E. O. Ord to Ulysses S. Grant, March 16, 1865

March 16, 1865—8.30 a.m. Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point: The Blackwater, a branch of the Chowan, I am informed cannot be forded except near the Army of the Potomac. Cavalry would have to have a ferry or pontoons. The ferry is destroyed; hence a dash can’t be made nowy Would it not be well to telegraph to Yorktown that a boat may be sent up, notifying Sumner? E. O. C. ORD, Major-General. City Point, V. A., March 16, 1865. Major-General ORD: You can send a dispatch to Fort Monroe and Norfolk directing that when Sumner reaches there he wil] come on up the river without debarking his troops. I think he will not leave White House earlier than to-morrow noon. Last night Sheridan had not reached there. U. 8S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. 10 N. AND SE, V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. (Cmar, LVIIL Hpgrs. Depr. oF Virginia, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 16, 1865—10 a.m. General J. A. RAWLINS, City Point: Deserters from Barton’s brigade say there were rumors in camp that part of Pickett’s [division] went on Sunday toward Lynchburg. where Sheridan had cut the canal, and another portion went to Hanover Junction and had a fight with some of Sheridan’s command. Heard that Pickett was driven back. Don’t know the day the fight occurred. Hpers. DEPT. OF Virginia, ARMY OF THE JAMES, March 16, 1865. (Received 11.15 a. m.) Brigadier-General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, City Point, Va.: Twenty-five deserters have come in since yesterday. They report that Harris’ brigade, Mahone’s division, has returned to our front, near Howlett’s house, and that Grimes’ division:has relieved Johnson’s division on lines at Petersburg, Johnson going to their extreme right.

E. O. ©. ORD,