I brave officers and men disaster has been converted into a splendid victory. Darkness again intervened to shut off greater results. now occupy Strasburg. As soon as obtained I will send you further particulars. P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General GRANT. Major-General. CEDAR CREEK, October 20, 1864-11.30 a. m. We have again been favored by a great victory-a victory. won from disaster by the gallantry of our officers and men. The attack on the enemy was made about 3 p. m. by a left half-wheel of the whole line, with a division of cavalry turning each flank of the enemy, the whole line advancing. The enemy, after a stubborn resistance, broke and fled, and were pushed with vigor. The artillery captured will probably be over fifty pieces-this, of course, includes what was captured from our troops in the early morning. At least 1,600. prisoners have been brought in; also wagons and ambulances in large numbers. This morning the cavalry made a dash at Fisher's Hill and carried it, the enemy having fled during the night, leaving only a small rear guard. I have to regret the loss of many valuable officers killed and wounded; among them Col. Joseph Thoburn, commanding division of Crook's command, killed; Çol. C. R. Lowell, commanding Reserve Cavalry Brigade, killed; Col. J. Howard Kitching, commanding brigade, wounded; Col. R. S. Mackenzie, commanding brigade, wounded severely; would not leave the field. I cannot yet give exact details. Many of our men captured by the enemy in the morning have made their escape and are coming in. Ramseur, commanding division in Early's army, died this morning. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Lieutenant-General GRANT. CEDAR CREEK, October 21, 1864-4 p. m. I pursued the routed forces of the enemy nearly to Mount Jackson, which point he reached during the night of the 19th and 20th without an organized regiment of his army. From the accounts of our prisoners who have escaped and citizens the ront was complete. About 2,000 of the enemy broke and made their way down through the mountains on the left. For ten miles on the line of retreat the road and country was covered with small-arms, thrown away by the flying rebels, and other débris. Forty-eight pieces of captured artillery are now at my headquarters. I think that not less than 300 wagons and ambulances were either captured or destroyed. The accident of the morning turned to our advantage as much as though the whole movement had been planned. The only regret I have is the capture, in the early morning,. of from 800 to 1,000 of our men. General, I want Getty, of the Sixth Corps, and the brave boys, Merritt and Custer, promoted by brevet. When I attacked the enemy Merritt and Custer, under the direction of Torbert, fiercely attacked the enemy's flanks, and when he broke closed in after dark and secured the artillery, trains, &c. My loss in killed 3 R R-VOL XLIII, PT I and wounded will be between 3,000 and 4,000. I am now sending to the War Department ten battle-flags. The loss of artillery in the morning was 7 from Crook, 11 from Emory, 6 from Wright. From all that I can learn I think that Early's re-enforcements could not be less than 12,000 men. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Lieutenant-General GRANT. CEDAR CREEK, VA., October 25, 1864. I have found it impossible to move on the Central railroad as you desired. If I do so it must be up the Valley via Swift Run Gap, or Brown's Gap, or across via Front Royal and Chester Gap. To move up the Valley via the routes designated would be exceedingly difficult, on account of supplies and forage, and would demoralize the troops, now in magnificent trim. To move by Chester Gap I would have to leave at least 5,000 (the whole of General Crook's) in the Valley. To open the Orange and Alexandria Railroad would require a corps on it to protect it, which would leave me very little to operate with successfully. To advance against Gordonsville and Charlottesville with a line of communication up this valley and through the Blue Ridge is impracticable. I have been meditating cavalry operations against the Central railroad as soon as the necessary preparations can be made. The cavalry has lost largely in numbers by expiration of service, and is not half so strong as it was six weeks ago. The battle of the 19th still increases in results. We captured forty-eight pieces of artillery, caissons, horses, and all the appointments. Twenty-four of the above number were captured from us in the morning; these I returned, and, in addition, allowed the batteries to refit and exchange, and have left twenty-four pieces of rebel artillery, with caissons complete, which I will send to Washington to-morrow. All the ambulances of the Nineteenth Corps captured by the enemy were retaken, with fifty-six rebel ambulances in good condition, and as many more were destroyed. A number of wagons and ambulances were burned unnecessarily by the cavalry in the excitement; not less than 300 wagons and ambulances were captured or burned. The road between Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill for three miles was blocked by captured artillery and wagons. The rebel army did not stop at Fisher's Hill, but continued to Mount Jackson on the night after the battle, and on to New Market next morning, and perhaps farther. The cavalry pursuit was kept up to a point between Edenburg and Mount Jackson. We captured fourteen battle-flags, ten of which I sent to the War Department and have four more yet to go. Persons who left the rebel army at Mount Jackson report it broken up and demoralized worse than it ever has been. Rest assured, general, I will strike, and strike hard, whenever opportunity offers. I am anxious to get the recruits and conscripts for this army. We are now reduced to an effective force of not over 22,000 infantry. From the accounts of officers, Early's infantry when he attacked me was 25,000; the number of cavalry not yet known. Lieutenant-General GRANT. P. H. SHERIDAN, CEDAR CREEK, VA., October 27, 1864-12 midnight. I made a demonstration up the Luray Valley yesterday with a portion of Powell's division of cavalry, and to-day made a reconnaissance up the Strasburg valley as far as Woodstock and beyond. Powell met opposition from some of Lomax's cavalry at the gorge near Milford, in the Luray Valley. In the main valley nothing was found. The enemy's infantry was reported by deserters to be between New Market and Harrisonburg, with Rosser at Mount Jackson. These, with other demonstrations which I will make, will secure Augur against all but Mosby and the numerous robbers that now infest the country, and which one good regiment could clear out any time, if the regimental commander had spunk enough to try. There is a regiment of cavalry at Harper's Ferry, one at Martinsburg, and one at Winchester, which is a sufficient mounted force to keep the lower Valley clear, but they do not do it. Brigadier-General Duffié was captured between Winchester and Martinsburg. I respectfully request his dismissal from the service. I think him a trifling man and a poor soldier. He was captured by his own stupidity. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff. WINCHESTER, VA., November 1, 1864-10 a. m. I have nothing new to report. I have made cavalry demonstrations up the Luray Valley and up the main valley to prevent any concentration on Augur in taking up the road. Nothing new was developed. Found some rebel cavalry at Milford, in Luray Valley, and nothing north of Mount Jackson, in the main valley. There cannot be anything but Mosby's forces to annoy Augur. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General HALLECK, Chief of Staff. Major-General. NEWTOWN, November 10, 1864-9 a. m. I have started a brigade of infantry this morning from Winchester to protect the railroad working parties. I sent a brigade of cavalry there some days since. I have had a small division of cavalry operating on the east side of the mountains in the vicinity of Upperville, Paris, Bloomfield, and surrounding country. No enemy found there, nor had anything been in that section excepting Mosby's command. A lot of stock, horses, sheep, and cattle were brought in by this force, and the grain, barns, subsistence, &c., so far as practicable, were destroyed. Any reports that you may have heard or received within the last few days of large raiding parties of the enemy, and of a concentration of Mosby near Berryville, are untrue. Major-General HALLECK. P. H. SHERIDAN, KERNSTOWN, November 12, 1864-10 p. m. Yesterday evening the enemy's cavalry made a demonstration on my front south of Newtown, and my scouts reported a large infantry force. having moved down the pike to Middletown with the intention of attacking. This morning I had everything ready, but no attack was made. About 1 p. m. I moved Custer's division of cavalry up the Back road and the Middle road. Pennington's brigade met two brigades of Rosser's cavalry on the Back road, charged them, and drove them at a run four or five miles and across Cedar Creek, capturing some prisoners. While this was going on General Powell moved on the Front Royal pike and thence across toward Middletown. At Nineveh he met Lomax's cavalry, increased by what is called John Morgan's cavalry, charged it, capturing all of Lomax's artillery (two pieces), with caissons, horses, artillerymen, &c., and his ammunition train, and ran his cavalry up the Luray Valley for a distance of eight or nine miles. One brigade of Merritt's division moved up the pike late this evening, but nothing important occurred. Colonel Dudley's brigade, of the Nineteenth Corps, moved out to denionstrate in this cavalry movement; also some sharpshooters of the Sixth Corps. Our losses are very slight. I have to regret the loss of Colonel Hull, of Pennington's brigade, who was killed while gallantly leading a charge. Powell captured 14 commissioned officers, 200 privates, and 2 battle-flags, killed several officers, and brought in 35 wounded. As yet I have seen no infantry, and think the report of the scouts untruthful. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Lieutenant-General GRANT. KERNSTOWN, November 14, 1864-11 a. m. The reconnaissance made yesterday by the cavalry enables me to give you definite information of the recent movements of the enemy here. Early moved with his whole army from New Market on the same day that I moved back from Cedar Creek, under the impression, so prisoners say, that a large number of the troops here had been sent North on account of the election. He came down to the north side of Cedar Creek on the 12th. The information given by my scouts was correct in every particular. Early's cavalry having been driven in and broken on both flanks, he fell back in great haste on the night of the 12th instant, and, according to reports of prisoners, was going back to New Market. General Torbert pushed on to Strasburg yesterday, driving the enemy out of town and up to Fisher's Hill. The cavalry fight of Powell and Custer was very creditable. Merritt was but slightly engaged after dark with the enemy's infantry on the pike. The result of the day's operations was 20 commissioned officers, 225 men, 2 pieces of artillery, 3 caissons, 2 battle-flags, and 4 ammunition wagons captured, and the complete rout of the enemy's cavalry. Our loss was only 2 killed, 7 wounded, and 7 captured. The railroad will soon be finished to the crossing of the Opequon Creek. I can then get long forage for our animals. They are now suffering very much from the cold weather and insufficiency of food. Lieutenant-General GRANT. P. H. SHERIDAN, NEWTOWN, VA., November 15, 1864-12.30 a. m. Early's army did not stop at Fisher's Hill, but continued its retreat during the night of the 12th back to New Market. From the reports of prisoners and citizens the army was stampeded by the attack of our cavalry on his extreme flanks. I regret that I could not get sufficient positive information of Early's presence, but all the prisoners captured early in the day were cavalrymen and were positive that no infantry had come this way. This incorrect information was true so far as they knew, as they had traveled on the side roads and could not see any of the infantry. Citizens report John Morgan's cavalry, about 1,200 strong, as the only organized re-enforcement that Early has received," but that the army has been increased by conscripts, detailed men, and men of the second class-farmers. They report Early's army very much increased in numbers. P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General GRANT, Major-General. City Point. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, U. S. Army, November 24, 1864. Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of property captured and destroyed and lost by capture by the Middle Military Division during the campaign commencing August 10 and ending November 16, 1864, in accordance with telegraphic orders received from you. I am, general, yours, respectfully, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Report of property captured and destroyed (from the enemy) by the Middle Military Division, Maj. Gen. P. H. Sheridan, commanding, during the campaign commencing August 10, 1864, and ending November 16, 1864. |