On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz’s division of cavalry of the Army of the James moved against the enemy’s railroads south of Richmond.  Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams’s Station, destroying the depot and several miles of the road, and the South Side road about fifteen miles from Petersburg, to near Nottoway Station, where he met and defeated a force of the enemy’s cavalry.  He reached Burkesville Station on the afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles, where he found the enemy in force, and in a position from which he could not dislodge him.  He then commenced his return march, and on the 28th met the enemy’s cavalry in force at the Weldon Railroad crossing of Stony Creek, where he had a severe but not decisive engagement.  Thence he made a detour from his left with a view of reaching Reams’s Station (supposing it to be in our possession).  At this place he was met by the enemy’s cavalry, supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of his artillery and trains.  In this last encounter, General Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made his way into our lines.  General Wilson, with the remainder of his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming in safely on our left and rear.  The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained.  It severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several weeks.

With a view of cutting the enemy’s railroad from near Richmond to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of the 9th corps and assault the enemy’s lines at that place, on the night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the cavalry corps and Kautz’s cavalry were crossed to the north bank of the James River and joined the force General Butler had there.  On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery.  On the 28th our lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market Road, but in getting this position were attacked by the enemy in heavy force.  The fighting lasted for several hours, resulting in considerable loss to both sides.  The first object of this move having failed, by reason of the very large force thrown there by the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the diversion made, by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force back there.  One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night of the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that it might be foot-loose in the assault to be made.  The other two divisions of the 2d corps and Sheridan’s cavalry were crossed over on