John G. Parke to Alexander S. Webb, March 25, 1865

March 25, 1865—9 a.m. Major-General WEBB, Chief of Staff: As soon as I heard that General Parke had repulsed the enemy I directed my division commanders to push out reconnaissances. I have now gone to see what they have developed. :I have reason to believe that the enemy has weakened himself in my front. I will inform you if I find such to be the case. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CoRPs, Near First Division, March 25, 1865—9.15 a.m. Major-General MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac: I find my staff officer reported erroneously to you for me. As soon as I had given the preparatory orders for the movement of the corps I ordered out reconnaissances from each division at 6.45 a. m., with a view to attacking if the enemy’s line was held weakly. Telegraphed that to General Parke, and also asked authority to drive in the picketline throughout and take advantage of any weakness in the enemy’s line. General Parke replied it would be well to take advantage of any weakness of the enemy. The reconnaissance on the right moved toward the Skinner house, drove in the enemy’s pickets, found the enemy’s works manned with a line of battle, single rank, whose fire they received. On the left of the Skinner house they did not drive in the pickets. On the right of the Watkins house party not heard from yet. The party in Watkins’-house field report the enemy manning their works, 400 yards of the works visible, with a line of battle, single rank. The same report from the vicinity of the Armstrong house. The sum of the whole is that the enemy have a strong picket-line in pits, five or six men in each pit, pits about fifty feet apart; a thin line of battle in the works, single rank, men three feet apart, and artillery. If anything further is done it should be something like this: To drive in their pickets near the Watkins house, follow it up with a brigade, attacking the works there, and support the attack with the division, to be followed by the corps. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General, Commanding. : aoe sent to Ninth Army Corps, General Meade having left City oint. Cuar, LViI1.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, March 25, 1865—9.20 a.m. General HUMPHREYS: Griffin is ordered to remain near Wyatt house to support the Second or Sixth Corps, as he may be called upon. Two divisions of the Fifth Corps are still moving toward Parke, and will be directed to move toward left in case he reports that he will not attack. ALEX. S. WEBB, Brevet Major-General and Chief of Staff. ~ MARCH 25, 1865—10 a. m. Major-General HUMPHREYS: General Willcox reports that some of the prisoners state that Lee has been massing troops on his right, and that he will attack there. This I send for what it is worth. Other prisoners say that they will attack us again. We havea colonel of the Seventeenth South Carolina, 2 prisoner, of Johnson’s division. General Gordon was on the field in person. JNO. G,. PARKE, Major-General. (Same to Generals Warren and Wright.) MARoH 25, 1865—10.15 a. m. Major-General HUMPHREYS, Commanding Second Corps: We have evidence that two brigades of Johnson’s division are here. We have prisoners from two brigades, and they say that the whole division came over last night.

JNO. G. PARKE,