side, and across the Millwood and Front Royal pikes, toward Stephensburg or Newtown. General Merritt at this time was ordered to strike the enemy's column on the Strasburg road, at Stephensburg, and force him still farther westward, or oblige him to give battle. In this movement General Merritt encountered Gordon's division, repulsed an attack made by it at 6 o'clock this p. m., and made a bold push to get between the enemy and Strasburg, and thereby compel him to fight. This plan, however, was frustrated by a precipitate retreat, a portion of the enemy's forces passing over into Back Creek Valley. I will continue the pursuit in the morning. The stories of plunder taken from Maryland are all humbugs. They have but very little, just enough to subsist upon, no more, most of which has been taken from this valley. My.casualties to-day will number about 125 cavalrymen. The infantry has not yet had an opportunity of being engaged. I have ordered the telegraph from Harper's Ferry to Cumberland repaired and the railroad to be put in running condition. I am as yet unable to state the exact number of prisoners taken to-day. Please telegraph this to General Grant. Yours, respectfully, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C. (Copy forwarded to General Grant.) HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Camp at Cedar Creek, August 12, 1864-12 midnight. GENERAL: I have the honor to report the following operations of my command to-day: In my dispatch of last evening I reported my advance near Stephensburg or Newtown. This morning at 5 a. m. I resumed the march on Middletown, near Cedar Creek, the cavalry and Sixth Corps passing through Newtown, the balance of the command marching across the country direct on Middletown, the whole command concentrating on Cedar Creek, near where the Strasburg pike crosses the creek. The enemy moved last night across Cedar Creek to Strasburg. All his trains were moved around by the Back Creek Valley road, crossing Cedar Creek high up and moving on Strasburg or Woodstock. A portion of my cavalry was detached at Stephensburg and struck the Back Creek Valley road, and followed the trains to the crossing of Cedar Creek, but did not succeed in capturing them. The enemy have made some show of resistance in front of Strasburg. I am yet unable to determine its character, and could not get my command sufficiently in hand to attack him this evening. I will have to make a slight delay here to get up my supply trains from Harper's Ferry. They should reach Winchester to-night, coming here to-morrow forenoon. I regret that Grover's division was not permitted to come to Harper's Ferry, as I intended to use it as a strong guard for the subsistence trains. As they are now, the trains will be under the escort of Brigadier-General Kenly's brigade (which is very small) as far as Winchester, and one of General Wright's brigades from Winchester here. The prevailing report is that Longstreet's corps is marching from Staunton to support Early, and Grover should have been permitted to have come out. General Duffié has not yet joined me, nor has General Averell or General Wilson. Generals Wilson and Duffié should have been here by this time, particularly the latter. A telegram from Captain Leet and also one from General Max Weber locates Longstreet in the Valley, marching here. A telegram from Lieutenant-General Grant received on the 9th stated that his (Longstreet's) corps was still at Petersburg. I would like to hear from Lieutenant-General Grant in reference to the truth of this report. General Early's train is a very small one-not to exceed 250 wagons-and the stories about accumulated plunder from Maryland are untrue. I am exceedingly anxious to hear whether Longstreet has left to come here or not. Very respectfully, &c., P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General HALLECK, WINCHESTER, VA., August 17, 1864-10 a. m. General Merritt's division of cavalry was attacked yesterday afternoon on north side of the Shenandoah by Kershaw's division, of Longstreet's corps, and Wickham's and Lomax's brigades of cavalry. After a very handsome cavalry fight the enemy were badly beaten, with a loss of 2 stand of colors, 24 officers, and 276 men prisoners. Most of the prisoners are from Longstreet's corps and Kershaw's division. They came across the mountains from Culpeper, and report large re-enforcements from Lee's army arriving. The cavalry made some handsome saber charges, in which most of the prisoners were captured. Colonel Devin was slightly wounded, but continued in the saddle. General Custer made a very narrow escape. Only Devin's and Custer's brigades were engaged. I am moving my command to take up the position near Berryville, which I advised you of heretofore. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff. HALLTOWN, W. VA., August 22, 1864--10.30 p. m. Yesterday morning the enemy crossed Opequon Creek at different crossings in the vicinity of Smithfield or Middleway, and advanced on my position at Welch's Spring, two miles west of Charlestown. Some skirmishing took place on the front of the Sixth Corps and of General Crook's command during the day. The skirmish line of the Sixth Corps drove the enemy from the crest that they occupied in front of that corps. Skirmishing also took place with cavalry at Summit Point and Berryville, but of not much moment. My position at best being a very bad one, and, as there is much depending on this army, I fell back and took a new position in front of Halltown, without loss or opposition. This morning the enemy followed up, and some little skirmishing has taken place, but of no consequence. My loss yesterday was 275. Prisoners captured to-day report the whole of the enemy here with Lougstreet. This latter I do not believe. One of his divisions is here. No rebels in Martinsburg up to yesterday. Torbert is at Shepherdstown with his cavalry, connecting with my right at this place. No enemy has crossed the Potomac, nor do I believe they will. Averell is on the north side watching the fords above Shepherdstown. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff'. HALLTOWN, W. VA., August 23, 1864-10, p. m. (Received 2 a. m. 24th.) I have nothing important to communicate to-night. The enemy seem to be in very strong force. I made a reconnaissance on both my right and left flanks this afternoon with cavalry. Found Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division and infantry on my left flank, on a little stream called Cat-tail Run, Lee's cavalry pickets extending to the Shenandoah. On the right cavalry, infantry, and artillery were found at Flowing Spring. No prisoners captured. It is reported by scouts, left behind by me near Winchester, that both Pickett's and Field's divisions are here. This information is reported by them as coming from a Union man, at whose house they were concealed. They did not see them. Dispatches from City Point contradict this positively. I have made my position here very strong. I do not believe that Pickett's and Field's divisions are here. Will know to-morrow. These various reports are embarrassing. I have pursued a cautious policy and on the defensive. There have been heavy rains in the mountains. Kelley has notified me to look out for the pontoon bridges. P. H. SHERIDAN, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff. Major-General. HALLTOWN, W. VA., August 24, 1864-9.30 p. m. (Received 12.30 a. m. 25th.) I have the honor to report affairs here in about the same condition as yesterday. This morning General Crook made a reconnaissance, driving in the enemy's advance line, punishing him severely, and capturing twenty men belonging to Early's corps. General Emory made a reconnaissance and encountered the enemy in strong force in his front. I will commence operations with the cavalry to-morrow. I had cavalry at Martinsburg last night. No rebels there. The enemy have had a small infantry force there. Nothing has passed through Snicker's Gap. The enemy appears in doubt as to what he can do. I think I can compel him to abandon his present position. My reports of to-day confirm the constant reports that I have been receiving, namely, that Pickett's and Field's divisions have joined Early. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, P. H. SHERIDAN, Chief of Staff. HALLTOWN, W. VA., August 25, 1864-8.30 p.m. There is no doubt of the presence here of a large portion of Longstreet's corps, General Anderson commanding. Early and Breckinridge moved this morning in the direction of Shepherdstown and were met by our cavalry near Kearneysville not far from Blue Spring or Leetown. The cavalry was opposed by Breckinridge's corps. After some skirmishing, Wilson's division was ordered into its present position here, and Merritt to Shepherdstown. Merritt was followed and had to leave Shepherdstown and fall back here, Custer crossing to the north side at Shepherdstown. It is possible that I may have to cross the river to the north side, should the enemy cross. I have not yet captured prisoners from any but Kershaw's division, of Longstreet's corps, but there is no doubt of General Anderson, who is temporarily in command of that corps, being here. I have not heard from General Grant for three or four days. Have you anything from him? P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff. HALLTOWN, W. VA., August 26, 1864-8 p. m. The movement of the enemy toward Shepherdstown yesterday amounted to nothing. It did not disturb me nor cause me to make any changes, except to send one division of cavalry to Antietam Creek, on the north side. No attempt was made to cross the ford, although it was left open for the enemy. They must have retired to the vicinity of Charlestown. Averell reports cavalry in the vicinity of Williamsport and an attempt to cross; but no serious effort was made. This evening General Crook made a dash and drove in their heavy line of skirmishers on the left, and Colonel Lowell took advantage of it to make a cavalry charge, capturing seven officers and sixty-nine privates of Kershaw's division. Among the officers is one lieutenant-colonel. I think I can manage this affair. I have thought it best to be very prudent, everything considered. Major-General HALLECK, P. H. SHERIDAN, Chief of Staff. HALLTOWN, W. VA., August 27, 1864-2.30 p. m. (Received 8 p. m.) The enemy left my front last night, falling back to Smithfield or Middleway. We captured 101 prisoners yesterday, and inflicted a loss of 150 killed and wounded. There have been a few feints to cross the river by cavalry at Williamsport, but there was no strength shown. The indications to-day are that they will fall back out of the Valley. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff. CAMP ON SMITHFIELD PIKE, THREE MILES AND A HALF FROM SMITHFIELD, VA., August 28, 1864-8.30 p.m. (Received 1.30 a. m. 29th.) The enemy yesterday and the night before moved from my front, concentrating at Leetown and Smithfield. To-day I moved on these points. The enemy last night and this morning moved from these points to Bunker Hill, holding the crossing of the Opequon, leaving their cavalry at Leetown and Smithfield. General Merritt, with the First Cavalry Division, attacked them at Leetown, drove them from that place, and, after a handsome engagement, routed them at Smithfield and drove them across Opequon Creek. The cavalry engaged was Fitz Lee's. The enemy's cavalry pickets on the west bank of Opequon were relieved by infantry about night-fall. The enemy are concentrated at Bunker Hill from all reports. Whether they have left that point for Winchester is doubtful. I will be able to find out in the morning. Several handsome cavalry charges were made in the engagement of the First Division. The enemy suffered quite severely. loss was not very heavy. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK. Our P. H. SHERIDAN, CHARLESTOWN, W. VA., September 1, 1864-9.30 a. m. Averell, who was at Martinsburg, was obliged to fall back to a point between Hainesville and Williamsport. I think that he will be able to advance again to-day. The two divisions sent to the rear have not yet accomplished anything, even to giving me information whether the enemy had sent any considerable force of troops from the Valley. I wanted to get between Strasburg and the remaining force. For this reason I have remained quiet here for the last day or two. The reports of the people are that the troops have been ordered back to Richmond. As yet, I have no good reason to believe that any have left. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. P. S.-I have just heard from Averell. As I supposed, the affair was not of much consequence, and he is going back to Martinsburg. Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff. P. H. S. CHARLESTOWN, W. VA., September 2, 1864-6 p. m. Yesterday I directed Torbert, with his cavalry, to drive in the enemy's pickets on the Opequon as far as the Front Royal pike, and to reach the Strasburg pike if possible, for the purpose of gaining information. This was done, and it was found that none of the enemy's troops bad, up to that time, left the Valley. To-day Averell attacked the enemy on the Winchester and Martinsburg pike, driving Vaughn's cavalry from Bunker Hill, capturing some of his wagon train and a number of prisoners. I have not yet received Averell's official report. The enemy's infantry commenced moving toward Winchester this morning. I will move to-night. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK. P. H. SHERIDAN, |