HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brigadier-General GREGG, Commanding Second Cavalry Division: GENERAL: The persons accompanying this (John and A. Berry) state that there are a number of men concealed in the Blue Ridge near Sperryville, armed and associated for the purpose of resisting the rebel conscription act; also that [there] are a number of horses and a quantity of bacon in Page County, which can be obtained. The major-general commanding directs that you send out a sufficient force with these men as guides to communicate with the party resisting the draft and render them any needful assistance, and if they wish to come within our lines to bring them in. Every effort will be made to capture parties conscripting, and all families that desire to come within our lines will be brought in. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. B. PARSONS, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. CONFIDENTIAL.] HDQRS. CAV. CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, February 27, 1864. Brigadier-General KILPATRICK, Commanding Third Cavalry Division: GENERAL: Five hundred men from the Second Division and 700 from the First Division, with the proper complements of officers, are directed to report to you by 8 o'clock to-night, to fill your division to 4,000 men. Very respectfully, A. PLEASONTON, Major-General, Commanding. Colonel TAYLOR, Chief of Staff: ALEXANDRIA, February 27, 1864. COLONEL: My men have patrolled the country pretty thoroughly to-day; they did not see any guerrillas. We have information that a small party of guerrillas were near Accotink, and also at Mason's Hill, last night. H. H. WELLS, Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General. CUMBERLAND, February 27, 1864—2 p. m. Brigadier-General CULLUM, Chief of Staff, Washington: Scouts returned from Franklin. The information of Colonel Quirk was incorrect. Nothing there but a strong picket from Jackson's force. B. F. KELLEY, HDQRS. SECOND DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Lieut. M. J. RUSSELL, A. A. A. G., Second Div., Dept. of West Virginia: LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report the following statement of David Bowman, a conscript and deserter from the rebel army. He arrived here this morning from Dayton, 4 miles west of Harrisonburg, Va., which place he left on last Sunday, 21st instant. He reports General Early, with a force of about 3,000 or 4,000 infantry, at Taylor's Springs, 5 miles east of Harrisonburg. He states that he (Bowman) was informed by one of General Rosser's command that there were between 200 and 300 desertions from the rebel army during General Early's late raid in this part of the country. He also states that General Rosser with a battalion of cavalry is now near Augusta, Va., encamped at Mount Meridian; he reports Imboden at or near Lexington, Va., with a force of about 800, composed of cavalry, mounted infantry, infantry, and six pieces of artillery. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, MARTIN WALLACE, Capt. and Actg. Provost-Marshal, 2d Div., Dept. of W. Va. [Indorsement.] HDQRS. SECOND DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, New Creek, W. Va., February 28, 1864. Respectfully forwarded for the general commanding's information. JAS. A. MULLIGAN, HDQRS. FOURTH DIV., DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY, Cumberland: Deserter from Lomax's brigade, this side Staunton, came in during the night. Says Rosser's command most all on furlough. Imboden was in Rockbridge. Horses of all commands scanty and in poor condition. Gilmor is out on scout. Small dismounted parties foraging through the country. Heard of no movement in any direction. I reckon that the force at Franklin is a strong picket posted in apprehension of an advance of us. WM. W. AVERELL, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Major-General WARREN, Commanding Second Corps: February 28, 1864. The major-general commanding directs me to inform you that General Kilpatrick will move to-night, cross the Rapidan at the lower fords, and turning the enemy's right flank operate in his rear. He will be absent several days. He will withdraw all the supports and reserves of his picket-line, but will leave his pickets. The inclosed telegram,* just received, showing a brigaae o. enemy's cavalry at Morton's Ford, will require more than usual vigilance on the part of your infantry brigade near there. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General, Chief of Staff. ROBERTSON RIVER, February 28, 1864-2 p. m. GENERAL: I arrived here at 12 m. and sent forward a brigade and battery, which are now in Madison Court-House. Cavalry pickets were seen on the river bank when we approached, but made no resistance. About 20 cavalrymen were in the town of Madison Court-House, but left as our advance entered. I do not hear of any infantry in the vicinity of the town. I will remain here. One brigade and battery in the town; the rest of the corps on the river bank until further developments. I sent signal officer to Thoroughfare Mountain, but it has been too hazy to open communication. I am building a bridge over the river to use in case of a sudden rise. Birney is at James City. JOHN SEDGWICK, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, COMMANDING OFFICER CAVALRY CORPS: The major-general commanding directs that the right of General Merritt's picket and patrol line be thrown forward toward the Robertson and Rapidan Rivers, so that General Sedgwick and General Birney will have cavalry in their front, to give warning of any approach of the enemy from the upper Rapidan and Robertson. This cavalry force will be increased, if necessary, for the effectual performance of the duty. Very respectfully, &c., A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY RESERVE BRIGADE, Capt. G. B. SANFORD, A. A. A. G., Hdqrs. First Cav. Div., Culpeper, Va.: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state that when this brigade was ordered to take position at or near this point on the 26th of December last that I was informed that there was to be a division of infantry to hold this point in conjunction with the cavalry. Two small brigades were on the spot when I arrived, one of which has since been withdrawn, and the other, I am informed, is about 2,000 strong. It is encamped about 14 miles to my front, mostly near the station. As *Not found. 39 R R-VOL XXXIII long as the roads were heavy or impassable for artillery and cavalry or the weather too inclement for a movement, I have felt able to maintain myself at this point against heavy odds, but now that the roads are good, the creeks and streams at low stages of water, and the country generally traversible by all arms, I think that my position is too exposed for a small cavalry force, and that if I am expected to maintain my present position a strong force of infantry with artillery should be sent to assist me. I do not wish to be understood as wishing to move back. I desire particularly to remain where I am and allow the command to enjoy while they can the winter huts that have cost them hard labor to construct. But I do not think that the force now in this vicinity, within cannon-shot of the enemy's lines, is strong enough to even delay a sharp and wellsupported attack. There are, I am informed by citizens living in the neighborhood, wood roads, known to few, but passable, by which by a sharp dash of cavalry the left flank of this position could be turned, driving in our pickets in front of them. The four pieces of artillery attached to this brigade are all that are available to the command for the fords from Raccoon up to Cedar Run Mountain. At this present time, with 1,500 of my picked men out, my whole available force is not over 500 men, chiefly dismounted or mounted on unserviceable horses. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Reserve Brigade. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY RESERVE BRIGADE, Capt. GEORGE B. SANFORD, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Cav. Div.: CAPTAIN: In view of the prospect for active service by this command, I have the honor to call the attention of the commanding general to the number of dismounted men in this brigade, and the urgent necessity which exists for supplying them with horses. Reports have been sent to division headquarters each day for over a month exhibiting the condition of this command with reference to this particular, but as no action that I am aware of has been taken to remedy this evil, I am induced to make it the subject of a special communication. The memorandum report of last evening shows an aggregate of 344 dismounted men in the brigade, together with 155 unserviceable horses, thus leaving about 500 men totally unfit for mounted service. This condition of affairs demands immediate action, as in the event of a sudden move the command would be taken at great disadvantage, as these men would be compelled to operate on foot, and the limited facilities for transportation now at my disposal would scarcely accommodate so large a number of useless horse equipments. I have thought that the departure of veteran volunteers and regulars upon furlough would leave a sufficient number of animals to mount the remainder of the brigade, but in that event the number of surplus horse equipments would prove a great incumbrance, and upon the return of these veterans they will then, as now, require horses. In view of these circumstances, I have the honor to request that speedy measures be taken to obviate the diffi culties herein set forth by disposing of these horse equipments until the return of the re-enlisted veterans, and by securing horses for them so that no delay will be experienced in remounting them as soon as they come back. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALFRED GIBBS, Colonel First New York Dragoons, Commanding Brigade. HDQRS. ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, Maj. Gen. BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Comdg. Department of Virginia and North Carolina: GENERAL: At 10 p. m. yesterday Colonel McChesney dispatched a communication to the effect that he expects an attack within a day or two, and that soon there would be a grand attack upon our forces in North Carolina. He asks for re-enforcements. While there is no reserve force, I have sent him one Connecticut regiment, and hope he will be able to hold all our interests. His informant is Hon. Mr. Satterthwaite, one of the leading men in North Carolina, of whom I have made mention to you. He has plantations near Washington, N. C., and is one of Governor Vance's friends. In haste, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HDQRS. ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, Commodore DAVENPORT, U. S. Navy: COMMODORE: A concurrence of testimony indicates that this position is about to incur a formidable attack. Dispatches from the military commander at Washington are to the effect that he has information of a meditated attack upon that place within a few days, which will probably be preliminary to that upon New Berne. MajorGeneral Peck directs me to request you, if there are not already two gun-boats in the vicinity of Washington and if the demands elsewhere are not such as to prevent, that another boat may be sent to a position off Washington for a short time. It is the general's impression that there are already two there. I remain, commodore, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HDQRS. ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, General I. N. PALMER, New Berne, N. C., February 28, 1864. Commanding Post and Defenses of New Berne: GENERAL: Major-General Peck directs that nine companies of the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers proceed at once to Washington, N. C., to report to Colonel McChesney, commanding Sub-district |