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" `(Circular.)

" `General: The following instructions for battle tomorrow are communicated
for your instruction:

" `The purpose of the movement is to cut off the enemy from his base at
Bermuda Hundreds and capture or destroy him in his present position.
To this end we shall attack and turn by the River Road his right flank,
now resting on James River, while his center and left flank are kept
engaged to prevent him from re-enforcing his right. Major-General Ransom's
division will tonight take the best position for attack on the enemy's
right flank to be made by him tomorrow at daylight. His skirmishers will
drive back vigorously those of the enemy in his front and will be followed
closely by his line of battle, which will, at the proper time, pivot on its
right, so as to take the enemy in flank and rear. He will form in two
lines of battle and will use his artillery to the best advantage. Colonel
Dunovant's (South Carolina) regiment of cavalry will move with this
division under the direction of General Ransom. Major-General Hoke's
division, now in the trenches on the right of the position herein assigned
to General Ransom, will at daylight engage the enemy with a heavy fire
of skirmishers, or as soon as General Ransom's line of battle shall have
become fairly engaged with the enemy. General Hoke will form in two
lines of battle four hundred yards apart in front of his trenches at the
proper time and in such manner as not to delay his forward movement.
He will use his battalion of artillery to the best advantage. Colonel

Baker's regiment of cavalry will move in conjunction with Hoke's division,
so as to protect his right flank. He will receive more definite instructions
from Major-General Hoke. Colonel Shingler's regiment of cavalry will
move with the same division. The division commanded by Brigadier-General
Colquitt will constitute the reserve and will tonight form in column
by brigades in rear of Hoke's present position, the center of each brigade
resting on the turnpike. The division will be massed under cover of the
hill now occupied by Hoke's troops so as to be sheltered at first from the
enemy's fire in front. During the movement the head of the reserve column
will be kept about 500 yards from Hoke's second line of battle. As soon
as practicable, the interval between the brigades of the reserve division
will be maintained at from two to three hundred yards. The reserve
artillery, under Generol Colquitt, will follow along the turnpike about
300 yards in rear of the last brigade. He will use it to the best advantage.
Simultaneously with these movements, Major-General Whiting will move
with his division from Petersburg along the Petersburg and Richmond turnpike
and attack the enemy in flank and rear. The movement above indicated
will be executed, and must be made with all possible vigor and celerity.
The generals commanding divisions and Colonels Shingler and Baker, commanding
cavalry, will report at these headquarters at 6 p. m. today. In the
meantime they will give all necessary instructions for providing their
respective commands with sixty rounds of ammunition issued to each man,
and at least twenty rounds for each in reserve. They will cause their commands
to be supplied with two days' cooked rations.