ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, The Sixth Corps and the Army of Western Virginia will move at 8 o'clock to-night, the 16th instant, from their present position to Clifton, via Winchester. The movements of these troops will be under the direction of Major-General Wright, who will make all the necessary arrangements. The cavalry will move to-morrow morning in accordance with instructions already given by Brigadier-General Torbert, who will send a staff officer to remain with General Wright during the movement. The headquarters of the major-general commanding will be at Winchester until the arrival of the Sixth Corps and General Crook's command. Major-General Crook will report for detailed instructions to Major-General Wright. By command of Major-General Sheridan: JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, 22D ARMY CORPS, Col. J. HOWARD KITCHING, August 16, 1864. Commanding Sixth New York Heavy Artillery: COLONEL: The major-general commanding directs that [you] report for duty, with your regiment, to Brig. Gen. M. D. Hardin, commanding division. On application, the chief quartermaster of this department will furnish the necessary transportation. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff: ALEXANDRIA, August 16, 1864. COLONEL: The patrols report all quiet. It is reported by citizens that Mosby, with 500 men and two pieces of artillery, has gone to the Shenandoah Valley. Company H, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, has been ordered to report to their regiment as directed. H. H. WELLS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Provost-Marshal-General. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff, Twenty-second Army Corps, Dept. of Washington: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that nothing has yet been heard from the party sent toward Warrenton. I leave to-morrow morning, with every man who can be had of the Sixteenth New York Volunteer Cavalry, for the Rappahannock. I suppose that the whole force will be about 275 men. I should have moved to-day, but the fail ure to get horseshoes in the Sixteenth, and other delays, rendered it necessary to postpone. I had hoped, too, to have the benefit of whatever information might have been gained by the party now out. They will probably return to-night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. M. LAZELLE, Colonel Sixteenth New York Volunteer Cavalry, Comdy. Brigade. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS, The following movements are ordered for to-night: 1. At 8 o'clock the Army of West Virginia, Brevet Major-General Crook commanding, will move, via Winchester, to Clifton. 2. The Sixth Corps will follow, taking the same route in the following order: first, the trains; second, Third Division; third, First Divis ion. The ambulances will accompany the divisions to which they belong. The batteries in reserve will be assigned for the march by the chief of artillery and to the divisions, one to each. Brigadier-General Ricketts, commanding Third Division, will detail a strong regiment to accompany the trains as guard. 3. The pickets will be withdrawn under the direction of Colonel Penrose, corps officer of the day Sixth Corps, and the officer in charge of the pickets of General Crook's command, both of whom will report to these headquarters for special instructions at 6.30 this p. m. 4. The Second Division, Sixth Corps, Brigadier-General Getty, will act as rear guard, and follow the route above indicated when all the pickets have been withdrawn and have passed him... By command of Major-General Wright: C. A. WHITTIER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS, August 16, 1864. First Division: Brigadier-General RUSSELL, The commanding general wishes that care be taken to-night that nothing is done to indicate that a movement is to take place, such as striking the tents before dark or by unusual fires after dark. Very respectfully, C. A. WHITTIER, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., SIXTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. C. A. WHITTIER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: I have the honor to report that 160 or 200 of the enemy, accompanied by Mosby himself, and clothed in the uniform of U. S. troops, are now a short distance to the left and rear of Middletown. One of the party has been within the limits of our camps to-day, and the movement published for to-night was circulated among the men of my command long before the order concerning it reached these headquarters. The information relative to the presence of these parties, above referred to, comes from a source that cannot be doubted. I forward this communication for the purpose of suggesting the protection of our rear and the bringing up of all stragglers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, O. EDWARDS, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT NINETEENTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General SHERIDAN, Commanding Middle Military Division: GENERAL: I arrived here this morning at 5 o'clock. This place is entirely indefensible; it is a basin surrounded by heights which are commanded by other heights. Unless there is some object which does not occur to me at this time, I would suggest that the crossing of the Opequon is a better position. I am told that a small force of the enemy's cavalry has been seen in the pine woods near Kernstown and to the south of the ford. You will be glad to hear that the cavalry is so near at hand. By my calculations Grover will get no nearer than the Shenandoah to-day. I am, very respectfully, W. H. EMORY, Brevet Major-General. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brevet Major-General EMORY, Commanding Nineteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you hold your command in readiness to march at 4 a. m. August 17, 1864. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brevet Major-General EMORY, Commanding Nineteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that the subsistence trains of this army move out from this place at 12 o'clock to-night, under the escort of Colonel Currie's brigade, of your corps. Colonel Currie will move the trains out on the Winchester and Harper's Ferry road, via Summit Point, and will park them at Summit Point; he will have entire charge of the trains, and will be held responsible for their safety. Captain Alexander, acting assistant quartermaster, will report to Colonel Currie to pilot him through to the point designated for the parking of the trains. JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS, Commanding Army of West Virginia: Bvt. Maj. Gen. GEORGE CROOK, GENERAL: In transmitting to you the order* for the march to-night I am directed by the major-general commanding to say that, in accordance with custom, the details of the march of your command are left with you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. A. WHITTIER, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No copy has been furnished to the officer in charge of your pickets. Will you please direct him to report here as indicated in the order. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brigadier-General TORBERT, Cedar Creek, Va., August 16, 1864. Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division: GENERAL: In compliance with instructions of lieutenant-general commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements and give the necessary orders for the destruction of all the wheat and hay south of a line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap. You will seize all horses, mules, and cattle that may be useful to our army. Loyal citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this necessary destruction. No houses will be burned, and officers in charge of this delicate, but necessary, duty must inform the people that the object is to make this Valley untenable for the raiding parties of the rebel army. Very respectfully, &c., P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, General MERRITT: I am directed by the chief of cavalry to say that General Wilson is at the Shenandoah where the Berryville and Snicker's Gap road crosses the river. If you meet or hear of his column, stop it on the Berryville and Winchester pike. Very respectfully, M. A. RENO, Captain and Chief of Staff. ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, August 16, 1864. The command will saddle to-morrow morning at daylight and march at 5 a. m. 1. The First Brigade (General Custer) will move from its present position along the river road to the left of Leedstown Ferry, across Burden and Wolf Marshes, to the south of White Post and Millwood, and, keeping to the right of the Millwood and Berryville pike, halt and await orders near where the Buck Marsh Run crosses the Berryville and Snickersville road. 2. The Second Brigade (Colonel Devin) will move from its present position across the country by White Post, Millwood, and Stone Chapel, on Chapel Run, and halt near Berryville. 3. The Reserve Brigade (Colonel Gibbs) will move from its present position on the pike toward Winchester until within two miles west of White Post, when the main body will incline to the northeast, taking the route pursued by the cavalry in making the advance, and keeping to the south of Limestone Ridge direct its march across the country, halting near Berryville for orders. One regiment of this brigade will cross to the left bank of the Opequon Creek, moving down the creek on that bank about a mile from the river, recrossing and proceeding across the country when it arrives at a point northwest from that town, when it will rejoin the brigade. The above instructions will be deviated from only so far as is necessary to continue the march in the general direction indicated. An intimate connection will be kept up between the columns as they advance, and frequent reports will be made by the commanding officers of the columns on the flanks to these headquarters, which will move with the Second Brigade. Further instructions will be sent by staff officers. A. E. DANA, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Near Winchester and Millwood Pikes, on Berryville and White Post Road, Va., August 16, 1864-9 p. m. Lieutenant-Colonel FORSYTH, Chief of Staff: Your communication of August 15, inclosing orders and dispatches from General Sheridan, was received this morning 8.30. The dispatch for General Grover was forwarded without delay by an escort of one squadron, General Grover having camped on Goose Creek last night. I shall reach Nineveh or Stony Point by 7 in the morning. I have picked up the detachments at Berryville. Have five full days' rations from this morning (will hold out seven) and about one full day's ration of forage. Sent ninety-six wagons this evening for supplies to Harper's Ferry; will reach there to-morrow night. Have 130 rounds of Spencer ammunition and 150 Sharps per man. My horses are in good condition with the exception of a very few, which need shoeing. Please request the major-general commanding to order the return of all men of my division serving with the Nineteenth and Sixth Corps and in the Department of Washington; also that my forges and transportation, which had not arrived at Washington when the division left, to be forwarded with as little delay as possible. The animals furnished in Washington are very poor and the forges indispensable. Captain Whitaker was directed to proceed to your headquarters this morning. Lieutenant Noyes carries this and will bring any orders you may have. J. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. 52 R R-VOL XLIII, PT I |