Summary:
John C. Babcock writes to Union General Andrew Humphreys with August, 1864,
information on Confederate troop positions. He reports that Confederate General
Jubal Early moved to Staunton.
Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:
August 8, 1864.
GEN.:
A lieutenant and private from the First Confederate Battalion, Davis' (Mississippi) brigade, Heth's division, of Hill's corps, deserted and came into our lines at 3 o'clock this a. m. The substance of their information is as follows: That there are four divisions of the enemy on the south side of the Appomattox River-Anderson's old division and Heth's division, of Hill's corps, and Hoke's and Bushrod Johnson's division, of Beauregard's command; that they are posted from the enemy's right to left as follows: right-Mahone's division, a brigade of which (Finegan's) extends to the left of the Jerusalem plank road; the right of the division extending to the lead-works on the Weldon railroad; next, Heth's division, extending from the left of Mahone's division (a point to the left of and nor far from the Jerusalem plank road) to Clingman's brigade, of Hoke's division, of Beauregard's command; next, Hoke's division, of Beauregard's command, with Clingman's brigade on the right; left-Bushrod Johnson's division, of Beauregard's command; that since the recent fight (July 30) the above disposition of forces was made; that the corps of Longstreet, or two divisions, Field's and Kershaw's, have not returned to our front, and it was understood that all or the greater part of them had been sent to re-enforce Early or Hood; that it was understood in the rebel lines that mining was being done in the vicinity of the position occupied by our colored troops, information of which informant has given to Gen. Warren. The lieutenant saw late Richmond papers giving accounts of our attack on Mobile. They admit the sinking of two of their gunboats; also accounts of the occupation and destruction of Milledgeville, Ga., by a raiding party from Sherman's army.
All of which is respectfully forwarded.
Your obedient servant,
JNO. C. BABCOCK.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 42, Serial No. 88, Pages 85-86, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
