The troops were recruited, reorganized, and thoroughly disciplined. The means of transportation were also reorganized, and reduced to correspond very nearly with the present allowance. (See copy of Lieutenant-General Grant's order herewith, marked A.) The cavalry and artillery arms were well supplied with horses. Probably no army on the earth ever before was in better condition in every respect than was the Army of the Potomac on the 4th of May, 1864. I have already given many detailed statements showing in what manner the trains of this great army have been conducted, under almost every variety of circumstances. You have seen us on the advance, in close pursuit of the enemy, in battle, in retreat, and on flank movements. I have shown what great duties the officers of your Department are called upon to perform, and how impossible it is for any army to succeed with a badly organized and inefficient quartermaster's department. I have shown how admirably the quartermasters of these armies have uniformly performed their duties, and to what high degree of accomplishment they have attained. I have reported to you in minute detail the preparations and equipment for an active campaign-Chancellorsville, for instance-what the troops and trains were made to carry. I have described our lines of supply, the establishment of depots, and the manner of supplying a large army.

Copies of my principal orders and reports are on file in your office. Therefore I shall only give a general and brief view of the operations of our department for the remainder of the fiscal year.

"The grand campaign," from the Rapidan to the James, opened on the 4th of May, 1864, under the immediate presence and supervision of Lieutenant-General Grant, commanding Armies of the United States. Major-General Meade commanded the Army of the Potomac. This campaign, for convenience of reference, is divided (by the direction of General Meade) into five epochs, as follows:

First epoch: The crossing of the Rapidan and the battles of the Wilderness.

Second epoch: The march to Spotsylvania, and the operations in front of that place.

Third epoch: The march to the North Anna, and the operations on that river.

Fourth epoch: The march across the Pamunkey, including the operations on the Totopotomoy and at Cold Harbor.

Fifth epoch: The march across the Chickahominy and the James, including the assault on Petersburg, July 30.

The forces that composed the armies on the Rapidan were as follows: The Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps, the cavalry, and the Artillery Reserve and Engineer Brigade constituted the Army of the Potomac, under General Meade, and the Ninth Corps under General Burnside, making about 125,000 effective men.

There were 4,300 wagons, 835 ambulances, 29,945 artillery, cavalry, ambulance, and team horses; 4,046 private horses; 22,528 mules; making an aggregate of 56,499 animals.

It was ordered that the troops should take with them "50 rounds of ammunition upon the person; three days' full rations in their haversacks; three days' bread and small rations in their knapsacks, and three days' beef on the hoof." The supply trains were loaded with ten days' forage (grain) and ten of subsistence. One-half of the ammunition, intrenching tools, and ambulance wagons, a few light spring wagons and pack animals only, were allowed to ac

company the troops. All other trains were assembled at Richardsville, and placed, as heretofore, under my direction, with a view to crossing the Rapidan by bridges at Ely's Ford and Culpeper Mine Ford.

The army was put in motion on the 4th. On that day the depot at Brandy Station and other points on the railroad, as far as the Rappahannock, were broken up, and all extra and surplus property, with the depot officers and employés were sent in to Alexandria. These officers were directed to await orders, and are the same that subsequently took positions and opened our flying depots at Aquia, Belle Plain, Fredericksburg, Port Royal, White House, and City Point, as the army fought its bloody way along and approached within striking distance of these points. So soon as the army made the passage of the Rapidan into the Wilderness the trains were immediately crossed at the fords before mentioned and parked near that river. The crossing was hastened in consequence of the movements of the enemy's cavalry on the north side.

The battles of the Wilderness at once threw many thousand wounded upon our department for transportation to the rear. The medical department had no more ambulances than were absolutely necessary on the immediate fields of battle. My first effort was to send the wounded in our empty wagons to Rappahannock Station to meet cars for which I had telegraphed you; but, after the trains were actually loaded with wounded, and after you had dispatched cars, it became necessary to send them into Fredericksburg, on account of the presence of rebel cavalry at Ely's Ford.

Communications were quickly opened with Aquia and Belle Plain, and in a few days the navy cleared the river of obstructions to Fredericksburg. Our wounded were at first sent to Belle Plain, and thence by water to the different hospitals. The most severe cases were kept in Fredericksburg some time. In a few days the Aquia railroad was repaired to the north bank at Fredericksburg, and was used to take away many wounded. Vessels ascended the Rappahannock also for the same purpose. The same system of transportation for wounded was pursued throughout the campaign as in the Wilderness. Our empty wagons, as a rule, carried most of the wounded from the field hospitals to the depots, and returned laden with forage and subsistence.

During the first epoch-from May 4 to 13, inclusive-our trains occupied the plank road from Chancellorsville via Alrich's to Tabernacle Church, and to the south at Piney Branch Church and Alsop's, changing parks according to movements of our troops or the enemy. On the evening and night of the 13th, the army made its first flank movement to Spotsylvania, and the trains were concentrated on the 14th on the bluffs at Fredericksburg.

During the second epoch-from the 14th to the 20th, inclusive-the trains were parked at Fredericksburg, and our depots remained unchanged. Several trains of wounded were sent in under the direction of myself and the medical director.

On

The third epoch embraces the interval of time between the 21st and 26th, inclusive. The line of Fredericksburg, Belle Plain, and Aquia was now abandoned, and the depot established at Port Royal. the 20th, the main trains were assembled near Guiney's Station, under the immediate charge of Capt. L. H. Peirce, assistant chief quartermaster, Army of the Potomac, and were conducted by him, under my daily orders, by Bowling Green to Milford Station, where they

arrived on the 22d. On the 23d, they were crossed over the Mattapony, and parked in the open ground between the river and Wright's Tavern. On the same day our forces reached the North Anna, and commenced to cross at Jericho and other places. The trains remained in park near Wright's Tavern during the operations on the North Anna. Our wounded were sent to Port Royal, and supplies received from that depot. On the 24th, the army was across the North Anna, and there was heavy skirmishing with the enemy, who was in position between the two Annas, at Hanover Junction. The Ninth Corps was attached to the Army of the Potomac on this day. Headquarters crossed at Jericho Ford and encamped on the south

side.

The fourth epoch began on the 27th. The army was put in motion toward Hanovertown, and Nelson's and Hundley's Ferries, on the Pamunkey River. The trains recrossed the Mattapony, and passed to the rear some distance, and then advanced on the road toward Dunkirk, lower down, and to our left on the Mattapony. The army crossed the Pamunkey on the 28th, and took up position toward Cold Harbor. On the same day I sent a staff officer to White House, distant 15 miles from Hanovertown, to ascertain if Smith had arrived with the Eighteenth Corps, and if Captain Pitkin had arrived from Port Royal with his employés and supplies. The officer returned safely at midnight and reported no arrivals. The trains arrived promptly at Hanovertown, by way of Dunkirk, crossed the Pamunkey on the 31st, and parked near Mrs. Newton's house. Captain Pitkin arrived at White House same day and established the depot. On June 1, the trains were moved to New Castle and Old Church. All empty wagons were sent to White House for supplies. On the 2d, our troops took up positions in front of the enemy at Cold Harbor. Headquarters were moved to that point, and the trains sent to vicinity of Parsley's Mill, on the road to White House. On the 3d, an assault was made on the enemy's intrenchments, but without success. The railroad from White House to Dispatch Station was rebuilt while the army remained here, and was dismantled and the material removed before the 12th, when the fifth epoch commenced.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RUFUS INGALLS,

Brig. Gen., C. Q. M. of Armies operating against Richmond. Bvt. Maj. Gen. M. C. MEIGS, U. S. Army,

Quartermaster-General.

No. 8.

Report of Brig. Gen. Marsena R. Patrick, U. S. Army, commanding Provost Guard.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,

August 10, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor, in obedience to Special Orders, No. 209, headquarters Army of the Potomac, August 5, 1864, to make

*For continuation of report, see Vol. XL, Part I.

the following report of the operations of the several regiments in my command:

FIRST EPOCH.

Twentieth New York State Militia, Colonel Gates commanding : Regiment left Brandy Station May 4, 1864; crossed on the 5th the Rapidan at Gold Mine Ford. On the 6th and 7th, were guarding prisoners of war; marched a distance of about 25 miles.

SECOND EPOCH.

Marching during the 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th of May in charge of prisoners of war, and passing from near Piney Branch Church to near Fredericksburg, Salem Church, to Belle Plain, and back to the rear of Fredericksburg; marched about 70 miles.

THIRD EPOCH.

Marched 21st, 22d, 23d, and 24th of May from rear of Fredericksburg by Villeborough, Milford, where crossed Mattapony to near Wright's Tavern; marched 25 miles.

FOURTH EPOCH.

Marched 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st of May and 1st and 2d of June. Recrossed the Mattapony, passed through Newtown, near Dunkirk, crossed the Pamunkey at New Castle down toward the White House, Old Church, encamping at Parsley's Corners, neai Anderson's Mill; marched 50 miles.*

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. R. PATRICK,
Provost-Marshal-General.

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,
ARMIES OPERATING AGAINST RICHMOND,

Brig. Gen. M. R. PATRICK,

Provost-Marshal-General:

November 3, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to state that the number of prisoners taken from the enemy by the Army of the Potomac, from May 1, 1864, is as follows:

It is impossible to tell with any degree of definiteness on what occasions the captures were made for the following reasons: It fre*For continuation of report, see Vol. XL, Part I.

quently happened that prisoners did not reach headquarters until several days after their capture, it being no uncommon thing for the captures of four or five days to be forwarded in one body. In consequence of the manner in which we moved no permanent record of the prisoners taken was kept until after the 27th of July, when the office at this place was established. A daily report of the prisoners of war received from the corps of the Army of the Potomac was made to Brigadier-General Williams, assistant adjutant-general, from the 1st of June until the 6th of July (at which time I left headquarters of the Army of the Potomac), and I presume is still made, as I am required to furnish the material for it. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. R. LESLIE, Captain and Provost-Marshal.

No. 9.

Reports of Maj. Benjamin F. Fisher, Chief Signal Officer.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, SIGNAL DEPARTMENT,

July 21, 1864.

MAJOR: I have the honor to transmit the accompanying inspection report, with the following brief report of operations during the months of May and June:

During these months the Army of the Potomac has been engaged in the most arduous campaign of the war, in which the signal detachment connected with it has occupied over sixty stations of observation and communication. In addition portions of the command have been constantly kept upon the flanks and with advancing columns, seeking to gain such information and render such services as might be deemed of valuc to commanding officers. Our field of operations was mostly in regions where we labored under many disadvantages a level wooded country without any natural elevations, yet in the face of all, the energy on the part of the officers enabled us to overcome these difficulties, and at times perform good service. At the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, the North Anna River, the Peninsula, and the James River, our glasses and flags rendered services. Since we arrived in front of Petersburg we pride ourselves that some of our reports have been very valuable. At several times, by timely information, have we enabled the commanding general to check movements on the part of the enemy that might otherwise have turned out disastrously to a portion of our army. In flag signals we have done little. The field telegraph formerly attached to our corps, now worked by the American Telegraph Company, has been able to keep up communication with the different points occupied by the army, rendering the use of field signals to the extent formerly used unnecessary, though there were several instances at the battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna River, and the James River, where our means of opening communication came in opportunely and rendered more or less valuable services.

I shall hereafter, as soon as practicable, give a detailed report of the operations of this detachment during the campaign which is not yet closed. At this time, without drawing any comparison be