Henry W. Benham to Brevet Brigadier-General SHARPE, March 17, 1865

March 17, 1865—9 p.m. Brevet Brigadier-General SHARPE:

Refugees from Richmond who came into our lines to-day report that Sheridan had a fight with Pickett’s division Wednesday. Wounded were brought into Richmond yesterday morning. They say Sheridan was moving toward White House. They came from Richmond to Drewry’s Bluff this morning. Met a tug towing a quantity of pontoonboats up the river. The captain thought a. bridge was to be put across the river above the city. One of them said it was reported that Sheridan lost two general officers and captured 700 of Pickett’s men. Local Defense troops all came back to the city yesterday.

Hpe@rs. ENG. BRIG. AND DEFENSES OF CITY POINT, V4..,. March 17, 1865. Col. GEORGE D. RUGGLES, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

COLONEL: I was just at my table to offer some suggestions that occurred on reflecting upon the disposition General Meade mentioned to me yesterday as intended for the troops of this vicinity when the orders reached-me. Though if too late for any change I may perhaps

20 N. AND S. E. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. (Caar. LVI.

mention what had occurred to my mind, being mainly this: that while it is obvious that if there were no danger to be anticipated no troops at all would be needed on the lines of defense of City Point. Yet if there is danger it would be, as I should most expect, from a sudden burst or rush of the enemy either upon our left or directly in our front; and as L have but six and two-thirds companies of the Fifteenth Engineers on these lines, besides the one at the depot here, it could hardly be possible to insure the picketing on our left, which, as the minimum, I have found required 750 men, and provide for the guarding of these eight forts, over 18,000 to 20,000 feet of crest line; while if one more regiment were retained (say, the Sixty-first Massachusetts) in camp upon or near the lines on one side of the railroad, while the engineers held on the other side to be ready at hand in case of emergency, I should have a much greater feeling of security than if I had to send two or three miles to the rear, aS would be the case, to get: the assistance from General Collis’ command here. And it occurs to me that possibly it might meet the views of the commanding general to retain this Sixty-first Massachusetts Regiment on the lines as at present, but subject to details for a portion of them at least, if necessary, for special service at this post.

Very respectfully, your obedient,