Maj. C. H. RAYMOND, MUDDY BRANCH, August 4, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General: MAJOR: All quiet this morning. There are only about thirty of the enemy in the timber in the vicinity of Rockville and Darnestown, who interrupt small squads. JNO. M. WAITE, Major, &c. MUDDY BRANCH, MD., August 4, 1864. (Received 6.10 p. m.) Maj. C. H. RAYMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General: MAJOR: Officer in charge of my right sends word: I hear from various sources that Imboden's brigade is in vicinity of Leesburg. Am scouring the country between here and Darnestown aud Rockville for bushwhackers and shall continue it day and night. All quiet along my lines. J. M. WAITE, ALEXANDRIA, August 4, 1864. Colonel TAYLOR, (Received 8 p. m.). Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General : COLONEL: Last night I sent a scouting party to look after certain guerrillas said to be in the neighborhood of Burke's Station. They scouted the country thoroughly, but could find nothing. H. H. WELLS, Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General. Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that no intelligence has yet been received from the force sent to the Rappahannock two nights since. Messengers came in last night from the party sent to Thoroughfare Gap and the valley beyond. They had not reached their destination, but report the vicinity of Bristoe Station and Manassas as free from any force. The party sent to the Catoctin Mountains, west of Leesburg, came in this morning. They bring information direct from the vicinity of the gap near Hillsborough. A part of Bradley Johnson's cavalry, 400 strong, are lying near the gap. Mosby has in that vicinity on this side about 350 men, and is operating in concert with Johnson's troops and those beyond the Blue Ridge. Mosby is reported to have had two companies badly cut up on his last trip across the river. He returned from Maryland on Sunday. The messengers sent from above Leesburg night before last were attacked and driven back by a party of rebels. In consequence information failed to reach here. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. M. LAZELLE, Colonel Sixteenth New York Vol. Cav., Comdg. Cav. Brigade. 1 Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General: H. M. LAZELLE, Colonel Sixteenth New York Vol. Cav., Comdg. Cav. Brigade. WASHINGTON, August 4, 1864. Major-General HUNTER, Мопосасу, Ма. : I have seen General Kelley's dispatch* to you of last evening, and think that he should be immediately re-enforced by cavalry. General Sheridan's cavalry is beginning to arrive, and will be sent forward soon. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. MONOCACY JUNCTION, August 4, 1864-4.30 p.m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff: (Received 4.40 p. m.) The enemy is reported moving in two columns, one by way of Charlestown and one by Shepherdstown, on Harper's Ferry. I have ordered General Emory's corps to re-enforce the troops at Harper's Ferry. D. HUNTER, Major-General HALLECK, MONOCACY JUNCTION, August 4, 1864. Chief of Staff : At 4.30 p. m. our pickets were driven away from Antietam Ford and the enemy commenced crossing with cavalry and infantry. One of my aides reports the enemy are sending cavalry over into Loudoun County, I suppose by way of Key's Ford. D. HUNTER, *See Vol. XXXVII, Part II, p. 587. MONOCACY JUNCTION, MD., August 4, 1864. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff : Major-General HUNTER: CUMBERLAND, MD., August 4, 1864-3 p. m. General Duffié reports that a force of about 2,000 rebels crossed Cherry Run this a. m. and was marching toward Hancock. It is possible Early's whole force is to move into and escape via the South Branch Valley. B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General. D. HUNTER, MONOCACY JUNCTION, MD., August 4, 1864–9 p. m. (Received 10 p. m.) Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff: General HUNTER: HARPER'S FERRY, August 4, 1864–9 p. m. The indications at dark were that this place would be attacked in the morning, both on the Virginia and Maryland side of the river. If the enemy attacks on both sides at the same time I think there should be 3,000 men sent besides those you say you have sent. None have reached here yet. A. P. HOWE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. D. HUNTER, Major-General. HARPER'S FERRY, VA., August 4, 1864-10.15 p. m. Maj. Gen. D. HUNTER, Monocacy Junction: Colonel Blakely, Fourteenth Pennsylvania, just reports that cavalry, infantry, and artillery have crossed at the Shepherdstown ford and at Dam No. 4; that at 6 o'clock he had a skirmish with them at Antietam bridge, and would have to fall back to this place. Troops are arriving. A. P. HOWE, Brigadier-General. Major-General HALLECK: Above just received from General Howe. D. HUNTER, HARPER'S FERRY, August 4, 1864–9 a. m. Col. JAMES A. HARDIE, Inspector-General: Have been here since Tuesday; get very little news of enemy. When I get through here intend to return to General Hunter if practicable. WM. SINCLAIR, Assistant Inspector-General. HARPER'S FERRY, August 4, 1864-8 p. m. Col. JAMES A. HARDIE: Cavalry officer at Antietam Creek reports that he was driven away at 4.30 p. m., and enemy were crossing infantry and cavalry at Shepherdstown; in what force is not known. Was on, Bolivar Heights at sundown; saw dust about vicinity of Shepherdstown. Cavalry officer on Winchester road reports Imboden at Charlestown, with two guns and 1,200 cavalry." WM. SINCLAIR, Col. JAMES A. HARDIE, HARPER'S FERRY, August 4, 1864. Inspector-General: Another orderly has arrived from cavalry officer at Antietam Creek; reports that [they] had a skirmish with enemy and had to fall back. Enemy crossed at Shepherdstown and Dam No. 4, with infantry, cavalry, and artillery; numbers not known. Signal officer stationed at McClellan's Gap reports that enemy crossed cavalry and had infantry on Virginia side when he left his station. This must be the signal station used by General McClellan during the battle of Antietam. WM. SINCLAIR, Assistant Inspector-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA, Monocacy Junction, Md., August 4, 1864. Maj. Gen. Julins Stahel, U. S. Volunteers, having recovered from his wounds received in action at Piedmont, W. Va., and reported for duty, is announced as chief of cavalry, and will be attached to the staff of the major-general commanding the department. Major-General Stahel will make frequent inspections of the cavalry of this command, and present such suggestions as his experience may warrant looking t. its increased efficiency. By command of Major-General Hunter: ORDERS.] THAYER MELVIN, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS, By direction of the department commander the corps will be held in readiness to move at daylight to-morrow morning upon the receipt of orders to that effect. The order of march will be as follows: first, Second Division; second, Third Division; third, artillery not assigned to divisions; fourth, First Division; fifth, the trains, to which the commander of the First Division will assign a brigade as guard. The ambulances and headquarters trains will accompany the divisions to which they belong; corps headquarters wagons will follow immedi ately after the artillery. By command of Major-General Wright: C. A. WHITTIER, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Have reported, and am going into bivouac at my position. E. L. MOLINEUX, MONOCACY, August 4, 1864-3.40 [p. m.]. Brigadier-General HowE: I am sending you re-enforcements; if you don't need them I wish you would inform me. D. HUNTER, HARPER'S FERRY, August 4, 1864-4.15 p. m. Monocacy: Major General HUNTER, Signal officer reports the enemy moving on this place from Shepherdstown on the Virginia side with cavalry and infantry. A. P. HOWE, HARPER'S FERRY, August 4, 1864—6 p. m. Major-General HUNTER, Monocacy: Our cavalry officer at Antietam Creek reports, at 4.30 p. m., he was driven away, and the enemy were crossing cavalry and infantry. A. P. HOWE, General KELLEY: MONOCACY, August 4, 1864. (Received 8.30 a. m. 5th.) General Averell has been ordered to pursue the enemy at once, and obey such orders as you may give him. D. HUNTER, Major-General, Commanding. |