HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Maj. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Commanding Sixth Army Corps : GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that your command be under arms at daylight to-morrow morning. He desires me to say that prisoners captured this afternoon report that the entire force of the enemy in the Valley was in our front yesterday and followed us up to-day, two divisions being on this side of Charlestown and the rest on the other side this afternoon. One prisoner says they will fall back to-night. Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant, F. C. NEWHALL, Major and Aide-de-Camp. (Same to Major-Generals Emory and Crook.) ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS SIXTH ARMY CORPS, The troops will be turned out at daylight to-morrow, and kept under arms for one hour. By command of Major-General Wright: C. A. WHITTIER, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. AUGUST 22, 1864-9 p. m. Brigadier-General MERRITT, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: General Torbert directs that you send two regiments to-morrow a. m. at daylight out on the Smithfield pike as far as Kearneysville, if possible, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From information received there were 150 cavalry there to-day destroying the telegraph. They also reported that Early was going back to Winchester. Have the regiments sent out obtain all the information they can and report to these headquarters as soon as possible. They must be particularly cautious regarding the roads coming in on their left. Very respectfully, WM. RUSSELL, JR., Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Lieutenant-Colonel FORSYTH, Chief of Staff : General Torbert has just sent an order from Shepherdstown, directing me in case I am attacked to cross the Potomac at Antietam Ford, provided it is practicable. I have sent scouting parties to the front but have no reports yet. Please let me know if I shall obey these orders, when I may deem it prudent, or wait for final instructions from you. Torbert also reported a force following Cesnola toward Shepherdstown. I've sent to see about it, and if I find it cavalry I am directed to attack it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. WILSON, HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, [Lieut. Col. J. W. FORSYTH, Chief of Staff:] COLONEL: I send herewith dispatch just received from General Torbert for you. Scouts say the force which followed Cesnola was about fifty cavalry; also that the enemy have no force yet in neighborhood of Duffield's, his line of infantry not extending over a mile north of the Charlestown pike, and cavalry beginning there, but not in any considerable force. The only movements observed were rather toward your left flank than in this direction. I will continue my observations. I have two pickets of half a regiment each on the Halltown and Shepherdstown road at cross-roads, on right and left of railroad; patrol to Duffield's and to a point toward Shepherdstown where Merritt has a brigade. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. WILSON, HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brigadier-General WILSON, Commanding Third Cavalry Division: GENERAL: The general directs me to say that the instructions of General Torbert are all right. Please notify General Torbert that Colonel Lowell reports a column of rebel infantry moving from our left toward Shepherdstown on the Shepherdstown road. Respectfully, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Engel's, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, August 22, 1864-5 p. m. Captain RENO, Chief of Staff: I am directed by General Sheridan to inform General Torbert that "Colonel Lowell reports a column of rebel infantry moving from our left toward Shepherdstown on the Shepherdstown road." I have two strong picket forces on the Halltown and Shepherdstown road-one where the Zion Church road crosses, the other where the Duffield's road; they connect with each other and Merritt. No further reports from scouts. Am getting two days' forage and two days' rations. Page is sending supplies to you on the north side of the Potomac. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Brigadier-General MCINTOSH, First Brigade : General Torbert has just sent word from Shepherdstown that a large force had followed Cesnola on the Charlestown and Shepherdstown road, and wishes its character determined. Please send out two or three scouting parties toward Duffield's and beyond, with instructions to ascertain if any troops are moving toward Shepherdstown. J. H. WILSON, HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Brigadier-General MCINTOSH, Commanding First Brigade: GENERAL: Send patrol party toward and to Antietam Ford, ascertain its character, if our artillery and wagons can cross there, and the best road to it. Keep a close watch on all your front and right flank. Report frequently to me. Very respectfully, J. H. WILSON, HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, Brigadier-General MCINTOSH, Commanding First Brigade: August 22, 1864-8 p. m. GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you have your command saddled at 4 a. m. to-morrow, ready for any emergency, and that you will please notify the battery. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. SIEBERT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Brigadier-General CHAPMAN, Commanding Second Brigade: August 22, 1864—10.30 a. m. I have just sent a staff officer to you with an order to send out three small scouting parties. This means of communication was taken to prevent delay. Instead of complying with the order you profess to misunderstand it, and ask for definite instructions. Such a course is not calculated to advance the interests of service or to smooth matters in your command. You will, therefore, proceed at once to execute this order, ten to fifteen men in each party, directed to observe the movements of the enemy now advancing on the Charlestown pike. Acknowledge the receipt of this, time when received, and when parties are started. You will also keep out a light line of mounted vedettes and be ready to move your whole force dismounted into action. J. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 32. HDQRS. FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION, Near Halltown, W. Va., August 22, 1864. I. Maj. Timothy Quinn, First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, having reported for duty, is hereby placed in command of the Second Brigade, he being the senior officer on duty with the brigade. By command of Brigadier-General Duffié: E. W. CLARK, JR., Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Brigadier-General STEVENSON, August 22, 1864-5.30 p.m. Commanding District of Harper's Ferry: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that as soon as General Duffié reports to you, he will be ordered by you to carry out the verbal instructions given you by General Sheridan this p. m. Very respectfully, JAS. W. FORSYTH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff. No. 27 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, August 22, 1864. Captain BIER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of West Virginia: CAPTAIN: Your communication of the 19th instant, stating that you have been directed by the commanding general to inform me that General Order No. 66, current series, assigning General Stevenson to the command of the Military District of Harper's Ferry, did not-relieve me from duty in the district, and that it was expected that I would be assigned to a command by General Stevenson, has been received (on the 20th instant, between 11 and 12 o'clock) too late to reply to it before my departure. I have tried in vain to find some cause for the act of the general commanding to relieve me of the command which I have held for the last five months, and since which time I have made myself perfectly conversant with all the peculiarities of its defenses. I am not aware of having committed any military fault, or neglected my duty in any way whatever, which could have caused the discontent of the general commanding, and therefore feel the more hurt and humiliated by it. I trust, however, that the general commanding will do me justice. The general commanding, in granting me leave of absence for twenty days, ordered me to report at its expiration to General Stevenson, but I think the general commanding has not been or is not aware of my seniority over General Stevenson (my promotion dates from April 28, 1862); but should, however, such be the case, I would most respectfully beg leave to remark that as an old regular officer, who served the United States faithfully since April, 1861, and who received his promotion through the recommendation of his commanding officer, I would never waive my rank to any officer in the army being my junior. I hope that the general commanding will excuse the foregoing remarks, and will fully understand my feelings at being relieved at the present time from a position of trust. Every military, as well as civil, person would consider such relief as a mark of displeasure. I remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant, MAX WEBER, Captain BOTSFORD, CUMBERLAND, August 22, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Harper's Ferry: Heavy rain in the mountains; river rising. There will undoubtedly be quite a rise in the river below. Please communicate this information to the general. The men in charge of the pontoon bridge should be advised and directed to be on the alert. Brevet Major-General KELLEY: B. F. KELLEY, NEW CREEK, August 22, 1864. I left east of Greenland last evening. Information direct from Moorefield. There were 300 rebel cavalry there yesterday fixing for a move. Could not find out in what direction. A. HINKLE. General KELLEY: NEW CREEK, August 22, 1864. My scouts in from Burlington, via Ridgeville, say the citizens report a large force of the enemy at Moorefield and Petersburg. R. STEVENSON, Colonel. Colonel STEVENSON, New Creek: CUMBERLAND, August 22, 1864. Direct Major Simpson to send a scout of the Eleventh Infantry, 100 strong, and a squad of cavalry of twenty men to Greenland Gap with five days' rations, to learn, if possible, the movements of McNeill. B. F. KELLEY, 1 |