Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

SPECIAL ORDERS,}

WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, August 11, 1864.

1. Batteries A and F, First U. S. Artillery, now serving in the Department of Washington, will be temporarily consolidated and remounted. The commanding general Department of Washington is charged with the execution of this order.

[blocks in formation]

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORDERS.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS,
August 11, 1864.

The corps will move, left in front, precisely at 5 o'clock this a. m., in the following order-first, First Division; second, Second Division; third, Reserve Artillery; fourth, Third Division; fifth, transportation allowed-on the pike, in front of which the troops now are, until it arrives at a point where that pike intersects the Berryville pike. It will then oblique and cross the fields until it reaches the pike leading from Berryville to Winchester, then up that pike to the crossing of Opequon Creek. If the enemy's infantry is encountered on this latter pike it will be driven across the creek and the crossing secured.

General Russell will throw out strong advance guards and flankers, and General Ricketts will detail a force sufficient to guard the trains. The pickets will be withdrawn by the corps officer of the day in time to join their respective divisions.

By command of Major-General Wright:

C. H. WHITTELSEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORDERS.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS,
August 11, 1864.

Division commanders will post such pickets as may be necessary for their security on the side toward Opequon Creek, and the Second and Third Divisions will also picket on their flank. The commanding officer of the Third Division will send one regiment on the Millwood and Winchester pike to picket that road at the crossing of the Opequon. By command of Major-General Wright:

C. H. WHITTELSEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General,

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
August 11, 1864-1 p. m.

Brigadier-General TORBERT,

Chief of Cavalry, &c.:

GENERAL: General Crook's command has been ordered to Parkins' upper mill, on the Front Royal road. The Nineteenth Army Corps will also follow. Push your cavalry out toward Stephens City, if it can be done without fighting infantry, watching out well down the Front Royal road, as some of our trains will be parked at White Post. If General Custer should be pressed, General Crook will go to his support after he reaches the Millwood pike. The Sixth Army Corps will move over to the Millwood pike. Colonel Lowell's cavalry will move on Winchester. The major-general commanding will be with the Nineteenth Army Corps.

Very respectfully,

JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff.

General MERRITT:

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS,

August 11, 1864-10.45 a. m.

I do not think it best to go beyond the Front Royal pike, for there is a good force of infantry in front of Custer, and they would move down and cut you off. If possible occupy the pike and send up a party toward Winchester, and if they can get about three [miles] from the Double toll-gate, it might warrant sending a small party toward Newtown. Send me back now about every fifteen minutes how things are going. There is firing with Custer, but he has sent no report. I have directed him not to engage their infantry till I can hear from you. Yours, &c.,

A. T. A. TORBERT, Brigadier-General and Chief of Cavalry.

General MERRITT:

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS,
August 11, 1864—11.15 p. m.

I will withdraw all of Custer's except one regiment. General Crook's infantry will go out on the road you are on. The head of the column is about a mile from this pike. Do not allow them to turn you. If y you have to fall back, come back on the road you went out on. I send you the last dispatch from General Sheridan.*

Yours, &c.,

A. T. A. TORBERT, Brigadier-General and Chief of Cavalry.

* See Forsyth to Torbert, 1 p. m., second, ante.

49 R R-VOL XLIII, PT I

[graphic]

Brigadier-General MERRITT,

AUGUST 11, 1864-8.30 a. m.

Commanding First Cavalry Division:

GENERAL: I met the rebel pickets on the edge of the woods, and drove them in. We are skirmishing through the woods, but the rebels are retreating toward Newtown. Twenty-nine wagons loaded with harvest passed here for Newtown early this morning.

Very respectfully, yours,

DI CESNOLA,

Colone. Fourth New York Cavalry.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST NEW YORK DRAGOONS,
August 11, 1864.

Capt. WILLIAM H. H. EMMONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Reserve Brigade: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that I have met a force of the enemy, which I judge to be about 1,000 strong. Have driven them thus far, but it is hard work. They are both mounted and dismounted, and the sound of drums can be distinctly heard. My whole force is in, and they extend beyond both my flanks. My scouts report the rear of a force on my left moving up the valley. I judge that I am about one mile from Newtown.

[blocks in formation]

Instead of moving to Newtown, as directed in verbal instructions, you will go to White Post and halt with your main command, sending a reconnaissance to the Front Royal and Winchester pike. Remain at White Post until further orders, sending in frequent written reports. Respectfully,

W. MERRITT, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

While at White Post look well to your flank in the direction of the mountains-Millwood.

Respectfully,

W. MERRITT,
Brigadier-General.

HANCOCK, MD., August 11, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. W. FORSYTH,

Chief of Staff, Harper's Ferry:

Would it not be well to send all officers and men of my division at or near Harper's Ferry to this point, with a sufficient number of equipments in wagons? I can procure horses here. They could also bring the Spencer carbines for my division. Answer. WM. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General.

Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY,

Cumberland:

HANCOCK, MD, August 11, 1864.

General Sheridan has directed the detachment of the Eighth Ohio at Beverly to join my command. Will you please hasten them forward as rapidly as possible and inform me how soon they can be here. WM. W. AVERELL,

Brigadier-General.

Brigadier General AVERELL,

Hancock:

CUMBERLAND, August 11, 1864.

General Sheridan certainly did not understand the importance of guarding the Cheat Mountain pass, or he would not have exposed the people of West Virginia to the incursions of guerrillas and robbers by ordering away the Eighth Ohio without giving me some troops to take their place. I have remonstrated against the execution of the order, asking that it may be suspended for the present.

Capt. WILL RUMSEY,

B. F. KELLEY,
Brigadier-General.

NEW CREEK, [August] 11, 1864.

Got all off but the Twenty-second Pennsylvania, which will go in the

Assistant Adjutant-General:

morning. Battery will go to-day. Morris here.

Will go down myself. Will leave

T. GIBSON

Major.

HANCOCK, MD., August 11, 1864.

Captain ROYALL, U. S. Army,

Harrisburg, Pa.:

Please send all officers and men with you of the First, Second, and Third Virginia, Fourteenth Pennsylvania, Eighth Ohio, First New York, and Twenty-second Pennsylvania, mounted and dismounted, at once to Hancock, Md. Answer. Where is Brown and train? WM. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS RESERVE CAVALRY CAMP,
Pleasant Valley, Md., August 11, 1864-10 p. m.

Brigadier-General AVERELL,

Commanding Division:

GENERAL: I have at last succeeded in learning the whereabouts of the division since the late engagement at Moorefield, and send this through by special courier to-night to try and find you. I am, by a temporary order from General Sheridan, commanding all the reserve mounted and the dismounted men of his military division encamping in Pleasant Valley, but have permission to join the forces in the field on your arrival here. The command is growing to be a very large one

[graphic]

and the duties very laborious. Everything pertaining to our division here is mounted, armed, and equipped, ready to take the field, this being the only mounted command here. There are some 200 men in all. Lieutenant Torbit [?], Third Virginia, has just reported with 120 mounted men from Carlisle in addition to the previous number, and I will have him fitted for the field to-morrow morning. He reports Major Hambleton, Second Virginia, with 400 dismounted men, on the road here from Hagerstown. Our division train is at Greencastle. Major Garland [] goes to-morrow morning to bring it here. Lieutenant-Colonel Blakely, with 200 mounted men, is with General Merritt, ready to join you on your arrival there. North is here, but goes away for ordnance to-morrow noon. General Sheridan is between Charlestown and Berryville, and expects an engagement to-morrow. Duffié is at Halltown to-night. He says you gobbled" some of his men.

[ocr errors]

I have labored very hard, general, since my absence, but in all my labors have had an eye single to our division. It has been well cared for and fitted out. Please send me any word or instructions in advance of your arrival. I hope to join you here.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. SCHOONMAKER,

Colonel.

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF HARPER'S FERRY,
Harper's Ferry, Va., August 11, 1864-12 m.
(Received 2.10 p. m.)

Capt. E. B. PARSONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General of Major-General Sheridan: SIR: I have information, from a source always found reliable, that re-enforcements under Hill and Longstreet are within five days' march. of Early's present position, moving up the Valley; that, if attacked, Early proposes to show fight and retire until a junction can be formed with the advancing forces. Mosby is already between Harper's Ferry and your command, and last night captured and paroled the Tribune correspondent, as he reports.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

MAX WEBER,
Brigadier-General.

CUMBERLAND, August 11, 1864-10 a. m.

Lieutenant-Colonel FORSYTH,

Chief of Staff, Harper's Ferry:

Your telegram dated yesterday just received. I respectfully represent that the detachment of the Eighth Ohio at Beverly are holding the Cheat Mountain pass, and if withdrawn will leave the region west of this point open to the incursion of guerrilla bands. I therefore ask that the order be suspended until a force can be had to relieve this detachment.

B. F. KELLEY,
Brigadier-General.

« PreviousContinue »