[5]
Major General Hoke's division, now in the trenches, on the right of the position herein assigned to General Ransom will, at day-light, engage the enemy with a heavy line of skirmishers, and will hold the rest of his forces in hand, ready to attack with vigor the enemy's line in his front, as soon as he shall find it wavering before his skirmishers, or as soon as 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 reserve division.
The division commanded by Brigadier-General Colquitt will constitute the reserve, and will, to-night, form in column, by brigades, in rear of Hoke's present position, the centre 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 the outset, from the enemy's fire in front.
During the movement, the head of the column will be kept at a distance of about five hundred yards from Hoke's second line of battle.
As soon as practicable, the intervals between the brigades of the reserve division will be maintained at from two to three hundred yards.
The reserve artillery, under General Colquitt, will follow along the turnpike, about three hundred 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 must be made with all possible vigor and celerity.
The Generals commanding divisions, and Colonels Baker and Shingler, commanding cavalry will report at these headquarters at 6 P. M., to-day.
In the meantime, they will give all neccessary 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.
[Signed]
G. T. Beauregard, General Commanding.
