prisoners taken by General Butler have been from Clingman's brigade, of Hoke's division; Fulton's brigade, of Johnson's division; Gregg's and Benning's brigades, of Field's division.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. C. BABCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
October 4, 1864. (Sent 2.30 p. m.)

Colonel SHARPE,

Deputy Provost-Marshal-General, City Point:

The commanding general wishes to know whether General Butler has sent in any prisoners or deserters from Heth's division or other part of Hill's corps.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

CITY POINT, October 4, 1864-5.10 p. m.

General HUMPHREYS:

General Butler has sent in no prisoners or deserters from any division of A. P. Hill's corps. The prisoners he has sent in are from Law, Gregg, and Benning, of Field's division; Clingman, Martin, and Colquitt, of Heth's division, and Fulton's (Tennessee) brigade, which was detached from Johnson's division and lying on north side of James before present operations. Besides these there are four unbrigaded battalions represented. I have found nothing to indicate that any part of Hill's corps was on the north side of James.

GEO. H. SHARPE,

Colonel, &c.

CITY POINT, October 4, 1864.

Lieutenant DAVENPORT,

General Butler's Staff:

We can locate Heth, Wilcox, Mahone, and Johnson. Anderson's brigade of Field's division, is with Wilcox, and Thomas' brigade, of Wilcox's, is not on our front. General Shepley sends word that refugees from Weldon state that two brigades of Pickett's division passed