Major-General to Alexander S. Webb, March 17, 1865
March 17, 1865. General WEBB, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Army of the Potomac: Nothing of importance has occurred on my line. A scouting party sent out yesterday learned that the officer reported missing, and the man with him unaccounted for, had been captured by a guerrilla party of the enemy. H. E. DAVIES, J. R., Brigadier-General. Hpqgrs. DEPT. OF Virginia, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 17, 1865—11.20 a.m. Lieut. Col. T. S. BowERs, Assistant Adjutant-General, City Point: Twenty-nine deserters from the enemy came into our lines yesterday. THEODORE READ, Chief of Staff. Hpqrs. DEPT, OF Virginia, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 17, 1865—8 p.m. Brigadier-General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, City Point: Fifteen deserters from the enemy have been received here since 4 o’clock yesterday. THEODORE READ, Chief of Staff. HpQrs. DEPT. OF Virginia, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, March 17, 1865—9 p.m. (Care Headquarters Armies, City Roint.) Colonel West reports that at daylight this morning he found it impossible to cross the swamp at White Oak bridge. He had just found a crossing, and would execute your orders at daylight to-morrow or before. He says he cannot take his wagons and ambulances with him, and wishes authority to send them back to camp with an escort. He says we will certainly lose a great many men. Perhaps the result will compensate. Has had parties along the Chickahominy to-day for several miles. All the fords are impassable; the streams much swollen. A scout reports our infantry at New Kent Court-House. He received both your dispatches at 4 p.m. What shall I answer? THEODORE READ, Assistant Adjutant-General, City Point, March 17, 1865—9.45 p.m. General READ, Chief of Staff: Send word to Colonel West that he need not make the attack ordered in my dispatch of this afternoon, but remain between White Oak 22 N. AND S. E. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. (Cuar. LVI. Swamp and Bottom’s Bridge, covering the latter and scouting above and below it on the Chickahominy, sending back escorts for supplies as needed. If he is heavily threatened by a superior force of the enemy he can return.
K. E. O. C. ORD,