No. 2. Report of Mr. J. H. Devereux, U. S. Military Railroad Service. ALEXANDRIA, VA., December 18, 1863. Last night at 8 o'clock, Rosser's brigade, Stuart's cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Ballard [Ball?], 800 strong, struck the Orange line at Sangster's. The wires were at once cut, and firing continued between the road guards and this force for some hours. Two bridges on 'Pope's Head were set on fire, but the damage done was slight. Two of the rebel wounded were found by Armor (telegraph operator) in the poor-house at Sangster's, and one of them said the rebels took with them 3 ambulances loaded with their wounded. They went off in direction of Blue Ridge. None of our men were killed or wounded as far as known, but some 6 or 8 were captured. Yesterday morning a broken rail threw a train badly off track near Catlett's, blocking the road. The raid has lengthened the duration of our trouble, but matters are getting rapidly in hand, and in a few hours we shall be all right again. J. H. DEVEREUX. General R. INGALLS. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, December 18, 1863. Respectfully referred to Major-General Pleasonton, commanding Cavalry Corps. The commanding general desires that he will take the necessary steps to intercept and punish the party of the enemy referred to in this communication, should the scouting parties of the cavalry show the facts respecting the force of the enemy to be as stated. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General, Chief of Staff. DECEMBER 17, 1863.-Expedition from Washington to Chicoa Creek, N. C. Report of Maj. Charles C. Graves, First North Carolina Infantry, commanding expedition, and congratulatory orders from Maj. Gen. John J. Peck, U. S. Army. WASHINGTON, N. C., LIEUTENANT : I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the expedition which left Washington, N. C., under my command, at 2 a. m. of the 17th instant, and returned at 1 p. m. of the same day. I left town on the New Berne road, proceeded to the crossing of the Greenville and New Berne roads at Red Hill, when I turned to the right on the Greenville road, arriving near one-quarter mile of the Chicoa Creek, 13 miles from Washington. At half past 5 a. m. halted the column at this place, awaiting the proper signal from the expedition which left town the night before under command of Captain Blakeley, of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. No signal was heard. At 8 o'clock cavalry were discovered coming down the road from the direction of Greenville, which proved to be the expedition under command of Captain Blakeley, returning to Washington. After a short rest, the column was put in march for Washington, arriving at 1 p. m. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES C. GRAVES, Major First North Carolina Volunteers, Commanding, Lieut. J. A. CHENERY, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. 18TH A. C., DEPT. VA., AND N. C., No. 61. Fort Monroe, Va., December 20, 1863. The commanding general takes pleasure in announcing to the troops under his command, for their information and emulation, the General Orders, No. 46, from the headquarters of the Army and District of North Carolina. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY AND DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, New Berne, N. C., December 19, 1863. On the 28th of November, the commanding general had the satisfaction of announcing the surprise of Whiteford's camp, and the capture of some 60 rebels, 100 stand of arms, and many stores, by a small force under Captains Graham and West. Now he has the pleasure of publishing another brilliant affair, in the same locality, under Captain Blakeley, of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, who, with 100 infantry, marched 40 miles in twenty hours, and captured 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, and 33 men; 30 horses and saddles, 4 mules, and much valuable property, without the loss of a man. These officers and the guide will be presented for promotion, as well as such others as shall do likewise. By command of Major-General Peck : The commanding general desires to add E. T. PARKINSON, Assistant Adjutant-General. his own pledge to that of men who do such deeds R. S. DAVIS, Major, and Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEMBER 18, 1863.-Affair near Culpeper, Va. Report of Col. Thomas C. Devin, Sixth New York Cavalry, commanding First Cavalry Division. CULPEPER, VA., COLONEL: I have the honor to report that a small party, about 30 strong, of the enemy's cavalry made a dash on the pickets of the Second Brigade on the Sperryville road, capturing 1 man, but were immediately driven off and pursued by the reserve. Nothing else occurred during the day. The commanding officers of the pickets of the Cavalry Reserve Brigade report the enemy's vedettes near Mitchell's Station, and heard, during the night, trains moving; also the whole of the cars, and cheering and beating of drums. One pale blue rocket was sent up by the enemy to the right of Thoroughfare Mountain. THOS. C. DEVIN, Colonel, Commanding First Cavalry Division. Col. C. Ross SMITH, Chief of Staff. DECEMBER 18-20, 1863.-Scout from Vienna to Middleburg, Va. Report of Col. Charles R. Lowell, jr., Second Massachusetts Cavalry. VIENNA, VA., December 20, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that on Thursday night [17th instant] about 10 o'clock General Corcoran sent a communication that his picket at Sangster's Station had been attacked by a large party of guerrillas, and that he had sent a party of cavalry and infantry out toward Centreville to intercept them. Not suspecting that it amounted to anything more than some operations of Kincheloe's guerrillas, I simply assured myself that the pickets and outposts were on the alert. During Friday forenoon, hearing from Alexandria that the bridge had been destroyed, I made preparations to go out, and was just starting when your telegram reached me. An officer whom I sent to Fairfax Court-House failed to obtain any definite information, and inferring that the party had gone toward Aldie, I went up Little River pike and came upon their trail 2 miles beyond Chantilly. As far as I learned, the forces, consisting of Jones' old brigade (now Rosser's) of three regiments, amounting to 1,100 cavalry and 200 dismounted men, and White's battalion of from 300 to 400, left Falmouth Thursday forenoon without any wagons, starting with 1 ambulance, which they soon sent back. They traveled rapidly, and at daylight Friday morning were in Middleburg. They passed through Upperville and Paris about 9 o'clock toward Benig's Ford. Stragglers told the citizens that they were going to winter on the Shenandoah, as they did last year; that they lost a captain and 2 men in the attack on the picket at Sangster's, and 3 men were drowned crossing the Occoquan. I arrived at Middleburg at daybreak Saturday morning. Going up we saw nothing but 5 of Mosby's men, whom we pursued, and captured 4 of their horses and accouterments, 3 men and 1 horse escaping in the woods. I turned around and sent a party into Leesburg to find out about White's movements. A few of his men had been there Friday afternoon, and it appears to be White's intention to winter in Loudoun County. Mosby evidently expected this movement, and his command aided as guides and scouts. I divided my command into four parties coming home. A party returning through Dranesville, surrounded a house where they suspected the presence of Mosby's men, but, through ignorance of locality, the men escaped, all but 2. They captured 12 horses and equipments. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. R. LOWELL, JR., Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Camp. Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff, and Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEMBER 21, 1863.—Affair near Hunter's Mill, Va. Report of Col. Charles R. Lowell, jr., Second Massachusetts Cavalry. VIENNA, VA., December 22, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that there were from 20 to 30 guerrillas in the neighborhood last night. They attacked a picket station of a corporal and 5 men near Hunter's Mill, with mounted and dismounted men, taking 4 horses and wounding 2 men. Soon afterward an officer and escort on road to Fairfax Court-House were fired at by 10 or 15 men, and wounded 2 men. One of the wounded men near Hunter's Mill was shot a second time through the body by a guerrilla, after he had surrendered and given up his pistol. Mounted and dismounted party were sent out, but the rebels had disappeared. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, C. R. LOWELL, JR. Chief of Staff, and Assistant Adjutant-General. DECEMBER 21-23, 1863.-Expedition from Bealeton to Luray, Va., and Skirmishes. Report of Col. Charles H. Smith, First Maine Cavalry, commanding expedition. HEADQUARTERS FIRST MAINE CAVALRY, December 23, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the recent cavalry expedition to Luray : Monday morning, the 21st instant, the Second, Eighth, and Sixteenth Pennsylvania and First Maine Cavalry Regiments assembled at Bealeton Station at an early hour. Two regiments of the First Brigade at Warrenton were detailed, and were to join the command on the way. As two of the regiments had returned only the evening before from a campaign of several days, a delay of a few hours was caused in order to procure subsistence, forage, ammunition, &c. At 11 a. m. the four regiments left Bealeton and proceeded to Sulphur Springs. At the same time I sent an officer with an escort to Warrenton, with orders for the two regiments from the First Brigade to join the command at that point. At 3 p. m. the officer reported that the officer commanding the brigade had not received the order to make the detail. Supposing there had been some delay, I immediately sent another order for them to report at Amissville, and moved the command near to that place and halted. At 9.30 p. m. the dispatch bearer returned, and reported that the order for the detail had not yet reached brigade headquarters. I at once reported these facts to the colonel commanding the division, together with the strength of the command then present, viz, 1,100, and at 5 o'clock the next morning, the 22d instant, received orders to proceed with that force. At daybreak the command started. At Amissville the advance (Sixteenth Pennsylvania) charged upon a party and captured 1 prisoner, and at Gaines' Cross-Roads surprised a small party and drove them to the mountains. At Sperryville a small force had taken possession of the entrance to the gap, and made a show of resistance, but were at once dispersed by the advance. Crossed the mountains, and at night were within 4 miles of Luray. Soon after dusk the pickets were attacked by a party of Gilmor's men, but not more than a dozen shots were fired. Next morning (23d instant) at daylight the march was resumed, and a small picket force was met, which was easily brushed away by the advance (Second Pennsylva nia). Drawing near the town, a party of about 30 presented itself, which was at once charged upon by the advance and driven through and beyond the town. A few prisoners were taken; also 2 deserters came in. Having learned from perfectly reliable information that Rosser's brigade had encamped there Sunday night and had left on Monday, taking the "grade" up the Page Valley, on the east side of the river in the direction of Madison (thus putting itself between my command and the Confederate army, with the advantage of forty-eight hours' start), I decided that there could be no reason for protracting the march, and therefore I would turn about. I will also add that the river was very much swollen by recent rains, and up to the time of our arrival had not been forded by any one, but in conse quence of the very cold weather the water was falling very fast, and I have but little doubt that the command might have crossed it that day had it seemed desirable to do so. At Luray, examined the post-office, jail, &c., and learned that some conscripts had been removed on the news of our approach. Also discovered a large three-story building used as an extensive manufactory of Confederate bridles, saddles, artillery harness, &c., well filled with leather, buckles, rings, tools, and everything requi site for such an establishment, together with a large supply of articles ready manufactured. Adjacent to this building was an extensive tannery, with vats well filled with stock, and store-houses full of leather and raw material, all of which were completely destroyed by fire or otherwise. Returning between Luray and Sperryville, five other new and well-furnished tanneries were destroyed in a similar manner. Between Sperryville and Little Washington, on the return, the advance arrested the driver of a suspicious looking double wagon, and, upon investigation, it was discovered that the wagon was provided with a false bottom, between which and the real bottom was found a small quantity of dry goods and a small mail. The party was brought in in arrest. In this connection, I will state that when going out at Gaines' Cross-Roads, numerous fresh wagon tracks were discovered on the Little Washington road, and I learned from negroes that wagons had passed along that morning about sunrise. They (the negroes) supposed they were citizens moving. |