O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/3 [S# 89]

UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM OCTOBER 1, 1864, TO DECEMBER 31, 1864.(*)--# 5

HEADQUARTERS,
Near Farina, October 8, 1864--7.45 p.m.
(Received 11 a.m. 9th.)

Major-General MEADE:

Dispatch received. Upon full examination I agree as to your force: It was reported to me in the morning of yesterday that prisoners from Heth's and Wilcox's divisions were captured. This at first caused some anxiety, but upon personal examination I find that they were soldiers of those divisions who had deserted and been, in the exigency, taken out of Castle Thunder and put into the local defense. We have before us Field, Hoke, four regiments of Pickett, and Bushrod Johnson's composite brigade, and some 5,000 local defenses. In the affair of yesterday we killed General Gregg, commanding Field's division; wounded severely General Bratton, Colonel Haskell, of the Seventh South Carolina Infantry [Cavalry], and Major Haskell, of the South Carolina artillery, and quite 1,000 others; captured 150 prisoners and deserters. I have over 50 deserters to-day. We lost less than 400 all told. All quiet to-day.

BENJ. F. BUTLER,
Major-General, Commanding.

This message was delayed by break in line between City Point and General Butler's.

OPERATOR.

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