Seth Williams to Daniel Butterfield, May 1, 1863

May 1, 1863—5.40 p. m. Major-General BUTTERFIELD: I have ordered the demonstration, directed by General Hooker, for 1 o’clock to day, to be made immediately. General Reynolds, supported by one division from Sixth Corps, will at once assume a threatening attitude, and maintain it until further orders. Another brigade will cross the upper bridges, to make a display in General Brooks’ front. JOHN SEDGWICK, Major-General, Commanding Left Wing.

BALLOON EAGLE, BANKS’ Forp, May 1, 1863—6 p. m. General SEDGWICK :

Saw about 50 or 75 in an open field, 14 miles up the river from Banks’ Ford, and 2 miles back. Should judge they were skirmishing; they were passing from one thick pine to another.

E. K. 8S. ALLEN, Aeronaut.

NEAR FALMOUTH, May 1, 1863—6 p. m. General HOOKER:

Sedgwick makes the demonstration, ordered for 1 o’clock, now, 5.45 o’clock. Reynolds, on our extreme left, assumes threatening attitude and holds it until further orders. He will be supported by division from Sixth Corps. A brigade will cross the river to make display in Brooks’ front.

DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General.

CHANCELLORSVILLE, V. A., May 1, 1863—8.45 p. m. Major-General BUT! ERFIELD: The telegram for Sedgwick’s demonstration reached him too late. Order it in immediately.

Copy for information of General Sedgwick.

May 1, 1863—8.50 p. m. Commanding Officer, Sixth Corps: General Hooker countermands the demonstration as too late, and orders it in. Acknowledge. DANL. BUTTERFIELD,

May 1, 1863—11 p. m. General Reynolds has Wadsworth’s division over the river occupying the rifle-pits. General Newton, with Brooks’ division, occupies the upper crossing with Light Brigade, 9,600 men. Inexpedient to cross a larger force unless they remain exposed to fire without protection or capacity forareply. To make a good demonstration it would be necessary to take the Bowling Green road, which would lead to an engagement and possibly a check. The road could not be held only as a picket line, it being enfiladed opposite the two crossings. The railroad line has been strengthened by rifle-pits both along and front of it.

The object of the demonstration was to expose their lines of battle.*

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, V. A., May 1, 1863—7 a. m. General JOHN GIBBON:

The commanding General directs that one regiment only of your division remain with the pontoon train at Banks’ Ford, and that you recall the three other regiments that accompanied the train last night. If all the regiments have returned, the general wishes to have one sent to Banks’ Ford at once on duty with the bridge train. The general further directs that the remainder of your division do not move until further orders. Please acknowledge.

Very respectfully, &c.,