AUGUST 8, 1863.—Skirmish at Waterford, Va. Report of Capt. Samuel C. Means, Virginia (Union) -Rangers. POINT OF ROCKS, MD., August 8, 1863. GENERAL: Captain Vinton, of Sixth Michigan Cavalry, has just arrived here. He reports leaving Harper's Ferry yesterday, and encamped at Waterford, 8 miles from this point last night, with 105 men. He was attacked at 12 o'clock last night by a large force of rebels, and fell back to this point; 50 men missing. I know that there is a large force in Loudoun waiting an opportunity to make a raid into Maryland. Send me the force, and I will clean them out. Strangers cannot find them. Send on Maryland side, keeping far enough from the Potomac not to let the news go over. Let me know when you send, and the sooner the better. Major-General HEINTZELMAN. SAML. C. MEANS, Captain, Virginia Rangers. AUGUST 9, 1863.—Skirmish near Welford's Ford, Va. Report of Col. John B. McIntosh, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, August 10, 1863. CAPTAIN: In obedience to the general's request, I have the honor to state, that upon receiving his order to connect the left of my picket line at Welford's Ford with General Buford's pickets opposite Beverly Ford, I reluctantly gave the order to Captain Crowninshield, of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, commanding on the left of the line, to take a strong force over Welford's Ford, and connect his pickets with those of General Buford's. Captain Crowninshield reports to me that he took 40 men over, drove away the enemy's pickets at the ford, and then sent a commissioned officer and 16 men from the First Pennsylvania Cavalry to find out General Buford's right and communicate with it. He had not been over the river much over ten minutes before the enemy came down upon him, 150 strong, and drove him back across the river. The officer and 16 men have not yet been heard from, and I fear they have been captured. Before I received the general's dispatch I had sent for Captain Crowninshield to ascertain more fully the particulars. He has not yet returned from picket, although his relief went out this morning. I beg leave to suggest that Captain Crowninshield's report, sent to division headquarters this morning, be forwarded to the major-general commanding the corps, with this statement. Permit me to take this opportunity to reiterate my decided opinion that it will be very dangerous to have my pickets on the south side of the Aestham River, where they will be liable to be cut off almost any hour in the day, and where they will be in close proximity to a large force of the enemy. Captain Crowninshield, in his dispatch to me, does not state how much of a reserve he left at Welford's Ford as a supporting force. I am, captain, very respectfully, Capt. H. C. WEIR, J. B. MCINTOSH, Colonel, Commanding First Brigade. Asst. Adit. Gen., Second Cavalry Division. AUGUST 11, 1863.-Capture of Union Wagon Train near Annandale, Va. REPORTS. No. 1.-Col. Charles R. Lowell, jr., Second Massachusetts Cavalry. No. 1. Report of Col. Charles R. Lowell, jr., Second Massachusetts Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CAMP, August 12, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to report information on Mosby's last raid as far as collected. Mosby's and White's men-together about 140 strong-came down Little River turnpike the day before yesterday, and passed that night near Gum Springs. Moved down yesterday forenoon through Ox road junction toward Flint Hill. Hearing that our pickets were there, turned to the north again, and, passing through Vienna by Mills Cross-Roads, to Little River pike, near Gooding's Tavern, captured one sutler's train there between 3 and 4 p. m. and another about a mile farther east. An hour later half plundered some of the wagons, took all the horses and mules, and started back in a hurry through Vienna, toward Hunter's Mill. About 1 mile south of the mill they divided, one-half going toward Dranesville, the other by Hunter's Mill, nearly down to Chantilly, then turned to the right, and, I presume, passed through Gum Springs early this a. m. On receiving your dispatch about camp of 40 men 5 miles from Falls Church, on Monday, I placed pickets on Ox road, at Fairfax Court-House, at Flint Hill, and at all cross-roads between there and Vienna. These pickets had orders to return to Fairfax Court-House at 12 a. m. on Tuesday. Put 30 men at Vienna and 75 men at Freedom Hill and in that neighborhood. These last with orders to move toward Falls Church by all the roads from the west early Tuesday morning, carefully examining all cross-roads. These instructions were obeyed, and nothing suspicious found. From Falls Church I sent 70 men to relieve Captain Reed at Fort Ethan Allen, and started with the remaining 30 to beat up the country round Chichester Mills. This I did thoroughly, and reached Fairfax Court-House, by back roads, about 11 a. m., and passed on to Germantown and Centreville. The pickets at Flint Hill, &c., came in at the time ordered, and Captain McKendry, the officer in charge, was examining into the liquor traffic, said to be carried on at Fairfax Court-House, when news was brought of the capture of the sutler's train. He started down at once with 40 men, and arrived about dark, Mosby having already left. As soon as I heard of it I telegraphed to Captain Reed at Fort Ethan Allen to take his 80 men toward Dranesville, and directed Captain McKendry to follow as soon as he could see the trail. Major Hall, Sixth New York Cavalry, with 70 men-part_his own, part furnished from this command-having already started on a scout toward Gum Springs and Aldie, he could not be communicated with, but I relied on him to stop the main roads to the west. From Major Hall I learn force, and fact that Mosby and White had joined, and left Aldie on Monday. From Captain McKendry I learned the force, and the route taken by Mosby on Tuesday. From Captain Reed I have not heard, but hope that he may yet give some account of the party that went toward Dranesville. He had 80 men with him and an excellent guide. From other facts collected by Major Hall, I think it is Mosby's intention to leave the country round Gum Springs to White's men, and himself to move his headquarters to near Dranesville. With your approbation, I propose to establish a regular escort of 30 to 50 men over the pike from Centreville to some point near Alexandria, once each way at irregular hours, all sutlers and stray wagons to be halted and compelled to come with this escort. This will be less fatiguing to my horses, and will, I think, with the detachments going to the front, afford all necessary protection to the sutlers. I would call your attention to the necessity of having good officers in command of all detachments going to the front of cattle guards. With so many sutlers on the road anxious for escort, whisky is very easily obtained, and it is not uncommon to see both officers and men drunk. I think most of the wagons broken down or left by Mosby have been plundered by our stray cavalrymen. I would also suggest that some more systematic method be adopted for encouraging citizens to bring in information. When citizens bring in valuable and reliable information, is there any fund from which I can rely upon their getting some reward? I sent in 61 horses on Monday, and 55 more to-day, most of them United States horses, some captured, some collected to the northwest of here, and some near Maple Valley. The party sent Sunday to Maple Valley remained two days scouring there, and has just returned from there. Kinchiloe left a week ago, according to last information. His men are again returning by twos and threes. I am, colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant, C. R. LOWELL, JR., Colonel Second Massachusetts Cavalry, Commanding. Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff. No. 2. Report of Maj. John S. Mosby, C. S. Army. CULPEPER, GENERAL: On Tuesday, August 11, I captured a train of 19 wagons near Annandale, in Fairfax County. We secured the teams, and a considerable portion of the most valuable stores, consisting of saddles, bridles, harness, &c. We took about 25 prisoners. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. J. E. B. STUART. [Indorsements.] JNO. S. MOSBY, Major, Commanding. Respectfully forwarded, for the information of the War Depart ment. R. E. LEE, General. AUGUST 11-19, 1863.-Expedition from Portsmouth, Va., to Edenton, N. C., and Skirmishes. REPORTS. No. 1.-Col. Benjamin F. Onderdonk, First New York Mounted Rifles, commanding expedition. No. 2.-Maj. Franklin A. Stratton, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. No. 1. Report of Col. Benjamin F. Onderdonk, First New York Mounted Rifles, commanding expedition. HDQRS. FIRST NEW YORK MOUNTED RIFLES, Portsmouth, Va., August 20, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that, pursuant to orders from division headquarters, I took up the line of march at 5 p. m. of August 11, marched to Suffolk, and took the Sandy cross-road for Edenton. Having been informed that a large force of the enemy were at Gatesville, I sent scouts in that direction and learned there was no foundation for the report. I reached Edenton at noon on the 15th, taking the town completely by surprise, they having gained no information of our approach. I threw out strong pickets and scouted the country in every direction, dispersing the guerrillas and driving them into the swamps, where it was impossible for us to go. I also captured Sergeant McCoy, Joshua C. Stacey; Privates Miles Lane, Thomas Smith, and J. Č. Floyd, all of Sixty-sixth North Carolina Rangers, or guerrillas ; Maj. William R. Haughton, with authorization for raising a battalion; Private Gerged Whidbee, of Moore's battalion artillery, stationed at Wilmington, and home on furlough (both the latter desire to take the oath of allegiance, and I earnestly recommend that they have per mission to do so); Private Thomas H. Privitt, First North Carolina Volunteers, home on furlough, and Private Lemuel Sawyer, First North Carolina Volunteers, with authorization to raise a company of either mounted or dismounted rangers. From thence to Hertford, where I arrested Col. Joseph G. Granbery and Lieut. Col. Charles W. Wood, of Fourth North Carolina Militia. I learned the regiment was ordered to muster on the 20th of August, and deemed proper to arrest them; also two citizens, John T. Leary and a man named Jennings. The first just released from Suffolk, and since that time taking up free negroes and running them across the lines; the other caught endeavoring to escape into the woods, supposed to be a messenger of guerrillas. On the route I destroyed about 100 shotguns and rifles. From Hertford to Elizabeth City and South Mills, having a number of skirmishes with the rangers, and driving them into the swamps, where they have hiding places known only to the initiated. My command reached camp on the 19th, having been absent eight days and marching 160 miles by roads, not including scouring byroads and woods. Casualties: One man killed by guerrillas, 1 wounded in hand, and 1 man accidentally killed by shooting himself; also 2 horses killed by guerrillas. These bands can only be entirely destroyed by having a force stationed at either Edenton or Hertford, as a long time is required to learn their haunts. One regiment of cavalry and one of infantry stationed at Edenton would destroy the bands of rangers, and reclaim all the counties this side the Chowan, and bring them back into the Union. The Union sentiment is astonishingly strong, but cannot be openly expressed by the people, as they are in constant fear of the guerrillas who plunder indiscriminately. The people are suffering much for want of salt, as they cannot obtain supplies across the Chowan, as the so-called Confederate Government say they are within our lines, and they are entirely without protection. The list of captured animals will be sent in as soon as I get reports from regimental commanders. I am, captain, respectfully, &c., B. F. ONDERDONK, Colonel, Mounted Rifles, Commanding Expedition. Capt. HAZARD STEVENS, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 2. Report of Maj. Franklin A. Stratton, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cav alry. NEAR PORTSMOUTH, VA., August 20, 1863. COLONEL: Pursuant to orders, in command of companies G, I, and K, comprising 120 men of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, I proceeded, on the evening of the 11th instant, by the Suffolk road, to the Town Point Fork, where I joined the rest of the expedition |