which he did. I partially opened the door, and told Herold to put out his hand, which he did. I then told him to put [out] his other hand. I took hold of both his wrists and pulled him out of the barn. Almost simultaneous with my taking Herold out of the barn the hay in the rear of the barn was ignited by Mr. Conger, and the barn fired. Sergt. Boston Corbett, Company L, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, shot the assassin Booth, wounding him in the neck. I entered the barn as soon as the shot was fired, dragging Herold with me, and found that Booth had fallen on his back. Messrs. Conger and Baker, with some of my men, entered the barn and took hold of Booth. I proceeded with Herold to find a rope to secure him, there being no irons for that purpose. The assassin Booth lived about two hours. In the meantime a doctor was procured, who remained with Booth till he died. I procured a wagon, sewed up the body in a blanket myself, and placed it in the wagon. I then proceeded to Port Royal, where we arrived at 9 a. m. April 26, 1865, and crossed the river in a scow. While crossing my command Mr. Baker, without authority, moved off with the body of the assassin, taking with him the two men who had been previously detailed as a guard to the body, also one of the prisoners (Captain Jett, rebel). I was some time crossing my command, and experienced some difficulty in bringing Herold and the two Garretts along, having only one horse to mount the three; thus delay was occasioned. After proceeding some distance I procured an additional horse. Fearing some accident might happen to the body of the assassin and the prisoner Jett, whom Mr. Baker had taken with him, I dispatched an orderly to tell Mr. Baker to halt. The orderly rode over four miles at full speed, when, overtaking Mr. Baker, he told him to halt until the column came up. This Mr. Baker, however, did not do, but continued on, missing me and the road. I arrived at Belle Plain at 6 p. m., and found the corpse had not yet arrived. I felt great anxiety, and was about to apply to Major Bosworth, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, who was at Belle Plain with his command, for a detachment of men to go in search of the body, when Mr. Baker arrived. I immediately asked him where the prisoner, Captain Jett, was. He replied, "he did not know; he had escaped." After a short delay the body of the assassin Booth was placed on board the steamer John S. Ide, and we proceeded to Washington, where I delivered over the body of Booth, Herold, and the two Garretts to Col. L. C. Baker, at 3 a. m. the 27th day of April, 1865. The command consisted of twenty-six enlisted men of the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, and myself, the two gentlemen, Messrs. Conger and Baker, sent by Colonel Baker, making a total in all of twenty-nine men. I would say that great credit is due to all concerned for the fortitude and eagerness they displayed in pursuing and arresting the murderers. For nearly sixty hours hardly an eye was closed or a horse dismounted until the errand was accomplished. I would call the attention of the commanding general to the efficiency of Sergt. Boston Corbett, Company L, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, who was untiring in his efforts to bring the murderers to justice. His soldierly qualifications have been tested before this occasion, and, in my judgment, are second to none in the service. Mr. Rollins, at Port Conway, is also worthy of notice for his willingness to impart all the information he possessed. In conclusion I beg to state that it has afforded my command and myself inexpressible pleasure to be the humble instruments of captur ing the foul assassins who caused the death of our beloved President and plunged the nation in mourning. All of which is respectfully submitted. EDWARD P. DOHERTY, First Lieut., Sixteenth New York Cavalry, Comdg. Detachment. Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, Asst. Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Staff, Dept. of Washington. APRIL 26-MAY 5, 1865.-Operations in the Shenandoah Valley, Va. Report of Col. Horatio B. Reed, Twenty-second New York Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SECOND NEW YORK CAVALRY, May 5, 1865. MAJOR: In obedience to orders from the major-general commanding, I moved on the 26th of April, 1865, from the Provisional Brigade with a force consisting of the Twenty-second New York and Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and camped for the night at Cedar Creek. On the following day I marched to Mount Jackson, camping there for the night. At the last-named place, as I was about going into camp, I noticed stationed upon the hill several men, apparently on picket. I sent forward a small force. When within carbine range they fired on my advance, and immediately retired over the hills and into the woods, out of my sight. I deployed a company to ascertain if these men were counected with a larger force, but soon satisfied myself that they were a small party of guerrillas, having no connection with troops. On Friday, April 28, I marched to Harrisonburg, and while there in camp, agreeable to orders, I sent forward a force with one of the scouts from army headquarters to arrest a man named Rickerburker, at whose house the detective from Washington was said to have been last seen. The force arrested three men, who were brought to my headquarters. They all proved satisfactorily to me that neither of them was the person in question and that no such man lived in the country. On Saturday, April 29, I marched to Staunton. I learned at this place that General Rosser had left there the same morning, but without any force. He had been for several days, in connection with a General Lilley, endeavoring to raise a force for the purpose of going south, but without success, the men refusing to join him, and in justice to the citizens it should be stated that they were opposed to his operations. On Sunday, April 30, I received a flag of truce from Colonel Thompson, commanding the force known as Jackson's cavalry brigade, ask ing upon what terms he could surrender his command to the United States. I informed him that he could surrender upon the same terms as the Army of Northern Virginia, to which he properly belonged. On Monday, May 1, the force not appearing to accept my terms, I sent out a scout to ascertain their whereabouts. He returned with the information that the force consisted of about 100 men, perhaps a few more, and they were widely scattered in the mountains. I did not think it proper to attempt to capture them, as it would occupy more time and labor than was justifiable under the circumstances (as I was under orders to return within ten days and was then very short of forage). The correspondence between Colonel Thompson and myself you will please find inclosed. On Tuesday, May 2, I left Staunton, and arrived at my camp in this place this morning. During my journey up the Valley upward of 900 soldiers belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia were paroled at different points by Captain Snyder, acting assistant provost-marshal-general. I remain, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel, Commanding Twenty-second New York Cavalry. Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Shenandoah. [Inclosure No. 1.] HEADQUARTERS JACKSON'S BRIGADE, April 30, 1865. OFFICER COMMANDING U. S. FORCES AT STAUNTON: I send Capt. G. W. Silcott, acting assistant adjutant-general, with a flag of truce to ascertain upon what terms the U. S. authorities will accept the surrender of the troops under my command; and to that end I respectfully ask an interview, at such point as you may designate, to arrange the terms, or for me to decide whether they ought to be accepted or not. If they are not accepted, I am sure that the U. S. authorities will not attempt to interfere with myself or the troops under my command until they have at least five hours' notice of the disposition on the part of the U. S. forces to attempt mine and their capture; and I respectfully ask that such assurance be given me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. P. THOMPSON, Colonel Nineteenth Virginia Cavalry, Commanding, &c. Col. W. P. THOMPSON, [Inclosure No. 2.] HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Commanding Jackson's Brigade, Lomax's Division, &c.: COLONEL: I have had the honor to receive at the hands of Captain Silcott, with flag of truce, a communication from you asking upon what terms you can surrender troops under your command. I beg to say in reply, that the United States Government will receive your command upon the same terms given to the Army of Northern Virginia, viz, officers and men to give their parole of honor not to take up arms against the United States until exchanged; all arms, horses, and public property to be turned over to the United States, officers to retain their side-arms, private horses, and personal baggage. I have the honor to remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. B. REED, Col., Twenty-second New York Cav., Comig. U. S. Forces at Staunton. MAY 6-14, 1865.-Expedition from Richmond to Staunton and Charlottesville, Va. Report of Lieut. Col. Franklin A. Stratton, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, Charlottesville, Va., May 14, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of my expedition from Richmond to Staunton, and thence to this place, under instructions received from department headquarters on the 5th instant: I left Richmond on the morning of the 6th instant with the entire effective strength of my regiment, consisting of 500 men, accompanied by fifty-five wagons. Marching via Louisa Court-House, Charlottesville, Rockfish Gap, and Waynesborough, I arrived near Staunton on the evening of the 10th of May. Learning there that General Rosser had that morning left for Lexington, I did not enter town until the next day. I found Brig. Gen. I. H. Duval stationed there with one brigade of infantry and a regiment of cavalry, being a portion of his division-the Fourth Provisional Division of the Army of the Shenandoah. General Duval had arrived there two days previous to my arrival, and had already paroled a large part of Rosser's men and taken possession of the trivial amount of rebel government stores found there. General Duval therefore directed me to return to Charlottesville, in accordance with my instructions. A copy of his order is inclosed. I therefore, after resting my horses one day, left Staunton on the 13th, and returned to this place to-day. General Rosser, up to the time of my departure, had made no visible preparation for paroling the remainder of his men, nor was there any tangible evidence of his intention to turn over any rebel government property whatever. After several interviews with him, I ascertained that the men of his command were entirely dispersed, and would only come in in small detachments, or singly, to be paroled. This would occupy, perhaps, several weeks, and as my supplies would permit me to remain but three or four days, it seemed proper that General Duval should complete the business he had commenced. General Rosser stated, or rather admitted, that about nine pieces of artillery were concealed somewhere about Staunton and four pieces at Lexington. These, too, I left for General Duval to find and dispose of. About eight pieces of artillery are said by General Rosser to be at Pittsylvania Court-House. I have information of there being considerable rebel property concealed about Charlottesville, but have not yet had time to find it. This comprises small-arms buried or concealed in buildings and quartermaster and commissary stores in the hands of citizens in various localities. Not many disorders have come to my notice through the country, but there is much need of a military post at this place to preserve order and protect the citizens from small bands of marauders and robbers infesting various localties between here and the Blue Ridge. The large number of negroes here will require for some time the interposition of military authority to adjust differences in regard to labor, property, and personal rights. I have maintained the strictest discipline and order in my own command during the march, and permitted no injury whatever to the property of citizens. The railroad is now open Keswick's Station, about seven miles from here, and will be opened within two or three days to the Rivanna River, some two miles distant. Supplies for troops at this point could, therefore, be furnished over this route. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Comdg. Regiment. Col. ED. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of Virginia. JUNE 1-13, 1865.-Expedition through Pocahontas and Pendleton Counties, W. Va., and Highland County, Va. Report of Col. Wesley Owens, Eighth Ohio Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH OHIO CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS, Near Clarksburg, W. Va., June 15, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to submit for the information of the commanding general the result of an expedition into the interior of West Vir ginia, made pursuant to instructions from headquarters Department of West Virginia, dated May 28, 1865. I left here on the 1st of June, with 400 men and horses, and moved in a southeasterly direction, through Philippi and Beverly, in one column. After leaving the latter place I detached a company of reliable men, under Captain Moores, with instructions to make thorough examinations of every place where arms or other Government property might be concealed or improper persons harbored. This company preceded the main column two hours in time. On reaching Huttonsville I took the direct road to Lewisburg, passing over Elk Mountain, through Mingo Flats, to Marlin's Bottom. I took this route in order to avoid any suspicion of my destination to Huntersville. At Marlin's Bottom, however, I became satisfied that ex-Governor William Smith was not in that neighborhood. I therefore crossed over at Knap's Creek to Huntersville, which I found deserted, but two families living there. A squadron was left at this place to make a thorough search for Government property and particularly concealed arms. Nothing was found. Three miles southeast of Huntersville I detached a squadron, under Captain Bechtel, to proceed to Gatewood's; thence northeast, through the saltpeter-works, up Back Creek Valley, while I passed over the mountains by Knap's Creek. These two columns joined near Green Hill. From this place I moved to Hightown, sending on the way Lieutenant Cable's squadron through Dinwiddie Gap to Galltown, thence through Monterey to New Hampton, by way of Widow Weismer's, and from New Hampton to Hightown, through Crab Bottom, where it joined me. The road from Hightown to Monterey was also carefully examined. From Hightown I proceeded along the Staunton pike, over Cheat Mountain, by "old man White's," and struck my old trail at Huttonsville. It will be seen that I made a complete tour through the district where reports of horse stealing originated, viz: Pocahontas, Highland, and Pendleton Counties, Green Hill and Crab Bottom. There were no horse thieves in this country, nor were any complaints of horse stealing. The citizens are well disposed and quiet. Returning rebels are going to work and conduct themselves with propriety. I picked up on this trip thirteen horses, one mule, seven saddles and oridles, eleven carbines and rifles, al Government property. Had it |