HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION, Major-General HUNTER: General Sheridan has telegraphed me to join him. He telegraphs via Harper's Ferry. Is it by your order? A. N. DUFFIÉ, HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, Maj. Gen. PHILIP SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry: Hancock, Md., August 8, 1864. (Via Harper's Ferry, Va., care General Howe.) SIR: General Averell has 500 of my best cavalry on expedition. I expect him back in twenty-four hours or less. So soon as he returns I will move to join you. I have telegraphed General Howe to know where you are. I am, general, very respectfully, &c., A. N. DUFFIE, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS, Hancock, August 8, 1864. If you know where Brigadier-General Averell is you would oblige me by directing him to order the detachment of the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry and First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, now with him, but belonging to my command, to report to me at once at this place. I am ordered by Major General Sheridan to immediately concentrate my command at this place and join him. I am, sir, &c., A. N. DUFFIE, SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 26. HDQRS. FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, Col. L. B. Pierce, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, will proceed immediately to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., and will collect together in camp all men of the First Cavalry Division now at or near that point. By command of Brig. Geu. A. N. Duffié: E. W. CLARK, JR., Assistant Adjutant-General. [AUGUST 8, 1864.] Major-General HUNTER, Commanding Department of West Virginia: Major Green, chief engineer on the staff of General Ewell, serving with Early, was captured at Moorefield. McCausland had received orders to march to Winchester at 2 a. m. 7th. No information of re-enforcements to Early has been gained. The order for the burning of Chambersburg was given by Early. McCausland's expedition was considered of great importance; parts of other cavalry divisions were dismounted to fit him out. WM. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General. Major-General HUNTER, NEW CREEK, W. VA., August 8, 1864. Harper's Ferry: (Received 1.50 a. m. 9th.) I have brought prisoners, guns, and property to this place. I request that my division be ordered to assemble at Hagerstown, or some other point, for a few days to reorganize, remount, and equip. I can double the strength of my command by it. WM. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General. NEW CREEK, August 8, 1864. General KELLEY, Commanding: McCausland waited at Moorefield, and I attacked him there at daylight yesterday morning, completely routing his command, capturing his artillery, 420 prisoners, over 400 horses and equipments, 3 battleflags, and a quantity of small-arms. The number of the enemy killed is unknown, but large. General Johnson was captured, with his colors and three of his staff, but subsequently escaped. Colonel Peters, Twenty-first Virginia (rebel) [Cavalry], was mortally wounded. McCausland escaped to the mountains. The enemy was pursued toward Wardensville, Howard's Lick, and up the South Branch from ten to twenty-five miles. My command was so wearied with the chase and so encumbered with prisoners and captured property that I thought it best to bring it here. My loss was 7 killed and 21 wounded. WM. W. AVERELL, (Copy forwarded to Major-General Hunter.) CUMBERLAND, August 8, 1864. Brigadier-General AVERELL, New Creek: I most heartily congratulate you and your gallant command. B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General KELLEY: Brigadier-General. NEW CREEK, August 8, 1864. According to the order of General Sheridan, it will be necesssary that I take that portion of the Eighth Ohio now at Beverly to Hancock. Will you please issue the necessary orders at once. Will you also direct that cars for the transportation of my command to Hancock be furnished at once. I thank you for your congratulation. WM. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General. CUMBERLAND, August 8, 1864. I will have cars sent you as soon as possible. It will be impossible to relieve the Eighth Ohio until General Hunter can give me some troops to take their place. B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General KELLEY: NEW CREEK, August 8, 1864. Please order cars for the prisoners. There are thirty-eight officers among them. What shall be done with the guns? McCausland received orders at 2 o'clock yesterday morning to march to Winchester. WM. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General. CUMBERLAND, August 8, 1864. Brigadier-General AVERELL, New Creek : Cars will be at New Creek to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock for your prisoners. Colonel Stevenson will furnish a guard to take them to Wheeling if you wish it. You will receive an order this evening from General Sheridan which I very much regret I do not understand. General Hunter has not advised me in regard to it. The guns you may send here. I will send Captain Harrison, assistant quartermaster, to New Creek to-morrow to provide for your wants. B. F. KELLEY, Brigadier-General. No. You GENERAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND CAV. DIV., New Creek, W. Va., August 8, 1864. The colonel commanding congratulates the officers and men of the brigade upon the part borne by them in the brilliant success achieved by them through the united efforts of the officers and men of the division on the morning of the 7th instant at Moorefield, W. Va., over an enemy twice our number, and with every advantage in his favor. The conduct of the command was all that could have been desired. did your duty as good and faithful soldiers, and your efforts were not in vain. The result was glorious-the honor of which is, as the labor was, equally shared between you and your sister brigade and division commander. But in the midst of our exultations over our victory we were called upon to mourn the loss of our brave and gallant comrade in arms, Maj. S. B. Conger, Third West Virginia Cavalry, who fell while leading his regiment against the enemy. In his death the regiment lost an able, brave, intelligent, and energetic officer, and one who ever watched over its interests with jealous care. May he who succeeds him, and the officers of this command, emulate his example and that of the gallant Lieut. L. Clark, who fell at the head of his company at the same time. The thanks of this brigade are especially due to the Third West Virginia Cavalry Regiment for their gallantry and bravery displayed in the charge across the South Branch of the Potomac River, near Moorefield, under a very heavy fire from the enemy's line of battle on the banks of the river in their front, and for the three successive charges made by them (in the second of which they lost their gallant commander), putting the enemy to flight in confusion to the mountains. May their efforts and success on that occasion stimulate them to more daring and nobler deeds in the future. The thanks of the brigade are also due to the First West Virginia Cavalry for the timely support given to the Third West Virginia Cavalry at a time when the enemy seemed conscious of our weakness, and attempted to rally their forces and to repel the advance of our lines, and for its joint operation with the Third Virginia Cavalry, driving the enemy into the mountains for a distance of twelve miles, killing, wounding, and capturing many, also capturing one battle-flag and two pieces of artillery. Thanks are also due to the First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, commanded by Captain Jones, for the support rendered in operating on our right, driving three times its number before it in utter rout, while the First Virginia Cavalry and the Third_Virginia Cavalry were driving the enemy on our left. The Second Regiment Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, having been held back by the general commanding as a support for the battery, was not engaged. The colonel commanding desires to compliment in the highest terms the conduct of the entire brigade in saying: that you were called upon to fight twice your number; you fought well, and gave the enemy a severe whipping, driving him from his position, his guns, and from his battle-flag, because we were united and made the attack fully determined to "conquer or die." W. H. POWELL, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. CUMBERLAND, August 8, 1864. The following just received.* I am very much gratified. I wish to see you before you go. Will try to go up to-morrow or next day. Scouts report that Averell overtook the enemy and captured all his artillery and 500 prisoners. B. F. KELLEY, SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. MIDDLE DEPT., STH ARMY CORPS, Baltimore, August 8, 1864. 5. Capt. T. M. Bartholomee, commanding detachment Twelfth Maryland Infantry (100-days' service), having reported to these headquarters, See paragraph 5, Special Orders, No. 146, Department of West Virginia, August 6, 1864, p. 709. in obedience to orders of Maj. W. S. Harlan, One hundred and fiftyninth Ohio National Guard, commanding Camp Bradford, is hereby ordered to return to Camp Bradford and await further orders. Captain Bartholomee will make requisition at once for arms and accouterments, sixty rounds of ammunition per man, and all authorized articles needed for field service. By command of Major-General Wallace: SAML. B. LAWRENCE, Maj. T. M. VINCENT: HARRISBURG, August 8, 1864-9.30 p. m. I don't think that 500 men have responded to the Governor's call, and doubt if 3,000 will. Men have organized for home defense at York, Carlisle, Áltoona, Johnstown, Harrisburg, &c. I ordered all ablebodied citizens of Alleghany County to be enrolled. Don't believe they would come into this valley in any ordinary emergency. Have made no call under this proclamation of the Governor. Am not raising men for Federal or State service, unless my appeal to border counties is so construed. It is understood that Colonel Crosman was only notified to have clothing for 15,000 ready, when Breckinridge was supposed to be moving west. My calls, &c., will be sent by mail. I think the people are waiting to see what the Legislature will do. D. N. COUCH, Major-General. Maj. Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN, CITY POINT, August 9, 1864-12 m. Harper's Ferry: Information derived from deserters, refugees, and a man sent from here to Richmond, all corroborating, locate every division and brigade of Hill, Longstreet, and Beauregard's forces. Not one brigade has been sent from here. I shall endeavor to hold them, and rather create a tendency to draw from your front than allow them to re-enforce. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 9, 1864-8.30 p. m. I will move from Halltown up the Valley. Early broke up his camp at Bunker Hill on last Friday and drew in the small detachments he had at Williamsport and the 300 cavalry which went as far as Hagerstown. He learned that General Grant was at Monocacy and that I was in command of a large force. He moved from Bunker Hill to North Mountain Station and was sending stock up Back Creek Valley. I 47 R R-VOL XLIII, PT I |