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HEADQUARTERS,

Cedar Creek, August 13, 1864-7.30 a. m. (Received 14th.) Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point:

I was unable to get south of Early, but will push him up the Valley. Reports from citizens here, Washington, and Harper's Ferry report Longstreet's corps coming this way from Staunton, but I still rely on your telegram that it is not so. There is nothing in the Valley but wheat and a few fine mules. The sum total of all Early's transportation is 250 wagons. He has not sent off or accumulated any supplies. He was simply living off the country. The Sixth Corps now occupies Strasburg.

P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.

CEDAR CREEK, VA., August 13, 1864-10 p. m.
(Received 16th.)

Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, Comdy. Armies of the United States :

Your dispatch of August 12 received.* At the time the Sixth Army Corps was occupying the heights of Strasburg the enemy had taken position about three miles beyond and near the base of Signal Mountain. It did not appear that there was more there than their rear guard, with about twelve pieces of artillery. I was making preparations to attack them when your dispatch arrived. It did not appear as though they would make a stand, and looked more like an invitation for me to follow them up. I did not think it best to do so, and have taken position on the south side of Cedar Creek. All the reports that I hear, and have been hearing for some days, confirm your telegram that Longstreet is in the Valley, and that Fitz Lee's cavalry is making its way up the country and when last heard from was at Orange Court-House. So far as I have been able to see, there is not a military position in this Valley south of the Potomac. The position here is a very bad one, as I cannot cover the numerous roads that lead in on both of my flanks to the rear. I am not aware that you knew where my command was when you ordered me to take up the defensive. I should very much like to have your advice. Early accumulated no supplies in this section of the Valley. His trains were very much magnified, and will not number more than 250 wagons. He left at Winchester about seventy-five wounded. There were no supplies accumulated there. I have a large number of 100-days' men whose terms of service expire in a few days. Can they be made to serve for a longer period or shall I allow them to be mustered out? Mosby attacked the rear of my train this morning, en route here from Harper's Ferry, and burned six wagons. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General.

Major-General SHERIDAN:

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 13, 1864.
(Via Harper's Ferry.)

General Wilson's cavalry division moved out eleven miles last night. Grover's division, of the Nineteenth Corps, will move to-day by Snicker's Gap.

H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff.

*See Grant to Halleck, 9 a. m., p. 775.

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GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 11.

HDQRS. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
Cedar Creek, Va., August 13, 1864.

Capt. E. V. Sumner, First U. S. Cavalry, special inspector of cavalry for Department of West Virginia, until further orders will make his headquarters at Harper's Ferry and take special control of the mounted cavalry and also the dismounted cavalry, or that portion of it which in his opinion should be remounted. He will consult with General Weber, commanding post, who will render all the assistance necessary to fit these men for the field. He will keep as many officers at the dismounted camp as are absolutely necessary to keep up the discipline of the same, and order all other officers and men to join their regiments as fast as they arrive. General Weber will forward to these headquarters tri-weekly reports of the dismounted camp. By command of Major-General Sheridan:

CIRCULAR.]

E. B. PARSONS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
Near Cedar Creek, August 13, 1864.

I. On the arrival of the army trains this evening corps commanders will have the trains of their respective commands parked in rear of their corps.

II. As soon as the trains arrive corps commanders will cause three days' rations to be issued to their commands, which must last four days. III. All wagons emptied by the issue of supplies will be loaded at the different corps headquarters with the sick and wounded of the corps. IV. The wagons, as soon as the sick are loaded, will be moved to the rear and parked preparatory to being sent to Harper's Ferry, under escort, for supplies. The corps quartermasters will report to the acting chief quartermaster at these headquarters as soon as the sick, &c., are loaded, and will be notified by him when the trains are to be parked. By command of Maj. Gen. P. H. Sheridan:

Colonel TAYLOR,

E. B. PARSONS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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ALEXANDRIA, August 13, 1864.
(Received 8.25 p. m.)

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

The patrols report all quiet to-day. Citizens report a few guerrillas near Fairfax Court-House to-day.

H. H. WELLS,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near Falls Church, Va., August 13, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report everything quiet in this vicinity. Beyond this, I have nothing to report.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. M. LAZELLE,

Colonel Sixteenth New York Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Near Falls Church, Va., August 13, 1864.

Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: I have the honor to report the return of the force sent
above Leesburg-to the west and north of it. No considerable body of
the enemy is reported in.that vicinity. Mosby, with 300 men, passed
through Waterford on Sunday last from the mountains, and went
toward Upperville. Lieutenant Hutchinson, commanding the party,
captured two prisoners. It is reported that there are through this and
the adjoining counties many wandering fellows turned loose with passes,
like that inclosed, to remount themselves; the duty is styled "horse
detail." We have captured some half dozen of them recently.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

*

H. M. LAZELLE,

Colonel Sixteenth New York Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.

SALISBURY, MD., August 13, 1864,

Capt. GEORGE V. MASSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General:

The Pocomoke Sound and River and the Annemessex swarm with armed pirates and blockade runners. A gun-boat should be at once sent to those waters. Corpl. B. Paradise and three of my men yesterday, between Shelltown, on Pocomoke, and mouth of Annemessex, captured four boats and contents and six prisoners, among them the noted deserter Stewart Tingle. To-day the corporal telegraphs that an armed gang recaptured three of the boats and two of my guards, Henry Swift and Littleton D. Davis. The prisoners will be here to-day. Telegraph me fully.

G. W. P. SMITH, Captain Smith's Independent Maryland Cavalry, Comdg. Post.

ORDERS.]

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS,
August 13, 1864—6.45 a. m.

The corps will move at once on the receipt of this order, left in front, to Strasburg, where it will take position and await further orders. The following will be the order of march: first, Third Division; second, First Division; third, artillery in reserve; fourth, Second Divis ion; fifth, trains.

The pickets will be withdrawn under direction of the corps officer of the day in time to enable them to join their respective divisions. By command of Major-General Wright:

C. H. WHITTELSEY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
Cedar Creek, Va., August 13, 1861.

Brevet Major-General EMORY, Comdg. Nineteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you detail a brigade of your corps to escort the wagons with sick from this place to Winchester; this brigade must be in readiness to move at 5 a. m. to-morrow. On the arrival of this brigade at Winchester the brigade

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commander will turn over the trains to Brigadier-General Kenly, and will remain at Winchester and garrison that place with his command until further orders. The brigade commander detailed by you will, between this point and Winchester, have supreme control and management of the train, and will be held responsible for its safe arrival at Winchester.

I am, very respectfally, your obedient servant,

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

NOTE. The officer commanding brigade detailed will report at these headquarters at 5 a. m. to-morrow in person.

CAMP NEAR MIDDLETOWN, VA., August 13, 1864.

Capt. A. J. MCGONNIGLE,

Chief Quartermaster, Dept. Middle Military Division: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of my report in relation to the movements of the transportation of the army.

While

The trains started from Bolivar at 10.30 a. m., August 12, and were ordered to march in the following order: First, Sixth Corps trains; second, Nineteenth Corps trains; third, Army of Department of Virginia trains; fourth, Cavalry Division trains. The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps left in regular order, followed by the Army of Department of Virginia trains, but, for some unexplained reason, the cavalry trains did not get into position as promptly as they should have done, and did not leave Bolivar until 4 p. m. About one mile before reaching Berryville the trains halted to water, and then moved on at about 11.30 p. n. the trains were pulling out the Cavalry Division trains came up, unhitched, and fed, without orders. When their turn came to start they were not ready, with the exception of the new brigade train, under charge of Lieutenant Pinkham, acting assistant quartermaster, which I ordered on, and proceeded to raise the officers in charge of the other cavalry trains, ordering them to start immediately. Much time was lost in getting them off, and at about 4 a. m. I discovered that the Reserve Brigade (in charge of Lieutenant Dean) was not ready, and no officer could be found in charge of said train, not even a wagon-master. I immediately commenced awakening the drivers myself, and had them nearly ready to start, when we were fired upon by a party of about 100 men with one piece of artillery. They opened upon us with two shells, and prepared to charge. It was impossible to corral the train, as it was not hitched up, and I reported to the lieutenant-colonel in charge of the rear guard for instructions. He had none to give, and I therefore made a detour of the hills, took charge of the trains already passed, and left in the valley about forty-four teams. I lay the entire blame of having this train delayed, first, to the officers allowing their teams to be unhitched and fed without orders; second, to the absence of any officer in charge of the Reserve Cavalry Brigade train. Had these officers awaited orders, and been ready to move when ordered, the entire train would have been beyond the point of attack. The enemy drove back the rear guard, destroyed a few wagons, and drove off a small herd of cattle. I have not full particulars, and cannot officially give them.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. MANN,
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, First Division, Nineteenth
Army Corps, and Acting Chief in Charge of Transportation,

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[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,

September 7, 1864. Respectfully referred to Board convened at Harper's Ferry for. investigation of this matter.*

By command of Major-General Sheridan:

C. KINGSBURY, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,

Brigadier-General TORBERT,

Chief of Cavalry:

Cedar Creek, August 13, 1864.

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you order the detachment of cavalry of the Second Division sent here this afternoon as an escort to the major-general commanding, to take post at Berryville, and scout the country in that vicinity, and also around Charlestown and the Opequon Creek. The detachment will move as soon as they are supplied with forage and rations.

Very respectfully,

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

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,

Brigadier-General MCINTOSH,

Commanding First Brigade:

August 13, 1864-12.30 a. m.

GENERAL: You will hold one of your best and most reliable regiments in readiness to escort Colonel Chipman, aide-de-camp, bearer of dispatches to Major-General Sheridan. The regiment must be fully provided with ammunition, and if necessary, sufficient must be taken from other regiments to complete its supply. The escort will take the shortest route to and through Snicker's Gap. Colonel Chipman is expected to arrive here soon.

By command of Brigadier-General Wilson:

L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,

Brigadier-General MCINTOSH,

Commanding First Brigade:

August 13, 1864.

GENERAL: Complaints reach here that your men are roaming around the country, robbing the orchards, corn-fields, &c. You will please have it stopped, and place safeguards on whatever grounds you may judge necessary, so as to prevent all unlicensed proceedings of any kind. By command of Brigadier-General Wilson:

*

L. SIEBERT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

See proceedings of Board, p. 619,

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