rdinate to me is past, and I shall confine my attention to the army of the 15th and 17th, the 14th and 20th corps, unless the comeneral of the armies of the United States orders otherwise.

m. of May 9 I reached Manchester, on the James river, opposite and found that all the four corps had arrived from Raleigh, and were replenishing their wagons for the resumption of the march towards

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY Division of the Southwest,

New Orleans, Louisiana, July 16, 1865.

L: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of and in the campaign from Winchester, in the Shenandoah valley, to in front of Petersburg, beginning February 27, and ending March

mand consisted of the first and third divisions of cavalry, of the army andoah, under the immediate command of Brevet Major General rritt, Brevet Major General George A. Custer, commanding the third d Brigadier General T. C. Devin, the first. The following was the

rce:

orce first and third cavalry divisions, army of the Shenandoah, ry 28, 1865.-Major General Wesley Merritt, chief of cavalry.

orning of February 27, 1865, we marched from Winchester up the with five days' rations in haversacks, and fifteen days' rations of r and salt in wagons, thirty pounds of forage on each horse, one

on train of eight boats, were permitted to Virginia Central railroad, the James River cable, and then join Major General Sherman th Carolina, or return to Winchester, but in governed by the position of affairs after the

tion, but the weather was very bad, as the
already come on.

intains were covered with snow which was
eams nearly past fording. On our first day's
umbling river, and Tom's brook,,and went
narched thirty miles. At 6 o'clock in the
arch was resumed through Edinburg and
ndoah river and through Newmarket, going
iles north of Harrisonburg; the crossing of
was by a pontoon bridge. Small bands of
ng the day, but no effort was made to drive
e by them; distance marched, twenty-nine
o'clock on the morning of the 29th, through
and camp pitched on Middle river at Kline's
s during the march, and at Mount Crawford
undred cavalry, attempted to burn the bridge
Hoah, but did not succeed; two of Capehart's
ridge, charged Rosser and routed him, driving
Ivance pushing almost to Staunton; but few
ken prisoners, and twenty ambulances and
captured and destroyed; our loss was five
even miles from Staunton, where the head-
id to be. Not knowing but that he would
s brigade of General Devin's division was
ge over Christian's creek, between Staunton
etting re-enforcements by rail, or in case he
rying off supplies and ordnance stores; the
rly, learning of our approach, made hasty re-
in Staunton that he intended to fight at that
d Staunton. The question then arose in my
course on to Lynchburg, leaving General
ht him with my cavalry against his infantry
defeat him, and open a way through Rock
y own hands for the accomplishment of that
irected the destruction of the Central rail-
ecided upon
the latter course, and General
of Colonels Wells, Pennington, and Cape-
e up the pursuit, followed closely by Gen-
Feneral Gibbs's and Colonels Fitzhugh's and
een pouring in torrents for two days and the
nevertheless the men pushed boldly on, al-
ely be recognized for the mud which cov-
d General Early, as he had promised, at
sition, with two brigades of infantry and
, the infantry occupying breastworks. Cus-
o get up his courage over the delay of a care-
itions for attack at once, sending three regi-

ing advanced from instead of
diate rear; he, with the othe
mounted, at a given signal, bc
my's works, while the 8th N
were formed in column of for
the charge through the little t
went along, and did not stop
nandoah river, which was im
formed as foragers, and with
The enemy threw down their
ness with which they were ca
gagement were Generals Earl
always been a wonder to me
places in the houses of the to
ued the pursuit of the enemy
mountains, and the other two
encamp on the east side of t
brilliant fight were eleven pic
plete, about two hundred wag
and garrison equipage, ammu
and sixteen hundred officers a
of view were very great, as th
as it was, at any other point
for Waynesboro' I obtained
erty at Swoop's depot, on
stroy it, which was done; a
port. General Custer's divis
Blue Ridge, General Devin
morning the prisoners were s
fifteen hundred men, comman
shire cavalry, who safely read
by General Rosser's comman
Shenandoah near Mount Jack
attack upon him and tried to
pulsed by Colonel Thompson
at his destination with all his
General Devin resumed his
to destroy the iron bridge over
destroy the captured wagons a
Charlottesville, destroying m
wood depot and Ivy Station, a
river, arriving at Charlottesv
prominent citizens meeting h
keys of the public buildings.

The roads from Waynesbo
and spring thaws, become so
that it was impossible for ou
therefore notified the comma
the purpose of resting, refitti
well out towards Gordonsvil
towards Lynchburg for the
either Richmond or Lynchbu
railroads was then commenc
and south forks of the Riv
evening of the 5th instant, w

t a given signal, boldly attacked and impetuously carried the ene, while the 8th New York and the 1st Connecticut cavalry, who d in column of fours, charged over the breastwork and continued through the little town of Waynesboro', sabering a few men as they , and did not stop until they had crossed the south fork of the Shever, which was immediately in General Early's rear, where they oragers, and with drawn sabres held the east bank of the stream. threw down their arms and surrendered with cheers at the suddenwhich they were captured. The general officers present at this enwere Generals Early, Long, Wharton, Lilley, and Rosser, and it has n a wonder to me how they escaped, unless they hid in obscure e houses of the town. Colonel Capehart, with his brigade, continsuit of the enemy's train which was stretched for miles over the and the other two brigades pushed rapidly after him, with orders to the east side of the Blue Ridge. The substantial results of this ht were eleven pieces of artillery with horses and caissons comtwo hundred wagons and teams, all loaded with subsistence, camp n equipage, ammunition and officers' baggage, seventeen battle-flags, hundred officers and enlisted men. The results in a military point

re very great, as the crossing of the Blue Ridge, covered with snow t any other point would have been difficult. Before leaving Staunton boro' I obtained information of a large amount of rebel proproop's depot, on the Lexington railroad, and sent a party to deich was done; a list of which property will be attached to this reeral Custer's division encamped at Brookfield, on the east side of the , General Devin's division remaining at Waynesboro'. The next prisoners were sent back to Winchester under a guard of about red men, commanded by Colonel J. H. Thompson, 1st New Hampy, who safely reached that point, notwithstanding he was harassed Rosser's command as far as the crossing of the north fork of the near Mount Jackson, at which point General Rosser made a fierce him and tried to rescue the prisoners, but he was handsomely reolonel Thompson, who captured some of his men and finally arrived ation with all his own prisoners and some of Rosser's men besides. vin resumed his march at 6 a. m., leaving General Gibbs's brigade e iron bridge over the south fork of the Shenandoah, and to burn and aptured wagons and their contents. General Custer moved on towards lle, destroying much government property and subsistence at Greenand Ivy Station, also the railroad and the large bridge over Meacham's g at Charlottesville at 4 p. m., the mayor and several of the most itizens meeting him in the suburbs of the city and delivering up the public buildings.

from Waynesboro' to Charlottesville had, from the incessant rains haws, become so terribly cut up, and the mud was of such a depth, mpossible for our train to reach Charlottesville under two days. I tified the command that we would remain two days at this point for of resting, refitting, and destroying the railroad; parties were sent ards Gordonsville to break the railroad, and also about fifteen miles chburg for the same purpose, to prevent troops massing on me from ond or Lynchburg. A thorough and systematic destruction of the 3 then commenced, including the large iron bridges over the north orks of the Rivenna river, and the work was continued until the he 5th instant, when General Gibbs reported with our trains; forage