commanded by that famous "Savior of the Valley," Rosser. Notwithstanding the enemy's superiority in numbers and position, you drove him twenty miles from the battle-field, capturing his artillery, six pieces in all; also his entire train of wagons and ambulances and a large number of prisoners. Again, during the memorable engagement of the 19th instant, your conduct throughout was sublimely heroic, and without a parallel in the annals of warfare. In the early part of the day, when disaster and defeat seemed to threaten our noble army on all sides, your calm and determined bravery while exposed to a terrible fire from the enemy's guns, added not a little to restore confidence to that part of our army already broken and driven back on the right. Afterward rapidly transferred from the right flank to the extreme left, you materially and successfully assisted in defeating the enemy in his attempt to turn the left flank of our army. Again, ordered upon the right flank, you attacked and defeated a division of the enemy's cavalry, driving him in confusion across Cedar Creek. Then, changing your front to the left at a gallop, you charged and turned the left flank of the enemy's line of battle and pursued his broken and demoralized army a distance of five miles. Night alone put an end to your pursuit. Among the substantial fruits of this great victory you can boast of having captured five battle-flags, a large number of prisoners, including Major-General Ramseur, and forty-five of the forty-eight pieces of artillery taken from the enemy on that day, thus making fifty-one pieces of artillery captured within the short space of ten days. This is a record of which you may well be proud-a record won and established by your gallantry and perseverance. You have surrounded the name of the Third Cavalry Division with a halo of glory as enduring as time. The history of this war, when truthfully written, will contain no brighter page than that upon which is recorded the chivalrous deeds, the glorious triumphs, of the soldiers of this division. G. A. CUSTER, Brevet Major-General, Commanding Division. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr., November 7, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry, Middle Military Division: MAJOR: In the engagement of the 19th ultimo this division captured from the enemy forty-five pieces of artillery, a large number of prisoners, &c. In an official communication addressed to Major Farrington, provost-marshal of the cavalry, Middle Military Division, I reported the captured property and material referred to above. This communication was dated on or about the 21st of October, 1864. Since other commands have seen fit to contend the just claims of this division to the honor of having captured the forty-five pieces of artillery above mentioned, and since cards have been published in some of the most prominent journals of the country, reflecting in a highly discreditable manner upon portions of this division, as well as upon the division commander, I respectfully, but most earnestly, request that the chief of cavalry will give or enable to be given an official decision regarding the claims of this division to the capture of the guns, wagons, &c., referred to in the beginning of this communication. If there exists any doubt in his miud in relation to the facts concerning the captures of the 19th ultimo, I would suggest the appointment of a board composed of officers who are wholly disinterested regarding the question to be decided, let this board have authority to summon officers as witnesses, and to receive the evidence which may be produced. In that way the facts of the case may be arrived at. I inclose a card taken from the New York Daily Times of the 28th.* As that is a matter in which every officer and soldier in my command is deeply interested, I trust my application will receive a favorable consideration. I am, major, very respectfully, yours, &c., G. A. CUSTER, Brevet Major-General, Commanding Third Division. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr., Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry, Middle Military Division: MAJOR: In compliance with Special Orders, No. 78, from your headquarters, I have the honor to report the following: Captured from the enemy since the beginning of the campaign: 51 pieces of artillery, 30 caissons, 1 battery wagon, 44 army wagons, 23 spring wagons and ambulances, 1 medicine wagon, 243 horses, 182 mules, 207 sets artillery harness, 197 sets wagon harness, wagons containing ordnance stores, 152 head beef-cattle, 180 horses captured and branded. Destroyed during the campaign: 3 caissons, 4 army wagons, 4 spring wagons and ambulances; 10 mills, valued at $20,000; 150 barns, containing 1,500 tons hay, valued at $30,000; Staunton railroad and railroad property, valued at $30,000; 10,000 bushels wheat, valued at $20,000; 2,000 bushels oats and rye, valued at $3,000; 400 head sheep, 100 head cattle, driven to near our lines. Lost, 4 blacksmith forges. I am, very respectfully, &c., G. A. CUSTER, Brevet Major-General, Commanding Third Division. No. 158. Reports of Brig. Gen. John B. McIntosh, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, of operations September 13 und 17. HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, September 13, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that I moved from camp this morning with the Second Ohio, Third New Jersey, Fifth New York, First Connecticut, and Second New York Regiments of Cavalry and with one section of Battery M, Second U. S. Artillery. I was ordered to make a reconnaissance on the Berryville and Winchester pike and to cross the Opequon, if possible, to find out what the force of the enemy consisted of on that road or vicinity. I endeavored to capture the enemy's picket at Limestone Ridge, which was about fifty strong. *Inclosure not found. 34 R R VOL XLIII, PT I For that purpose I marched strong squadrons on each flank of my column and on a line with the advance guard. They were thrown well to the right and left, with orders. to push beyond the ridge under cover of the woods, and then to charge toward the Berryville and Winchester pike. The enemy, however, frustrated the movement by hastily evacuating the ridge. I then pushed my column across the Opequon, and by advancing rapidly soon came up with the enemy's cavalry, posted on a high eminence commanding the road and in a woods, where they dismounted and gave my advance regiment, the Second Ohio, a hot fire. I immediately ordered the Second Ohio to march to the left and flank the position. As soon as the enemy discovered my movement he hastily withdrew. I then pushed on rapidly over the main road, which ran through a ravine with high hills on each side and very wooded. In advancing rapidly, I overtook some of their dismounted men, who had secreted themselves in a thick skirt of woods. Colonel Suydam, of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, by my order, dismounted a squadron, which went into the woods and brought out twenty or thirty prisoners. In the meantime I kept pushing on my advance, when it was reported to me that there was a strong infantry line in my front. I immediately rode on a hill to the line of skirmishers, saw their force, and sent word to Colonel Suydam, of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, to charge one squadron up the road as hard as they could go, and at the same time charged my skirmishers as foragers. The enemy seeing us coming on determinedly, broke and gained cover in a woods to their right, which we immediately surrounded and captured the organization of the Eighth South Carolina Infantry, including Colonel Henagan and their battle-flag. This regiment was on picket half a mile in front of Kershaw's division, which soon formed and came down in force. I then sounded the recall and marched back, crossing the Opequon in safety, and reached camp about 5 p. m. The result of the morning's work was 16 commissioned officers and 127 non-commissioned officers and privates captured, with their battleflag. The prisoners are classified as follows: Eighth South Carolina Volunteers, 1 colonel and 13 line officers and 92 enlisted men; Twentyfirst Virginia Cavalry, 2 line officers and 13 enlisted men; Thirty-sixth Battalion Virginia Cavalry, 9 enlisted men; Thirty-seventh Battalion Virginia Cavalry, 9 enlisted men; Eighth Virginia Cavalry, 1 enlisted man; Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, 1 enlisted man; Twenty-fifth Virginia Cavalry, 2 enlisted men; making a total of 16 commissioned officers and 127 enlisted men. Aggregate, 143. The loss of my brigade was as follows: 2 men killed and 3 wounded; one of the wounded men was captured going to the rear. The Second Ohio and Third New Jersey deserve especial credit for the handsome manner in which they performed their duties. It gives me pleasure to state that Corpl. Isaac Gause,* of Company E, Second Ohio Cavalry, secured the colors and brought them in. The brigade advanced to within two miles and a half of Winchester. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. MCINTOSH, Brigadier-General. Capt. L. SIEBERT, Awarded a Medal of Honor. [First indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Near Berryville, Va., September 13, 1864. Respectfully forwarded for the information of the chief of cavalry, Middle Military Division: Having witnessed the operations of General McIntosh's command it affords me very great pleasure to commend the judicious management and promptitude of General McIntosh as well as the dash and good conduct of the troops. The charge of the squadron of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, which resulted in breaking through the rebel infantry picket and skirmish line, is specially worthy of mention; it effectually opened the way for surrounding and capturing the rebel regiment encountered. In accomplishing this too much praise cannot be awarded the Second Ohio Cavalry. J. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. [Second indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, September 14, 1864. Respectfully forwarded for the information of the major-general commanding. This was a very handsomely conducted affair and deserving of notice. A. T. A. TORBERT, Brevet Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Cavalry. HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Near Berryville, Va., September 17, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report, as the result of a reconnaissance made by me with three regiments of my brigade at 1 o'clock this morning, that last night there was no force of the enemy on Limestone Ridge on the Berryville and Winchester pike; that whatever force had been there was withdrawn early last evening to the opposite side of the Opequon, and regret to say that the principal object of the scout, viz, capturing the force stationed on Limestone Ridge, was in consequence frustrated, capturing but two prisoners, vedettes on the opposite side of the Opequon and belonging to the Twenty-first Virginia Cavalry. Information obtained from a citizen living one mile and a half from Berryville and Winchester pike, and west of the Opequon, and corroborated by his neighbors, indicates that Kershaw's brigade has moved up the Valley within two days past. Prisoners also state it is currently reported a portion of their army has recently moved up the Valley. Before returning I burned two flouring mills (Jones', near the Opequon, and a mill at Abraham's Creek, on the Winchester pike). Respectfully submitted. Capt. L. SIEBERT, J. B. MCINTOSH, Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Cavalry Division, No. 159. Report of Col. Alexander C. M. Pennington, Third New Jersey Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, of operations October 19-December 10. HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Camp Russell, Va., December 10, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of oper ations of my brigade since October 19, 1864: Battle of October 19, 1864.-About 4 a. m. on the 19th of October my command was saddled up, in consequence of heavy picket-firing and skirmishing along the line of the army. The firing soon became general, and about an hour after daylight I received orders to move with my brigade to a point which would be shown me by a staff officer. I moved immediately and formed line of battle at a place pointed out, which was in rear of the infantry and about a mile from the Valley pike. At this time a large number of stragglers were moving to the rear, and I sent out a squadron from my command to assist my provost guard in rallying the fugitives, and partially succeeded in arresting their progress. I remained in this position until the infantry had fallen back to within about 100 yards of my line, when I moved, in obedience to an order from General Custer, to the extreme left of the army, and formed line with my right resting on the Valley pike, placing my command as much under cover of woods and knolls as possible. While here my brigade was subjected to a heavy fire of artillery, and several horses and men were put hors de combat in the Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry by the explosion of a shell at the head of one of its squadrons. A regiment of some other division was deployed as skir mishers in front of my brigade. My command was not engaged while in this position. General Sheridan having arrived upon the field shortly after we had taken position here, and the infantry having been rallied, my brigade was transferred to the extreme right of the army, the Second Brigade of the division having been left to (picket) hold the right of the line. At the time we moved to the left of the army the Third New Jersey Cavalry, of my brigade, was also left to picket Fawcett's Gap and the Back road, connecting with the Second Brigade. In looking for a position for my command, I came in sight of about two regiments of cavalry, apparently feeding in an open field about 1,200 yards distant. The battery (B and L, Second U. S. Artillery) was placed in position on a hill overlooking the enemy, and I formed two regiments, Second Ohio and Second New York Cavalry, and charged the enemy, who mounted their horses and fled. I then, after a slight skirmish, halted and formed my command in line of battle, the Fifth New York being on the left, Second New York and Second Ohio in the center, and Eighteenth Pennsylvania on the right and connecting with the left of Second Brigade. My command was held in this position for nearly two hours, with skirmishers thrown out. No firing of consequence occurred at this time, although the enemy in force were in my front. At the end of two hours I received an order from General Custer to withdraw my command and move farther to the left. This I did, moving with the First Connecticut Cavalry in front. Coming in sight of the enemy's skirmishers, I directed the First Connecticut Cavalry to charge them, which they did, and drove them in upon their main body. The remainder of the command coming up, I formed the Second Ohio and Second New York to charge with the First Connecticut, the Second Ohio to take the right, the Second New York the left, both |
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