have found things here in confusion. The cavalry were all scattered, but I have collected a large number. Duffié's command has been doing nothing up about Hancock. It has been ordered to join me; Averell also. Torbert's two brigades came in this morning and his last brigade this evening. P. H. SHERIDAN, HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 9, 1864-8 p. m. Colonel HARDIE, Inspector-General: I have most urgently to request that Capt. John Kellogg, commissary of subsistence, U. S. Army, be ordered here as chief commissary of subsistence. If he can be sent I should like to have him come at once. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, No. 6. I. Brigadier-General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry, will have Colonel Schoonmaker's command of dismounted cavalry moved to Pleasant Valley and camped near Major Congdon's command. Colonel Schoonmaker will assume command of all of the dismounted cavalry. Colonel Maulsby, commanding Maryland Heights, will at once order all the dismounted cavalry with him to report to Major Congdon. II. The dismounted cavalry will be armed, and kept armed, as fast as possible with carbines and pistols. By order of Major-General Sheridan: GENERAL ORDERS, No. 7. E. B. PARSONS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., August 9, 1864. In addition to General Orders, No. 1, headquarters U. S. Forces, August 7, 1864, the following officers are announced on the staff of the major-general commanding: Asst. Surg. F. H. Patton, Twelfth Virginia Infantry, as acting medical purveyor; Maj. H. W. Owings, Second Eastern Shore Maryland Volunteers, as acting medical director. By command of Major-General Sheridan: GENERAL ORDERS, No. 8. E. B. PARSONS, HDQRS. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Capt. Thayer Melvin, assistant adjutant-general, is relieved from duty at the headquarters of Department of Western Virginia, and is hereby assigned to duty at these headquarters. By command of Major-General Sheridan: E. B. PARSONS, GENERAL ORDERS, No. HDQRS, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, During the temporary absence in the field of the major-general commanding, the office of this military divisin at Harper's Ferry will be in charge of Capt. T. Melvin, assistant adjutant-general, and all communications from headquarters not moving in the field will be sent to him at this point until further orders. By command of Major-General Sheridan: SPECIAL ORDERS, E. B. PARSONS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, 1. Maj. Gen. Julius Stahel is hereby relieved from duty in the Department of Western Virgir a, and will report in person for orders to Maj. Gen. L. Wallace, commanding Middle Department. 3. Bvt. Maj. Gen. George Crook, in addition to his present command of the Army of Western Virginia, will, during the temporary absence of Maj. Gen. D. Hunter, assume command of the Department of West Virginia. 4. First Lieut. John R. Meigs, Engineer Corps, having reported to these headquarters for orders, will report to Bvt. Maj. Gen. George Crook, commanding Department of Western Virginia, for assignment to duty. * * * * * 8. Brig. Gen. Max Weber, commanding Military District of Harper's Ferry, will retain of the artillery now at this place six complete batteries for the garrison of this point. All surplus artillery will be at once sent to Washington, D. C. The officers commanding the batteries sent to Washington will on the arrival at that point report to Brigadier-General Howe, chief of artillery, U. S. Army. 9. The Third Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, now under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, will be dismounted, under the supervision of Capt. E. V. Sumner, First U. S. Cavalry, and the horses, arms, equipments and transportation will be turned over to the dismounted men belonging to this military division. As soon as the regiment is dismounted and the property properly disposed of, Lieutenant-Colonel Jones will proceed with his men to Washington, D. C., and report to Major-General Augur to be mustered out. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, I. The command, now at or near Halltown, will move to-morrow morning in the following order, and at the following hours: II. At 4 o'clock General Torbert will move his cavalry command from its present position near Charlestown, via Summit Point, and along the western base of Limestone Ridge, until he arrives at the intersec tion of the pike from Millwood to Winchester with the pike from Millwood to White Post. In this movement General Torbert will send out strong parties to the crossings of Opequon Creek, and will leave Colonel Lowell's command at Summit Point with directions to report to the major-general commanding through a staff officer. After arriving at the above-named intersection, the movements of the cavalry will be in compliance with special instructions furnished from these headquarters. General Torbert will be required to send frequent reports of the position of the enemy, and information obtained, to the major-general commanding. III. The Sixth Corps will move at 5 o'clock from its present camp, via a dirt road on the north side of the Berryville pike, until it reaches Clifton, where it will take position unless otherwise ordered. General . Wright will communicate all information obtained of the enemy's movements to the major-general commanding. IV. The Nineteenth Corps will move at 5 o'clock by the Berryville pike, until it arrives at the intersection of the pike or road from Clifton with the Berryville pike, about one mile and a half or two miles from Berryville, where it will take position, unless otherwise ordered, and open communication with General Wright at Clifton. General Emory will communicate all information obtained of the enemy's movements to the major-general commanding. V. The Army of Western Virginia, Brevet Major-General Crook commanding, will move at 5 o'clock on a dirt road on the left of the Berryville pike, via Kabletown, until it arrives at Berryville, where it will take position, unless otherwise ordered, and open communication with General Emory at a point near Berryville. General Crook will communicate all information obtained of the enemy's movements to the major-general commanding. VI. The transportation permitted by General Orders, No. 2, to accompany the troops, will be subject to the orders of corps commanders. VII. The subsistence trains which have been parked near Bolivar Heights will remain there until otherwise ordered from these headquarters. VIII. The brigade of General Kenly, now attached to the Nineteenth Corps, is hereby detached from that corps and will remain in camp at Halltown, but will be held in readiness to move on orders from these headquarters. IX. The headquarters of the major-general commanding will be with the Nineteenth Corps, on the Berryville pike. By command of Maj. Gen. P. H. Sheridan: JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 9, 1864-8 p. m. Will you have the kindness to hurry General Wilson up and get him started out as soon as possible? I have no important news to communicate. Have heard nothing from Mosby to-day. The small detachments that Early had about Williamsport and Shepherdstown were drawn in, and from the best information that I have, he broke up his camp near Bunker Hill last Friday and moved to Doctor Hammond's house, near North Mountain Station, and was sending stock up Back Creek Valley. He had learned that General Grant was at Monocacy on Friday, and that I was advancing with a large force. I will leave here to-morrow. I have not been able to learn that there were more than 300 cavalry on the north side of the Potomac, with a few wagons. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, August 9, 1864. Major-General SHERIDAN, Commanding Middle Division, Harper's Ferry: General Wilson informs me that his division will not be here ready to move before Thursday afternoon. He is all ready to move as soon as his men arrive. 2. Brig. Gen. A. P. Howe, U. S. Volunteers, having reported for duty in this department, is hereby assigned to duty as specified in paragraph 47, Special Orders, No. 96, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, February 29, 1864.* Left Cumberland 7th. Johnson and Kelley engaged 5th at New Creek. Johnson defeated and retreating westward. Arrived Frankfort 7th. Captain McNeill passed through on 4th with forty men, on his way to join Johnson. I arrived Springfield same date. Averell passed through Springfield 6th, in close pursuit. Arrived Green Spring same date. Johnson's force 3,500 strong. From Green Spring to Gilpintown. No signs of enemy from Springfield to Hagerstown. What course shall I take next? Request major to bring War Department headings for authority. Answer. C. BOSTICK. * See Vol. XXXIII, p. 617. MUDDY BRANCH, August 9, 1864. Maj. C. H. RAYMOND: All quiet on my line up to this time. Considerable cavalry seen over the river opposite right of my line yesterday. Contents of the general's dispatch* known the length of my line before daylight and all upon the alert. J. M. WAITE, Major, &c. ALEXANDRIA, August 9, 1864. Chief of Staff: Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, COLONEL: About forty guerrillas attacked my pickets near the telegraph road last night at 11 o'clock. Charged on a small reserve and captured two horses and two men of the Sixteenth New York. They then retreated toward Burke's Station. I am not yet satisfied that the officer in charge of the picket or the men composing the reserve did their duty, but am investigating and shall report to-day. Respectfully, H. H. WELLS, ALEXANDRIA, VA., August 9, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I learn that yesterday about 4 o'clock Mosby attacked about sixty of the Sixteenth New York Cavalry near Fairfax Station and whipped them badly. Some six or eight only have thus far returned to their camp. H. H. WELLS, Lieutenant-Colonel, &c. Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that two parties sent out from this command, consisting of thirty men each, met yesterday afternoon at Fairfax Station, and that while united and acting together were attacked by a force of rebels, variously estimated at from forty to fifty men, and were completely dispersed and routed. Citizens agree in reporting that Mosby himself was in command of the rebels. So far as known our loss is as follows: Capt. J. H. Fleming, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, missing; thirty-three men missing; thirty-nine horses missing. The number of these killed and wounded is not yet known. Captain Fleming, who, at the time of the attack, had command of the party, is reported killed; no other officers are lost. I have nothing to *See Augur to Waite, August 8, p. 729. |