with a small party of cavalry, to Winchester to remove our sick, left there at the time of Milroy's retreat. Pursued a small party of rebel cavalry a mile beyond Winchester, capturing 4 of them.

September 15, Captain Jones, of the First New York Cavalry, with 100 men, attacked a party of rebels, 70 strong, at Smithfield, and captured 11 prisoners, with horses and full equipments. Captain Jones was slightly wounded in the hand. No other injury was sustained on our part.

September 16 and 17, scouts were sent up the valley, but returned without discovering any enemy.

September 19, Captain Bailey, of the First New York Cavalry, with 150 men, captured 11 rebel cavalry, fully mounted and equipped; also 2 rebel government wagons, and rebel mail, all at Strasburg. No loss on our side, with the exception of 1 man accidentally killed.

September 22 and 23, scouts sent up the valley, with no other results than the capture of a rebel mail at Berryville.

SEPTEMBER 4, 1863.—Skirmish at Petersburg Gap, W. Va.

Extract from "Record of Events," Fifth Brigade, Department of West Virginia.*

September 4, the Twenty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers, by order of Colonel Mulligan, marched [from Petersburg, W. Va.] toward Moorefield, to re-enforce Major Stephens, commanding a detachment of the First [West] Virginia Volunteers and a section of Mulligan's battery, which were attacked at that place. When the regiment had advanced about 3 miles it was attacked by the enemy in Petersburg Gap. By order of Colonel Mulligan the regiment fell back, and marched to the assistance of Major Stephens via Williamsport.

September 5, about 10 a. m., met Major Stephens and his command encamped near Williamsport, about 12 miles. Encamped for the night and returned next morning.

SEPTEMBER -, 1863.-Attempt to Capture Brig. Gen. Joseph J. Bartlett, Ū. S. Army.

Report of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry.

HDQRS. SECOND CAV. DIV., ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

September 7, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that I organized a party of 12 select men from the division, under Frank Stringfellow, and sent it within the enemy's camp near New Baltimore, where I learned from various sources General Bartlett was so much exposed as to make his capture practicable.

It so far succeeded as to get possession of his headquarters at 1

*From return for month of September, 1863.

o'clock at night, the general having saved himself by precipitate flight in his nether garments. The headquarters flag was brought away. No prisoners were attempted to be taken, the party shooting down every one within reach. Some horses breaking loose near headquarters ran through an adjacent regimental camp, causing the greatest commotion, mid firing and yelling, and cries of Halt!' "Rally!" mingling in wild disorder, and ludicrous stampede which beggars description.

66

Not a man of the select 12 was touched, though fired on repeatedly. I consider this affair, though only partially successful, as highly creditable to the daring and enterprise of Stringfellow and his band. Send you the flag by Daingerfield Lewis.

Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. E. B. STUART,

General R. E. LEE.

Major-General.

SEPTEMBER 6, 1863.-Skirmish at Carter's Run, Va.

Report of Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg, U. S. Army.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, September 6, 1863. COLONEL: I forward herewith a report of casualties that resulted from an attack of the enemy on the pickets of the First Brigade at Carter's Run, at 10 o'clock this a. m.

At about dark last night an attack was made on the pickets of the Second Brigade on the right of the line on Aestham River; the attack was repulsed without loss.

By reports on file at these headquarters, I find that in the last ten days several captures have been made by the enemy from the brigades of this division.

To-day I have been examining into some of these cases. In some instances the captures have resulted from improper dispositions, and from want of care and vigilance on the part of those responsible for the safety of the parties.

The line of pickets maintained by the Second Brigade on Aestham River is much exposed to attack from the enemy as the river is fordable at almost any point. This line is at such a distance from the main body of the brigade, that even a small force crossing could successfully attack the pickets from the rear.

I forward a communication from Col. J. B. McIntosh, commanding First Brigade, in which it is represented that there is a force of the enemy near Middleburg, and which he desires to operate against with a portion of his command. The attention of the major-general commanding is asked to the project of Colonel McIntosh.

To-morrow morning I will establish my headquarters at a point half way between the brigades, to facilitate receiving reports and to have a direct superintendence of the pickets of the brigades. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. McM. GREGG, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Comdg. Second Division.

Col. C. Ross SMITH,

Chief of Staff, Cavalry Corps.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS,
September 6, [1863]-9.10 p. m.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Humphreys, chief of staff. In the attack at Carter's Run, 1 officer and I corporal killed, and 5 men captured; 20 horses and 3 mules captured. The officer was Lieutenant Lyon, First Pennsylvania Cavalry.

The cause of this surprise was due to the sentinel leaving his post without firing his piece or giving any alarm; he is in confinement, and charges are preferred against him.

I have directed Colonel McIntosh to go after the rebels at Middleburg and Upperville.

A. PLEASONTON, Major-General, Commanding.

SEPTEMBER 10-11, 1863.-Scout to Middleburg, Va.

Report of Col. John B. McIntosh, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION,

September 12, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that on Thursday morning, the 10th instant, I moved with the First Pennsylvania, First Massachusetts, Third Pennsylvania, and Sixth Ohio Regiments of Cavalry, and Battery C, of the Second U. S. Artillery* (4 guns), toward Salem.

When within a mile of Salem I sent Colonel Sargent with his own regiment and the Sixth Ohio, with a section of artillery, to Salem, Rectortown, Rector's Cross-Roads, and to gain a point near Middleburg, where a road leads off to Millville. His orders were to surround each of the above places rapidly as he approached them.

I

I left Salem to the left, with the Third Pennsylvania and First Pennsylvania Regiments, with a section going by way of White Plains, and approached Middleburg from the south. I then closed in on Middleburg about 5 p. m. of the 10th, but found no enemy. remained at Middleburg over night. I sent one squadron through Upperville from the detachment under Colonel Sargent, when at Rector's Cross-Roads, which chased a small party of the enemy numbering not over 8 or 10.

I could not hear or see anything of any organized band of the enemy in that section of country. I left Middleburg at 7 o'clock on Friday morning, returning by way of Rectortown and Salem, arriving at camp about 7 p. m.

I am, captain, respectfully,

Capt. WALSTEIN PHILLIPS,

J. B. MCINTOSH,
Colonel, Commanding.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

*This battery was in the Department of the Gulf. Reference is probably to the Sixth New York Battery.

SEPTEMBER 11, 1863.-Affair at Moorefield, W. Va.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Extract from "Record of Events," Fourth Brigade, Department of West Virginia.

No. 2.-Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden, C. S. Army, commanding Valley District, including operations September 5–13, and skirmish at Bath September 7.

No. 1.

Extract from "Record of Events," Fourth Brigade, Department of West Virginia.

*

On the morning of September 11, Major Stephens, with six companies of the First [West] Virginia Infantry and Captain Barr's company of cavalry, were ordered to Moorefield, W. Va., 9 miles distant from Petersburg, by Col. J. A. Mulligan, commanding Fifth Brigade. Eight commissioned officers and 135 enlisted men of the First [West] Virginia and 17 men of Captain Barr's cavalry were captured by Captain McNeill's rebel cavalry.

Scouting parties were kept out in the mountains constantly, and succeeded in capturing a number of bushwhackers, together with their arms, accouterments, and numbers of United States horses, which had been stolen by the enemy.

No. 2.

Report of Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden, C. S. Army, commanding Valley District, including operations September 5-13, and skirmish at Bath, September 7.

NEAR BROOKS' GAP,
September 13, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the following operations of detachments of troops from my command during the past week: 1. Captain Burke and Lieutenant Wells, of Gilmor's battalion, being on picket below Newtown on the 6th [5th ?] instant, marched their party of 11 men to Winchester, where they were joined by Captain Blackford, who is recruiting in the lower valley, with 15 men, making a total of 3 officers and 26 men. The party proceeded to within 21 miles of Bath and spent Sunday, and that night at 2 o'clock surprised the enemy's camp at Bath, consisting of two companies Colonel Wynkoop's Pennsylvania cavalry, six-months' men. The enemy had about fifteen minutes' notice of their approach and were formed, but Captains Burke and Blackford charged them and had a fight of ten minutes at close quarters.

Captain Hebble and 8 or 10 of his men (Yankees) were killed; a number wounded. Only 2 of our men wounded. Captains Burke and Blackford captured and brought out safely 23 Yankee soldiers and 1 negro. Horses and equipments captured, 50; sabers, 20; pistols, 25. All the Yankee officers, including the major commanding, escaped in the darkness, except Captain Hebble, killed.†

*From return for September, 1863.

An error; Capt C. B. Hebble was mustered out.

2. In my last I informed you that I had left Captain Imboden in command of a detachment of four companies in Hardy. Captains Scott and White returned to camp. Captains Imboden and Hobson, with about 70 men, remaning. Early in the week they had a skirmish with a regiment in Patterson's Creek Valley on its way to re-occupy Petersburg, but with no important result; I man killed on our side, and Captain Jarbo reported mortally wounded on the other side by a shot from my brother. On Wednesday they fell back to the South Fork, above Moorefield, where their camp was discovered and reported by a Union man to the forces at Petersburg, when a plan was formed for their capture, as will be seen by the inclosed order, subsequently captured.

Captain McNeill, with 80 men, left my camp at this place on Wednesday, and joined Captains Imboden and Hobson on Thursday evening. That day a force of 300 men, under Major Stephens, came down from Petersburg to Moorefield. Captains McNeill, Imboden, and Hobson at once resolved to surprise their camp next morning at daybreak. The enemy picketed every road leading to their intrenched camp, and deployed about 50 men as skirmishers to remain in position all night, several hundred yards from their works, and sent out two companies to surprise our camp.

Our men moved noiselessly in the darkness, flanked the enemy's pickets, and succeeded in getting between the line of skirmishers and the camp before daybreak on Friday morning, the 11th. Just as dawn appeared they charged the Yankee camp, firing into the tents and yelling like savages. Some resistance was made, but in a short time the fight was over. About 30 Yankees were killed or too badly wounded to be removed. Lieutenant Welton, of McNeill's company, and 2 men were badly wounded; the former, it is feared, mortally.

The following are the captures made and safely brought to camp:

Major Stephens escaped. All of whom I will start to Richmond

to-morrow.

The cooking utensils, tents, blankets, oil-cloths, commissary stores, &c., of the whole force.

First at 2 miles and again at 4 miles above Moorefield the parties of the enemy sent out from Petersburg and Moorefield in the night