labor than was justifiable under the circumstances (as I was under orders to return within ten days and was then very short of forage). The correspondence between Colonel Thompson and myself you will please find inclosed. On Tuesday, May 2, I left Staunton, and arrived at my camp in this place this morning. During my journey up the Valley upward of 900 soldiers belonging to the Army of Northern Virginia were paroled at different points by Captain Snyder, acting assistant provost-marshal-general. I remain, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel, Commanding Twenty-second New York Cavalry. Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Shenandoah. [Inclosure No. 1.] HEADQUARTERS JACKSON'S BRIGADE, April 30, 1865. OFFICER COMMANDING U. S. FORCES AT STAUNTON: I send Capt. G. W. Silcott, acting assistant adjutant-general, with a flag of truce to ascertain upon what terms the U. S. authorities will accept the surrender of the troops under my command; and to that end I respectfully ask an interview, at such point as you may designate, to arrange the terms, or for me to decide whether they ought to be accepted or not. If they are not accepted, I am sure that the U. S. authorities will not attempt to interfere with myself or the troops under my command until they have at least five hours' notice of the disposi tion on the part of the U. S. forces to attempt mine and their capture; and I respectfully ask that such assurance be given me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. P. THOMPSON, Colonel Nineteenth Virginia Cavalry, Commanding, &c. Col. W. P. THOMPSON, [Inclosure No. 2.] HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Commanding Jackson's Brigade, Lomax's Division, &c.: COLONEL: I have had the honor to receive at the hands of Captain Silcott, with flag of truce, a communication from you asking upon what terms you can surrender troops under your command. I beg to say in reply, that the United States Government will receive your command upon the same terms given to the Army of Northern Virginia, viz, officers and men to give their parole of honor not to take up arms against the United States until exchanged; all arms, horses, and public property to be turned over to the United States, officers to retain their side-arms, private horses, and personal baggage. I have the honor to remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. B. REED, Col., Twenty-second New York Cav., Comig. U. S. Forces at Staunton. MAY 6-14, 1865.-Expedition from Richmond to Staunton and Charlottesville, Va. Report of Lieut. Col. Franklin A. Stratton, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, Charlottesville, Va., May 14, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of my expedition from Richmond to Staunton, and thence to this place, under instructions received from department headquarters on the 5th instant: I left Richmond on the morning of the 6th instant with the entire effective strength of my regiment, consisting of 500 men, accompanied by fifty-five wagons. Marching via Louisa Court-House, Charlottesville, Rockfish Gap, and Waynesborough, I arrived near Staunton on the evening of the 10th of May. Learning there that General Rosser had that morning left for Lexington, I did not enter town until the next day. I found Brig. Gen. I. H. Duval stationed there with one brigade of infantry and a regiment of cavalry, being a portion of his division-the Fourth Provisional Division of the Army of the Shenandoah. General Duval had arrived there two days previous to my arrival, and had already paroled a large part of Rosser's men and taken possession of the trivial amount of rebel government stores found there. General Duval therefore directed me to return to Charlottesville, in accordance with my instructions. A copy of his order is inclosed. I therefore, after resting my horses one day, left Staunton on the 13th, and returned to this place to-day. General Rosser, up to the time of my departure, had made no visible preparation for paroling the remainder of his men, nor was there any tangible evidence of his intention to turn over any rebel government property whatever. After several interviews with him, I ascertained that the men of his command were entirely dispersed, and would only come in in small detachments, or singly, to be paroled. This would occupy, perhaps, several weeks, and as my supplies would permit me to remain but three or four days, it seemed proper that General Duval should complete the business he had commenced. General Rosser stated, or rather admitted, that about nine pieces of artillery were concealed somewhere about Staunton and four pieces at Lexington. These, too, I left for General Duval to find and dispose of. About eight pieces of artillery are said by General Rosser to be at Pittsylvania Court-House. I have information of there being considerable rebel property concealed about Charlottesville, but have not yet had time to find it. This comprises small-arms buried or concealed in buildings and quartermaster and commissary stores in the hands of citizens in various localities. Not many disorders have come to my notice through the country, but there is much need of a military post at this place to preserve order and protect the citizens from small bands of marauders and robbers infesting various localties between here and the Blue Ridge. The large number of negroes here will require for some time the interposition of military authority to adjust differences in regard to labor, property, and personal rights. I have maintained the strictest discipline and order in my own command during the march, and permitted no injury whatever to the property of citizens. The railroad is now open to Keswick's Station, about seven miles from here, and will be opened within two or three days to the Rivanna River, some two miles distant. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Comdg. Regiment. Col. ED. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of Virginia. JUNE 1–13, 1865.—Expedition through Pocahontas and Pendleton Counties, Report of Col. Wesley Owens, Eighth Ohio Cavalry. Near Clarksburg, W. Va., June 15, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to submit for the information of the commanding general the result of an expedition into the interior of West Virginia, made pursuant to instructions from headquarters Department of West Virginia, dated May 28, 1865. I left here on the 1st of June, with 400 men and horses, and moved in a southeasterly direction, through Philippi and Beverly, in one column. After leaving the latter place I detached a company of reliable men, under Captain Moores, with instructions to make thorough examinations of every place where arms or other Government property might be concealed or improper persons harbored. This company preceded the main column two hours in time. On reaching Huttonsville I took the direct road to Lewisburg, passing over Elk Mountain, through Mingo Flats, to Marlin's Bottom. I took this route in order to avoid any suspicion of my destination to Huntersville. At Marlin's Bottom, however, I became satisfied that ex-Governor William Smith was not in that neighborhood. I therefore crossed over at Knap's Creek to Huntersville, which I found deserted, but two families living there. A squadron was left at this place to make a thorough search for Government property and particularly concealed arms. Nothing was found. Three miles southeast of Huntersville I detached a squadron, under Captain Bechtel, to proceed to Gatewood's; thence northeast, through the saltpeter-works, up Back Creek Valley, while I passed over the mountains by Knap's Creek. These two columns joined near Green Hill. From this place I moved to Hightown, sending on the way Lieutenant Cable's squadron through Dinwiddie Gap to Galltown, thence through Monterey to New Hampton, by way of Widow Weismer's, and from New Hampton to Hightown, through Crab Bottom, where it joined me. The road from Hightown to Monterey was also carefully examined. From Hightown I proceeded along the Staunton pike, over Cheat Mountain, by "old man White's," and struck my old trail at Huttonsville. It will be seen that I made a complete tour through the district where reports of horse stealing originated, viz: Pocahontas, Highland, and Pendleton Counties, Green Hill and Crab Bottom. There were no horse thieves in this country, nor were any complaints of horse stealing. The citizens are well disposed and quiet. Returning rebels are going to work and conduct themselves with propriety. I picked up on this trip thirteen horses, one mule, seven saddles and bridles, eleven carbines and rifles, all Government property. Had it not been that a scout of West Virginia troops, under a Captain Allen, were prowling through the neighborhood of my route only a day ahead of me, robbing the people (I know of no other appropriate name to call it), under the pretense of gathering up United States property, it is very likely that I could have found many Government horses and other property; but the people, being warned of my approach, drove all horses to the mountains and concealed effectually all other property. I regret to say that this Captain Allen did not fall into my hands. I returned after an absence of twelve days with my horses in better condition than when I left. The delay in forwarding this report is due to my serious illness since my return. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major T. MELVIN, W. OWENS, Colonel Eighth Ohio Cavalry Volunteers. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of West Virginia, Cumberland, Md. (Through Brigade and Division Headquarters.) [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA, Cumberland, June 20, 1865. Respectfully forwarded to Lieut. Col. A. E. King, assistant adjutantgeneral, Middle Military Division, for the information of the general commanding. So much of this report as relates to Captain Allen, of the State Scouts, has been submitted to His Excellency the Governor of West Virginia for his information. W. H. EMORY, Brevet Major-General, Commanding. ALTERNATE DESIGNATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME.' Abbot's (Henry L.) Heavy Artillery. See Connecticut Troops. 18t Regiment. Adams' (James T.) Infantry. See North Carolina Troops, Confederate, 26th Regiment. Adams' (Zabdiel B.) Infantry. See Massachusetts Troops, 56th Regiment. Alden's (Alouzo) Infantry. See New York Troops, 169th Regiment. Alleghany Artillery. See Virginia Troops, Confederate. Allen's (Crawford, jr.) Artillery. See Rhode Island Troops, 1st Regiment, Battery H. Allison's (W. B.) Infantry. See South Carolina Troops, 18th Regiment. Anderson's (David W.) Infantry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 44th Regiment. Archer's (T. Marshall) Artillery. See Fauquier Artillery, post. Archer's (William S.) Artillery. See Hampden Artillery, post. Arden's (G. de Peyster) Heavy Artillery. Seo New York Troops, 10th Regiment. Armistead's (Andrew D.) Artillery. See Mathews Artillery, post. Armistead's (Samuel W.) Infantry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 32d Regiment. Armstrong's (Samuel C.) Infantry. See Union Troops, Colored, 8th Regiment. Arnett's (William W.) Cavalry. See Virginia Troops, Confederate, 20th Regiment. Arnold's (John W.) Infantry. See Georgia Troops, 9th Regiment. Arnold's (Robert B.) Cavalry. See Hampton Legion, post. Ashby's (George E.) Artillery. See New York Troops, 3d Regiment, Battery E. Ashcraft's (Thomas E.) Infantry. See North Carolina Troops, Confederate, 53d Regiment. Ashford's (John) Infantry. See North Carolina Troops, Confederate, 38th Regiment. Ashland Artillery. See Virginia Troops, Confederate. Avery's (Martin P.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 60th Regiment. References, unless otherwise indicated, are to index following. |