Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

General:--I send you a copy of a despatch just received from Washington. No bad news there. But hurry up your defences anyhow. Let there be every diligence in putting your line in posture of defence.

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[no. 30. see page 643.]

I have ordered one brigade from each division of General Gillmore's command to report to you at eight o'clock this morning, for the purpose of cutting the enemy's line of communication between Richmond and Petersburg.

You will cause a like force to be detailed from your command on the line, and under such division commanders as you choose, cause attack to be made.

You will cause one brigade of each division of your command to report to General Smith at eight o'clock this morning, for the purposes of an attack upon the line of railroad.

The detail should be of your best troops, and under your best brigade commanders. Answer hour of execution of this order.

[no. 31. see page 643.]

Maj.-Gen. W. F. Smith, commanding Eighteenth Army Corps, is directed to take command of the detached forces from the Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps, now operating towards Petersburg and Richmond, on the railroad.

[no. 32. see page 643.]
[telegram.--Cipher.]

We have made demonstrations to-day on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, and have succeeded in destroying a portion of it, so as to break the connection. We have had pretty severe fighting to do, but have succeeded. We hear, from a rebel deserter, and a citizen, that