HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, General WILSON, Commanding Third Division Cavalry: GENERAL: The chief of cavalry directs me to inform you that General Averell is at Shepherdstown with his command, picketing toward Martinsburg, Leetown, and Gerrardstown. There is no further information from General Merritt's command. He also directs that you send in your train of empty wagons if you have not done so already, and also requisitions for artillery ammunition. He also wishes a report from you as to the condition of affairs in your front. Headquarters, if not at this point, will be on the Berryville pike in the vicinity of the Nineteenth Army Corps. Very respectfully, M. A. RENO, Captain and Chief of Staff. Send a pretty strong escort with your reports, fifteen men and an officer. Abstract from field return of Third Division, Cavalry Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson, August 19, 1864. HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, 'CAVALRY CORPS, Capt. L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General: August 19, 1861. The officer in charge of the detachment sent with dispatch to General Merritt has returned, with the information that when the Sixth Army Corps moved Colonel Lowell fell back, and that the enemy now hold the crest of hills this side of the creek. I am, sir, very respectfully, &c., CHAS. H. MILLER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, Capt. C. H. MILLER, Assistant Adjutant-General : CAPTAIN: All has been quiet through the night. Yesterday afternoon an orderly from the Second Massachusetts Cavalry came to me, while I was posting my pickets across country, bringing an order from Colonel Lowell, commanding brigade, to Colonel Cole, First Maryland Cavalry, to fall back gradually, as the enemy were moving up the Berryville pike with infantry, cavalry, and artillery. This orderly said he had come three miles from Colonel Lowell; that Colonel Lowell was then four miles from Berryville toward Winchester and falling back. He said he had not crossed the Opequon Creek. W. P. BACON, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT OF HARPER'S FERRY, Harper's Ferry, Va., August 19, 1864. Major-General SHERIDAN, Commanding Middle Military Division: GENERAL: This morning a reliable man, who has been used here heretofore, came in from Hillsborough; reports nothing in Loudoun but Mosby's and other guerrillas. I have sent him back to extend his scout down the valley, and make immediate report of any forces of the enemy he may hear of. I have also placed a cavalry force of Cole's (Maryland) regiment at Keyes' Ford, with orders to scout, Loudoun Valley. I shall promptly advise you of any information. I am much annoyed about couriers and escorts for trains. The small force detailed here for courier duty is composed of details from Duffié's command. When they are sent to the front on courier duty they are seized by their regimental commanders, and not permitted to return. If this is continued I shall have no couriers. For trains I can furnish no escorts unless I use General Kenly's brigade. He claims to be an independent command, to receive orders alone from your headquarters. The remaining infantry force is on post duty. A small escort of cavalry is all that is required for trains. Having no cavalry I cannot furnish them. The track will be completed, I am advised by Captain Gardner, assistant quartermaster, to-morrow. A considerable number of stragglers are coming in from your command. I have ordered them all to be arrested, and hold them subject to your orders. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN D. STEVENSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brigadier-General STEVENSON, Commanding District of Harper's Ferry: GENERAL: Your communication of this date received. I am instructed by the general commanding to inform you that a cavalry force will be immediately ordered to report to you for courier and other 54 R R-VOL XLIII, PT I duty. General Kenly's brigade whilst at Harper's Ferry is under your command and he will be directed to report to you for duty. The general desires that you continue to arrest all stragglers that may make their way into Harper's Ferry, and as opportunity offers forward them to their respective commands or to these headquarters. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brig. Gen. J. D. STEVENSON, Commanding District of Harper's Ferry: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you order the Twentieth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, now at the dismounted camp, Pleasant Valley, Md., to Halltown, to garrison that place and protect the depot established at that point. I am, general, very respectfully, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION, Brig. Gen. J. D. STEVENSON, Harper's Ferry: GENERAL: The enemy's cavalry, about 1,000 strong, drove my pickets from Martinsburg to Hainesville at 5 p. m. to-day. Very respectfully, WM. W. AVERELL, P. S.-Please communicate the above to Major-General Sheridan. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. MAX WEBER, U. S. Volunteers: (Through Brig. Gen. J. D. Stevenson, Commanding District of Harper's Ferry.) GENERAL: I am directed by the commanding general to inform you that General Orders, No. 66, current series, from these headquarters, assigning General Stevenson to the command of the Military District of Harper's Ferry, did not relieve you from duty in the district, and it was expected that you would be assigned to a command by General Stevenson. I am, general, most respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, Capt. GEORGE B. SANFORD, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Hdqrs. Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division: SIR: I have the honor to state that an ambulance, with some wounded in it, was captured by guerrillas near Halltown about an hour or two since. The ambulance was without guard, and was passing to Harper's Ferry, having arrived just at the head of a wagon train, with a guard of five men coming in this direction. The five men failed to do any thing on the pretense of being too weak. It is impossible for me to take the responsibility for the safety of Halltown and vicinity with tlie small force of cavalry which I have. I would call your attention to the fact that my reports show only 1,000 men for duty. I have 150 men constantly on picket; about 100 guarding trains at the present time, and about 150 men on scout and patrol duty. Add to this the necessary details for camp duty, and more than half my command is constantly on duty. It is impossible for me, under these circumstances, to insure safety from guerrillas at Halltown. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. N. DUFFIE, P. S.-I have just received information that the men, six in number, have been retaken by my troops, but the rebels made off with the ambulance and horses. I am, sir, very respectfully, &c., A. N. D., Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brig. Gen. W. W. AVERELL, Commanding Cavalry Division: GENERAL: Your dispatch of 12 p. m. rece ved. General Merritt is at Berryville, with four brigades of cavalry, picketing from Snicker's Ferry, via Stone Church, on Millwood pike, round to the Opequon. General Wilson is at Summit Point, picketing the Opequon country, his left connecting with Merritt. General Wilson has scouting parties on the east bank of the creek, scouting the country between Martinsburg pike and the creek; General Merritt also has scouting parties on the east bank of the creek, on the Berryville and Winchester pike. Latest report last night was that the enemy were moving toward Berryville. Our infantry line crosses the Charlestown pike at North Fork of Bullskin Run, and extends to Welch's Spring, on the Summit Point road. Did you receive dispatch of 1 p. m. yesterday? JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brig. Gen. W. W. AVERELL, Commanding Cavalry Division: GENERAL: I want you to look out sharply for a movement of the enemy toward Martinsburg. All the reports from my front indicate a movement in that direction. I want information of any such movement without delay. If they cross the Potomac I don't want them to get back; keep me posted. If you can send me four or five reliable scouts I will be very much obliged. I will pay them well. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, General W. W. AVERELL, Commanding Second Division: The chief of cavalry directs that upon the receipt of this dispatch you start all the men belonging to General Duffie's division to this point; also, that you send as soon as possible a return of your command. Very respectfully, M. A. RENO, Captain and Chief of Staff. [AUGUST 19, 1864.-For Averell to Forsyth, relative to serving under orders of General Torbert, &c., see p. 502.] [AUGUST 19, 1864.-For Forsyth to Averell, authorizing employment of citizens to obtain information, &c., see p. 502.] HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Charlestown, Va., August 19, 1864-9.30 p. m. Brigadier-General AVERELL, Commanding Division Cavalry: · GENERAL: An officer of the First New York Cavalry and thirty men have just come in to my headquarters, with orders to go to Millwood, Berryville, and Winchester, and at Winchester meet a party out from the north. As I have a division (First) covering the country from Snicker's Ferry out toward Millwood and White Post, the crossing of Opequon Creek by Berryville and Winchester pike and up to the second crossing of the creek, headquarters of this division at Berryville (General Merritt), and another division (Third) connecting with the First on the left and extending to the right as far as Middleway, holding out to the front, main force and headquarters at Summit Point (General Wilson), I do not think it necessary for him to go any farther on his ordered route. He will return with one of your aides, a major, who came in to-day. From all the information we could get to-day, the enemy was moving a large body of cavalry on the pike toward Martinsburg. I wish you would ascertain if this is true, if possible. Keep strong parties as low down the Martinsburg and Winchester pike as it is safe to do. I started parties for Bunker Hill to-day, but have not heard from [them] yet. Yours, &c., A. T. A. TORBERT, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Chief of Cavalry. |
Get this book in print
0 Reviews Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified Write review |