A day ahead, just in case: • News from the 10th Massachusetts Volunteers • Wednesday, January 27th, 1864 • • INCLUDES NEWS FROM THE 34TH MASSACHUSETTS IN WEST VIRGINIA, the 10th Mass, the 21st Mass, the 27th Mass, the 37th Mass, the 54th Mass, and an interesting exchange between US and CS forces about the Amnesty Proclamation, which the President wants to know about. • Willseys Diary: This morning I again went in the Hospital. The sick ones are very much better. As the day has been so pleasant, I opened the tent & gave the boys a whiff of fresh air. Read the book called the White River in the afternoon. Had Beans & a splendid baked pudding fer dinner. Our Col. has returned to the Regt. from a ten day leave of absence. We are all glad as the Major is very disagreeable. • Newell: Grand dress parade. General Eustis, wife and son were present, and Colonel Parsons, returned from leave of absence, just in time to take command. • Roe: The weather clearing, there was a grand dress parade on the 27th with General Eustis and wife and son present, and as Colonel Parsons returned just in time, he assumed command. • From the Springfield Daily Union: ○ [Reporting on District 39 meeting] Great dissatisfaction, and we might say indignation, was expressed at the loose way in which medical examinations have been made in this city by Surgeons Stickney and Breck. Three men, who passed through their hands, and were accepted as sound, and to whom the extra bounty was paid, have been rejected at Readville as unsound, and the district is minus three or four hundred dollars in consequence. It was stated that seven men in Lieut. Bixbys company, enlisting from Holyoke, were rejected in the same way after being passed by the surgeons here. A man was reported, when enlisted for West Springfield and received $125 therefor, who had a mutilated hand, which was not discovered until the man was examined at Readville. Is there no remedy for these things? It discourages the effort for raising volunteers, and opens the way for, if it does not encourage downright swindling. We understand that an examination at the Provost Marshals office in Barnes Block, by the U.S. surgeon attached to it, would be final, and secure the districts from loss. Also, we advise parties interested to patronise that establishment in the future. The meeting voted to suspend recruiting for the present, and elected Messrs. Hanson and Wells a committee to keep track of the new recruits, to watch the affairs of the district generally, and particularly to dig up, or root up a certain colored individual who enlisted for the district, but who was spirited away by their enterprising neighbors of district No. 40. ○ The Battle-Cry of the 54th. Editor of the Daily Union: In your issue of yesterday, I notice a report of certain statements relating to the courage and soldierly bearing of the Mass. 54th (colored) regiment, purporting to have been made by a captain in the N.H. 4th. The writer, I suppose, obtained his information from myself, as I lately met in New York a captain of the N.H. 4th, who had been at Charleston during all the operations there and was then returning from a two weeks visit to his house. Your recital of the conversation between us is, in the main, very accurate. One thrilling incident which he mentions has, however, been left out. It was this: When, in the assault on Wagner, the 54th came to the charge, a young son of Frederick Douglass, who was an orderly sergeant in one of the companies, stepped out from the ranks, and waving his cap over his head, shouted, For Freedom! For Country! And for Gov. Andrew! The shout was caught up by the regiment, and over the parapet and into the fort they rushed, with the battle-cry ringing out, bold and clear, above the rattle of musketry, the clash of bayonets, and the roar of cannon. Did ever a grander slogan peal forth on the fields where the wronged have struggled for their rights, and the oppressed for their manhood? My informant also stated that he had seen them in the trenches for days and weeks together, exposed to the concentrated fire of the rebel batteries, without signs of flinching, and without a murmur, and that, in his opinion, their conduct had done more to elevate the negro than all other ___?___ combined. To a race that can furnish negroes like these, it is idle to deny elements of greatness, which require only to be developed to raise it to a high order of civilization. ○ THE SOLDIERS REST.- It is gratifying to know that a share of the public charities for the soldiers can be dispensed at our own door. Nine invalid soldiers came up on the train from the south last evening- two of them without means for a nights lodging- two requiring the service of a physician and all tired and hungry from travel. Instead of being left to the mercy of the sharks that frequent the depots of our cities, to seize upon the misfortunes of our returning men, they were taken to the Soldiers Rest, where they were provided a hot supper and medical attendance, and sent on their way homeward rejoicing this morning. Among a squad of soldiers at the Rest last night, was a corporal of the old Massachusetts 6th, that fought its way through Baltimore. He afterwards enlisted in the Vt, 2d cavalry, and he shared the rough side of eight battles, in which he was twice wounded. He came recently from Libby Prison and Belle Island, where he had been employed in making coffins for our men. ○ Capt. Tift sent off 11 recruits to-day. The business is reviving. ○ About 100 more of the gallant 27th have re-enlisted, and will be at home in about a week. ○ Capt. Tift has just returned from Boston, where he has been to consult Adjutant-General Schouler with regard to the seven Frenchmen who enlisted from Holyoke and who were rejected by the mustering officer at Readville because they were not familiar with the English language. The Captain got instructions to have the men arrested as deserters, provided the select men of Holyoke would make oath they could speak English when or before they enlisted. This they can do, as the men in question had resided in Holyoke a year previous to their enlisting. An order has been issued for their arrest. ○ NORTHAMPTON.- Second Lieutenant John E. Cook has been appointed to the 1st lieutenancy of Co. D. 57th Mass. Regiment. ○ A letter in the New Bedford Standard from Newbern, 19th inst., says that on the 15th three companies of the 24th North Carolina (rebel) regiment came in, and most of them have enlisted under the stars and stripes. They say all the regiment would have come if they had the chance. On the 16th a part of the 2d Mass. battery arrived. The weather here has been hot and times dull. The small pox is taking off a number of the negro troops, but seems mostly confined to them. ○ FROM FORTRESS MONROE. Jan. 27. The Petersburg Express of January 22d says:- Seven hospital buildings at Camp Winder, near Richmond, were burned yesterday. A large quantity of commissary stores and clothing was destroyed. An unsuccessful attempt was made to burn the presidential mansion at Richmond on Tuesday night. Nearly half of our military force is scattered as absentees or stragglers over the country, which if returned, not another man would be needed In the field. ○ FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. NEW YORK, Jan. 27.- The Heralds Army of the Potomac dispatch reports that Gen. Meade, who has been ill in Philadelphia, is recovering, and he will soon resume command. It is said the firing on Saturday last, across the Rapidan, was caused by an attempt of a regiment or two to desert. None of our forces were out at the time. Adjutant-General Williams came to the front to-day. Gen. Birney is in command of the 3d corps. Gen. French having gone home on fifteen days leave of absence. ○ MARRIED. In Wales, 25th inst., by Rev. M.P. Webster, Edmund Holman, of Worcester, a member of the 25th Massachusetts regiment, to Lottie A. Luther. ○ MARRIED. In Stafford, Ct., 25th inst., by Rev. F.L. Batchelder, assisted by Rev. W. H. Dean, Rev. Henry F. Tupper, sergeant in the 36th Massachusetts regiment, to Sarah B. Leonard. ○ MARRIED. In Northampton, 21st inst., Adjutant Henry M. Brewster, of the 10th U.S. invalid corps, to Clemmie S. Tanner. ○ MARRYING AND SETTLING SOLDIERS.- The Boston Transcript says:- A recent private letter from a member of the New York First Cavalry, dated at Charleston, Va., expresses great satisfaction at the position of the regiment in the Shenandoah valley, from which the writer hopes it will not be removed. He says: Our men are so much at home that many of the men will settle in the valley after the war is over. Some thirty of them have married here, and from the courting going on among the country girls, many more will probably follow their example. The regiment went out fourteen hundred strong, and has now four hundred men fit for duty, including new men. Almost all have re-enlisted. • From The Springfield Republican: ○ Front page story on miscegenation. ○ CIRCULATING THE DOCUMENTS AMONG LONGSTREETS MEN.- The following is an amusing correspondence between Generals Foster and Longstreet, previously mentioned, as to the circulation of the amnesty proclamation. It proves that the proclamation is taking effect among the rebel rank and file:- HEAQUARTERS CONFEDERATE FORCES, EAST TENN., Jan. 3, 1864. To the Commanding General U. S. Forces, East TENN.: SIR : I find the Proclamation of President LINCOLN of the. 6th of December last, in circulation in handbills among our soldiers. The immediate object of this circulation appears to be to induce our soldiers to quit our Yanks and to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government.. I presume, however, that the great object and end in view is to hasten the day of peace. I respectfully suggest, for your consideration, the propriety of communicating any views that your Government may have upon this subject through me, rather handbills circulated among our soldiers. The few men who may desert under the promise held out in the proclamation, cannot be men of character or standing. If they desert their cause, they degrade themselves in the ayes of God and of man. They can do your cause no good, nor can they injure ours. As a great nation, you can accept none but an honorable peace; as noble people, you could have us accept nothing less. I submit, therefore, whether the mode that I suggest would not be more likely to lead to an honorable end, than such a circulation of a partial promise of freedom. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, J. LONGSTREET, Lieut.-Gen. Comg. REPLY OF MAJ.-GEN. JNO. G. FOSTER. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. KNOXVILLE, E. T., Jan. 7, 1864. Major-General Commanding Forces in East Tennessee: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated Jan. 3, 1864; you are correct in the supposition that the great object in view in the circulation of the Presidents Proclamation, is to induce those now in rebellion against the Government, to lay aside their arms. and return to their allegiance as citizens of the United States, thus securing the reunion of States now arrayed in hostility against one another and restoration of peace. The immediate effect of the circulation may be to cause many men to leave your ranks, to return home, to come within our lines, and, in view of this latter course. it has been thought proper to issue an order announcing the favorable terms op which deserters will be received. I accept, however, your suggestion, that it would have been more courteous to have sent these documents to you for circulation, and I embrace with pleasure the opportunity thus afforded to in close to you twenty (20) copies of each, of these documents, and rely upon your generosity and desire for peace to give publicity to the same among your officers and men. I have the honor to be. General, Very respectfully. J. G. FOSTER, Maj.-Gen. Comg. ○ TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., January 27, 1864. MAJOR-GENERAL FOSTER, Knoxville, Tenn.: Is a supposed correspondence between General Longstreet and yourself about the amnesty proclamation, which is now in the newspapers, genuine? A. LINCOLN. ○ WAR NEWS. By Telegraph to The Republican § Orange Court House, Va., January 18.- The enemy have recently moved their pickets to Robinsons river, advancing two miles. § In Virginia. □ Advices received at Washington Tuesday night from the army of the Potomac, represent all quiet, with no indications of active operations. Capt Wilson, chief commissary of subsistence, has issued a circular directing certain inspections to be made by the various commissaries, having in view the proper distribution of stores by those entrusted with that duty. □ A cavalry reconnoisance to Occoquan on Sunday discovered only five or six rebels where they had expected to meet a pretty large force. Our pickets near Raccoon Ford were driven in by about 60 rebel cavalry, who crossed the river and had a brief skirmish, but were afterwards repulsed and compelled to retire in confusion. A considerable force of rebel cavalry and infantry was visible on the other side of the Rapidan. There were rumors again on Saturday of another skirmish of the rebels among themselves. Heavy artillery and reported firing was heard in front of Gen Kilpatricks line, and a dispatch was sent from the headquarters of the army to Kilpatrick to know where it was and what was its cause. There seemed to be very little doubt that it was caused by some trouble in the enemys lines, as none of the Union troops were in that direction. § Col Hawkes telegraphs that the Massachusetts 21st is in Cincinnati, where it will remain until the 26th inst., and then be mustered in for the new term. They are expected in Worcester the last of the week, and will have a grand reception. § Homesteads for the Union Soldiers. Senator Wilsons bill to secure homesteads to persons in the military service provides that all lands, not included in the corporate limits of any city, town or village, against which the decrees of condemnation and sale shall be rendered under the confiscation law, and all lands sold for direct taxes in insurrectionary districts, shall be bid off to the secretary of the interior, and shall be deemed unappropriated public lands of the United States, and shall be subject to entry under the provisions of the homestead law by any officer or soldier who shall have served two years during the present rebellion, or shall have been discharged by reason of wounds or disease contracted in service, or by any persons of African descent rendering military service to the United States. All the buildings and permanent improvements on such lands are to be appraised, and the value thereof is to be paid into the treasury within five years by the person entering the same; and such value is to be a lien on such lands and buildings in favor of the United States; the laws of the United States relating to public lands are to be extended to these lands so far as applicable. ○ THE SURGEON AND THE SANITARY COMMISSION> ○ Deputy provost Childs went to Boston yesterday with two deserters, one of whom was a member of the 10th, named Henry Heminway and formerly of Pittsfield. ○ Mayor Alexander received by last nights mail notification that seven recruits who have been rejected by the surgeons at Readville. Four of them were thrown out for being over or under age. All but one were sent from districts 39 and 40, and those districts will probably have to bear the loss of $600, as there is little hope of recovering it from the recruits. The necessity of more care in the selection of men from those who are candidates for enlistment, is a lesson which it would not seem difficult to learn from this unfortunate waste of bounties. ○ John W. Field of Hatfield, who went out in the 37th regiment as a private, has been appointed 2d lieutenant in his company. ○ Walworth Smith of South Hadley, who recently enlisted at a war meeting in that town, has been commissioned a 2d lieutenant in the 4th Massachusetts cavalry. ○ A splendid pair of revolvers which will be presented to Gen Grant, are being made at Colts factory in Hartford. The handles are black horn, beautifully polished, and the barrels, magazines and other steel parts are elaborately inlaid with pure gold, the other ornaments also being of solid gold. The cartridge boxes are made of silver. § From The Life and Campaigns of Lieut.-Gen. U.S.Grant: The Legislature of the State of Ohio also presented him with a vote of thanks. A handsome pair of revolvers from Colts arm manufacturing establishent was presented to General Grant: the handles are of black horn, beautifully polished, and the barrels, magazines, and other steel parts are elaborately inlaid with pure gold, which is beaten into a design previously cut out of the steel. The other ornaments, guard, &c., are of solid gold. The pair are inclosed in a handsome rosewood box, lined with velvet, and accompanied by all the tools, &c., belonging to them- the cartridge boxes, &c., being manufactured of silver. These pistols equal any pair that has ever left the establishment. ○ The working force at Sharps rifle factory, Hartford, will be increased to 700 men in the spring. ► HITCHCOCKS CHRONOLOGY OF THE CIVIL WAR: ○ Rebel cavalry under Armstrong and Morgan defeated near Sevierville, Tenn. By Gen. Sturgis. ○ Rebels defeated in an attack on Florence, Ala. ► DYER: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion: ○ Jan 27-Feb 7: Operations in Hampshire and Hardy Counties, W. Va., 34th Massachusetts ○ From LINCOLN Life with the Thirty-fourth Mass Inf. p.195 Feb 1st. 11 1/2 A.M. The regiment is in marching order, with three days rations, and sixty rounds ball cartridges. We are to move without tents; officers without horses; and wait, only, the making up of a train, in which to be transported to Cumberland; where Kelley, in anticipation of being attacked by Early, is concentrating his troops. It is raining hard. 1 P.M. Orders are just handed in, directing the commanding officer of the 34th Mass. Infantry to move, at once, with five hundred men, to the railroad station, to take transportation for Cumberland. Twenty sergeants, forty-five corporals, and three hundred and eight privates, being every man of the command, in camp, fit for duty, and subject to Regimental order, were moved. Upon reaching the station, the Patrol and Provost guard, were urgent in their request to be taken into the line. Representing to the Gen. this desire of the men, he gave his consent to our drawing of one hundred men from the guards at the Ferry. While the men were being embarked, Gen. S. communicated his orders verbally, thus: Youd better put one or more reliable officers, upon the engine, Col.! I shall hold you responsible for the train, and the command. These conductors, and engineers, are all d-----d rebels; you must watch them closely, and upon the slightest evidence of their unfaithfulness, you must blow out their brains, and run the train yourself. Be very careful, as you near Clear Spring; you will probably be fired upon there; and should you be, you will land your force, and burn every building in the neighborhood. At all hazards, Col., you will force your way through; and, with a significant look, he added, mind, and remember, that I dont want you should bring me any live prisoners. Let me have your orders in writing, Gen., if you please. There is no time for that, Col.; every minute is precious; your train is ready. Good-bye. Capt. Willard and Lieut. Goodrich were placed upon the engine, with directions to look closely after the engineer, and off we steamed; our comrades left on duty, waving and shouting farewell greetings. Nothing interrupted our rapid run. All went, and promised well. Nearing Clear Spring, our speed was slackened; and, steam being shut off, we approached with caution, and with no noise, save the rumbling of the train. The station was reached; and instead of rebel bullets, a despatch from Gen. Kelley was received, urging all possible speed in reaching Cumberland. With open throttle the engine was urged forward; and at 7 P.M. the Regiment was reported, at Department Headquarters, as present for duty. Go back to your command, Col., at once. Keep your men together. Dont leave them a moment; orders are now being made out. We shall send you to New Creek, or Pattersons Creek, both of which places are threatened. Hours passed, and no orders came. We were crowded, compelled to stand in close box-cars, which had been used for the transportation of cattle; and which were offensive, and filthy; not having been cleaned at all since having so last been used. Is it any wonder that the men grumbled? Or that no one, when morning dawned, was in very good humor? The Adjutant, despatched to Gen. Kelleys quarters, returned with information, that orders would reach us, so soon as it was determined to what point we were to be sent! While waiting, and engine whizzed by us, from the east. The Guard, (a company) at Pattersons Creek, had been captured, and the bridge across the stream had been burned, during the night, by the rebels. The horse had been stolen; yet the stable could be even now locked; so the 113th New York was hurried off, by special train, to guard what had been destroyed, and we were soon after disembarked… What did it all mean? Vague rumors of the near and threatening position of the enemy were flying among us, when suddenly the circle round the General was broken, and out from the group, his horse bounding madly under the spur, dashed our Colonel with orders to send, at a double quick, a company deployed as skirmishers through the woods in our front. Soley stripped his men to light order and was off in a twinkling. Wells had hardly rejoined the circle of officers when, turning, he galloped again toward us, his clear voice ringing out the order to send to our right flank another Company also as skirmishers. Youre in for it, exclaimed he, as in obedience to the order A, (Capt. Willard), started, deploying as it went. What is it, Colonel? The enemy in force are advancing in this direction; one of your men has been captured by them; has escaped, but with the loss of his musket. One of ours? Captured by the enem! I guess not, Colonel; who is he? Where is he? Whats his name? I cant tell you his name, but- (as the circle of officers around Kelley just then broke, showing the soldier standing in bold relief), there he stands! What a laugh broke from us as the fellow was recognized. What is there to laugh at? asked Wells. To think how youve been sold! Sold! Sold! How, and by whom? Only, Colonel, that Ill bet there isnt another officer in the command who wouldnt have known that miserable devil, at sight! What do you mean, sir, by such a remark? This, Colonel, that in your informant, stands Malcolm Smith, the greatest liar among us; a man for whom a party has been scouring Cumberland all the morning; who slipped away from his company sometime last night, leaving his musket behind him, which his Captain, not the rebels, has got. Ill wager, Colonel, the man is drunk; and when you have got from him all the information you desire, weve a little account against him to be settled. Wells rejoined Kelley; the Officer of the Day claimed Smith as his prisoner, and Orderlies were despatched to recall Capts. Soley and Willard, who, conducting their Companies cautiously through the woods, had just caught sight of and were preparing to pick off the pickets of our friends of the 12th Virginia, on post in our front. The affair caused much merriment among us, and we were still enjoying ourselves over it, when the Colonel rode up and very gravely gave Gen. Kelleys instructions that Smith should be kept in arrest until our return to the Ferry, when charges would be preferred against him before General Court Martial. For what? Colonel, was the enquiry. For what! Why, for creating a false alarm in camp; a most serious offence! I guess I wouldnt, Colonel, it wont sound well, will it, for the General commanding? Better leave him to us. Well, you have the Generals order, were his parting words as he turned and joined the Cavalcade, which was on its way to town. We were left to ourselves, in the mud and water of the cold and spongy soil. Late in the evening our good friends, the 12th Virginia, now in barracks, generously sent for our comfort their tents and stoves, without which we should have had a night of much suffering, as we were forbidden to cut down any standing trees for our fires. 3d. A note from the Col., requesting that the Band might be ordered to report to him, for the purpose of serenading some ladies in the village, was returned, with the information that it was not with us. His request that it should be sent for, was declined, in view of the uncertainty of our stay here, and final destination. But, by order of Col. Wells, direct, it joined us this afternoon. 6th. We have laid in the mud and water for a week; no enemy nearer us at any time than the raiding party at Pattersons Creek, and no alarm more serious than that created by Malcolm Smiths drunken performance. The time has been idled away by us. An attempt at drill was made,- the intention being to surprise the good people of Cumberland, by the invasion of their village, by the regiment on skirmish drill. But the state of the fields was too bad to warrant the attempt, and we laid quietly in our camp. No good, as far as we can perceive, has come to any one by our presence here, save, perhaps, what may have resulted from the nightly playing of the band beneath the windows of the female members of a traveling theatre company performing in town. 7th. At 6 P.M., orders came to take cars for transportation to the Ferry. The camp was struck at once, and, leaving our stores, of all kinds, in charge of the Quartermaster Sergeant Trumbull, the regiment was marched to the line of the railroad. Here a line of closed box cattle cars, the floors which were ankle deep with the droppings of their last living freight, was pointed out for our occupancy. This was too much! On our way up we had submitted to such transportation without a murmur. Under orders to move towards the enemy, nicety as to the mode of going seemed in bad taste. But now it was different. A days difference in the time of reaching the Ferry could not be of much account, and orders to march were withheld. An interview was sought with the commanding General. Representations of the filthiness of the cars provided for us, fell upon listless ears. Permission to march to our destination was asked and denied; and it was only after explicit refusal to order the regiment into the cars which were provided for us that any attention was given to the remonstrance. A train of box cars, clean, however, was at length furnished, and at a little after 8 we were started on our way. 8th. We reached camp after a run of about three hours, last night. We found forty additional recruits, who arrived during our absence, waiting assignment to their companies. We found, also, that we were in bad odor at Division Headquarters. All because of the number of men taken to Cumberland. Our original order specified five hundred as the number to be taken. Three hundred and seventy-three only were in camp subject to the order. Seeing the anxiety of the men of the various guards at the Ferry to accompany us, the General himself had given verbal permission to take with us all who desired to go. The members of the band had joined us after we reached Cumberland. An attempted explanation of the unintentional disobedience of orders was cut short by the Generals - No matter! No matter about it now! Let it all go! I damned you enough for it while you were gone! We left in hosptal, at Cumberland, one of our men, sick from wet, cold and exposure. While there, a man who had suffered for months from aphonia, upon being spoken to by the doctor, at surgeons call, answered in his former loud voice, and quickly disappeared from his wondering companions, in seeming fright at the unwonted noise. How queer, such cases! ○ From HEADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION. p. 365, on the 34th Massachusetts Headquarters Department Of West Virginia, Cumberland, Md., March 8,1864. Brigadier- General. Brig. Gen. George W. Cullum, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C. General: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations in this department from the 27th of January, 1864, until the 7th of February, during which time our troops were engaged i n repelling the attempts of the enemys forces, under General Early, upon the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and upon the posts at Petersburg and New Creek, W. Va. On the 27th of January a train of eighty wagons, loaded with commissary stores, was dispatched from New Creek to supply the garrison at Petersburg, Hardy County, under the command of Colonel Thoburn. On the 28th, citizen refugees from the vicinity of Petersburg and Moorefield brought information that the rebel forces were approaching, and in consequence of these rumors the supply train was stopped at Burlington and turned back, and a precautionary message sent to Colonel Thoburn, ordering him to fall back from Petersburg upon ascertaining that the enemy menaced him in force. On the same day I went personally to New Creek, and there found that the statements made by the refugees were vague and unsatisfactory, and being assured that the scouting parties sent up the Shenandoah Valley, and those sent out by Colonel Thoburn from Petersburg, had returned without discovering any signs of the enemy. I concluded that the citizens had been alarmed by some prowling bands of guerrillas, and ordered the supply train again to take the road with a strong guard of cavalry and infantry, under the command of Col. Joseph Snider, Fourth Virginia Cavalry, whose report, marked A,* is herewith submitted. At the same time I telegraphed General Sullivan, at Harpers Ferry, and Colonel Oley, commanding Averells division, at Martinsburg, to keep their mounted troops ready for the saddle. On the 29th, Colonel Snider started with the train, and en route received a message from Lieutenant-Colonel Quirk asking him to hasten his movements, and informing him that the Twenty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of Colonel Thoburns command, would meet him at the Moorefield Junction. On reaching Medley, 2£ miles from the junction, he met Lieutenant-Colonel Quirk with the Twenty-third Illinois, retiring before the enemy. Colonel Snider, being the ranking officer, here assumed command, and with the combined forces took position to resist the enemys attack, which was persistently made and sustained by a battery of artillery. After an action of one hour and twenty minutes Colonel Snider was driven back, retiring from the field in good order and with considerable loss. Meanwhile the train-masters and teamsters, becoming alarmed, had abandoned their wagons, and cutting the harness of the draft animals, had used them to effect their escape, thus leaving the train immovable, which, in consequence, fell into the hands of the enemy, who fired about forty wagons and carried off the remainder. Immediately upon hearing of the loss of this train I telegraphed General Sullivan to move the mounted force from Charlestown, and to Colonel Oley to move forward two mounted regiments of Averells division by way of Winchester and Wardensville to Moorefield, hoping thus to cut off the enemy and prevent his escaping with his spoils. At daylight on the 30th, Colonel Thoburns scouts discovered the enemy in the vicinity of Moorefield, and by further information obtained from prisoners and deserters he ascertained that his position was to be attacked on the following morning by a large force under General Early. As he had but one days provisions on hand, and perceiving that his line of communication was held by the enemy, and that his force was weakened by the absence of the Twenty-third Illinois Regiment, he determined to evacuate Petersburg and fall back on New Creek, according to precautionary orders already received. He accordingly withdrew his forces at midnight, and carrying with him all stores and Government property he retired by way of Greenland Gap, and arrived at New Creek safe and in good, condition on the 1st of February. At daylight on the 31st, the enemy opened fire on the abandoned works at Petersburg, and shelled them for some time before he discovered that they were unoccupied. Perceiving at length that the garrison had escaped, he hastened by the direct route to Greenland Gap. hoping to cut off Colonel Thoburns retreat, but he arrived too late. The enemy still continued to press upon Colonel Mulligans outposts, both in the New Creek and Pattersons Creek Valleys, showing a considerable force of all arms on both points. I began to apprehend that his ultimate designs were to effect the destruction or the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and that at the same time he might attack the post at New Creek, or even hazard a coup de main upon Cumberland with a view to plunder. I therefore held Mulligans division, strengthened by Thoburn, ready for defensive or offensive operations, as circumstances might dictate, and sent an order after the mounted column at Wardensville to move as speedily as possible upon Romney, at which point this force would have an opportunity to strike the enemy in flank and rear, and would be able to communicate more directly with Colonel Mulligan. In the meantime two regiments of infantry, Twelfth [West] Virginia and Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, arrived by rail from Harpers Ferry, and with one light battery were held to secure Cumberland against any sudden movements. On the morning of February 2, hearing from Colonel Mulligan that the enemy were retiring. I ordered him to follow at once, and notified him that four regiments of our mounted troops would arrive at Romney that night to co-operate with him. Suddenly, about noon on the same day (3d), the enemy, about 500 strong, under Rosser, made his appearance at Pattersons Creek Station, capturing a portion of the company of infantry guarding the road, killing and wounding several, and setting fire to Pattersons Creek bridge and also to North Branch bridge, 2 miles from the former and 6 miles from Cumberland. I immediately took command of the forces at this place, and marched toward the menaced point, but presently ascertained that the enemy was hastily retiring by the way he came, having failed to do any serious damage to the road. Rosser retired by way of Sheets Mill, where two regiments of infantry were stationed to support him. It being impossible to pursue with the infantry under my immediate command, I now depended on the mounted troops I had set in motion to intercept and punish the enemys temerity. Lieutenant-Colonel Fitz Simmons, commanding the mounted column from the valley of the Shenandoah, received the order directing him to move on Romney while at Wardensville, and responded with commendable promptness, arriving at the time expected. Unfortunately he here received information that the enemy was destroying the railroad in the neighborhood of Green Spring. Leaving a detachment to hold Romney. he followed this false scout to Springfield, while Rosser, secured from view by the Pattersons Creek Mountain, was rapidly escaping through a parallel valley in the opposite direction. Before this error could be rectified the enemy was well on his way to Moorefield, and on the 3d February, communication having been opened with the infantry under Colonel Thoburn, the whole force under command of Colonel Mulligan, started in pursuit, the cavalry, under Colonel Fitz Simmons, taking the old road to Moorefield and the infantry, with the artillery, following the new road west of the South Branch River. On the morning of the 4th our advanced cavalry came in sight of the enemy in the Moorefield Valley. At this place, according to the report* of Colonel Mulligan, herewith transmitted, the enemy appeared in strong force with infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and maintained a determined front for the evident purpose of securing the safe retreat of baggage trains and droves of cattle, which could be seen defiling by the roads leading southward over the mountains. Pressed by our artillery and advanced skirmishers, he retired through the village of Moorefield, but before our troops, already harassed by loss of sleep and worn down by forced marches, had arrived in sufficient force to justify a general attack, the enemys trains were beyond our reach and his troops had gained the defile in the mountains, where he could not be attacked except at a great disadvantage, and from whence he could retire from position to position, inflicting serious loss upon an assailant with comparative safety to himself. As there seemed to be no adequate advantage promised that would justify so hazardous an attack, Colonel Mulligan followed the enemy slowly with cavalry and artillery until night. On the following morning, 5th of February, ascertaining that General Early was still rapidly retiring toward Harrisonburg by the Lost River road and Brocks Gap, Colonel Mulligan ordered the co-operating forces back to their respective stations, and leaving Colonel Thoburn at Burlington, he returned with his own command to New Creek. The principal object of the enemy in this movement appears to have been the capture of the garrison at Petersburg, and incidentally to collect supplies from the Moorefield Valley. His main object failed entirely, and the small amount of damage resulting from his hurried attempt upon the railroad hardly justified the hazard incurred. I do not think his falling upon the supply train was the result of any information received of its movements, but simply accidental. The fact that citizen refugees brought the first information of the enemys approach, and that cavalry scouts sent out for the express purpose failed to obtain any information on the subject, is highly discreditable to the officers conducting these reconnaissances. I nave heretofore maintained the post at Petersburg for the purpose of protecting the fertile and populous valley of the South Branch from plunder and conscription by the enemy. The line of communication with its depot at New Creek is long and difficult and the position a good deal exposed. Yet such is the value of the district covered by it that I have thought proper to maintain it, and it is now abandoned with great reluctance, and I hope only for a time. The officers and troops engaged in the operations above reported, as far as I am informed, have behaved with commendable zeal and alacrity, and the enemys escape from the punishment due his temerity is entirely owing to fortuitous circumstances and the great difficulty of concentrating troops and combining movements from positions so distant and in a country whose topography is so difficult and intricate. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant. B. F. KELLEY,
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:14:14 +0000
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