erly and westerly, they forded the North Anna River at Anderson's bridge, two miles below Beaver Dam, about dusk. Gen. Custer's brigade took possession of the railroad station and captured a train of cars having on board three hundred and seventy-eight Union wounded and 'prisoners on their way to Richmond. These prisoners had been captured by the enemy during the late operations. The trains of cars, with the depot of supplies, were quickly set on fire, and two locomotives, three long trains, and a large quantity of bacon, meal, flour, and other supplies for Gen. Lee's army, were destroyed. The ties and bridges were burned, and the rails twisted so as to become useless. Meantime the enemy came up and attacked the flank and rear of the column, and captured many prisoners of the 6th Ohio. At night the column bivouacked on both sides of the North Anna.

Early on the next morning the enemy began to shell the camp, and the column moved south, the advance being annoyed by the enemy as it proceeded. The South Anna was crossed at Ground Squirrel bridge, and the bridge destroyed. The bivouac at night was near Goodall's, but the sharpshooters of the enemy caused some annoyance. Early on the next morning, the 11th, the 1st brigade of the 2d division under Gen. Davies was sent seven miles east to Ashland, on the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. There the depot was burned and a considerable quantity of stores destroyed; also six miles of railroad, three culverts, two trestle bridges, several Government buildings, a locomotive, and three trains of cars. On the return the force was fired upon from the houses, and about thirty men were left in the enemy's hands. In the mean time the column had advanced and destroyed the track on the same road at Glen Allen station. The nearer it approached Richmond, the more opposition was made to its progress. At Yellow Tavern the cavalry of the enemy, concentrated under Gen. Stuart, made an attack on the advance under Gen. Devens. A sharp contest ensued, during which the brigades of Gens. Custer, and Gill, and Wilson came to his support, and the enemy were driven toward Ashland. Advancing still further toward Richmond, the picket defences were entered, and in a charge by Gen. Custer's brigade a hundred prisoners and a section of artillery were captured. In the conflict Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and Col. Pate, of the enemy, were fatally wounded. On the next morning the column turned toward Meadow Bridge, on the Chickahominy. It had been destroyed, but was rebuilt under a galling fire from the enemy, and crossed. The column next reached Mechanicsville and Coal Harbor, and encamped toward night at Gaines's Mill, On the next day the march was pursued by the way of Bottom bridge to Turkey Bend, where supplies were obtained from Gen. Butler.

Two movements were made by the forces in the Shenandoah valley and Western Virginia, which were designed to act against Lynchburg.

The first, in May, miscarried, and the plan was afterwards altered. It was determined to carry it into effect in June. According to the original plan, at the time when Gen. Grant crossed the Rapidan, May 4th, Gen. Sigel was in motion upon Staunton, Gen. Crook upon Dublin depot, and Gen. Averill upon Wytheville, with the design, after destroying that town and the lead mines, to unite with Gen. Crook at Dublin depot, for a march toward Lynchburg in connection with Gen. Sigel. A movement by the Big Sandy, under Gen. Burbridge, upon Abingdon, and to prevent the advance of the enemy from the southwest, was not ready. The enemy, upon the advance of Gen. Sigel, ordered Gen. Breckinridge to move in haste further east, with all the troops he could collect, to oppose him, thus leaving Gens. Jenkins and McCausland, with a scattered force of fifteen hundred men, to resist Gen. Crook. Further to the southwest, on the line of the Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad, the enemy happened to have a larger force than anywhere else on that route. Gen. W. E. Jones, in command, at once despatched Gen. Morgan further east. By making a forced march from Saltville, he arrived at Wytheville in advance of Gen. Averill. The latter, with a cavalry force of two thousand men, left camp at Charleston, Va., on May 1st, with three days' rations and two days' forage, and moved day and night over mountain paths until the evening of the 8th, when a cavalry force of the enemy was encountered near Jeffersonville, Va. This force was repelled, and a detour made by way of Princeton. On the 9th Gen. Averill left Tazewell Court House for Wytheville, in order to cut the railroad thirty miles lower down than it was to be cut by Gen. Crook. Cove Mountain Gap, near Wytheville, was reached on the 10th, and the enemy found to be in possession of the latter place. A conflict ensued, which, it is asserted by the enemy, resulted in the defeat of Gen. Averill, with a heavy loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and horses, and prevented his reaching Dublin station and forming a junetion with Gen. Crook before the latter had retired from that place. The following is Gen. Averill's address to his command, made some days later:

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DEPARTMENT, WEST VIRGINIA, Monday, May 28, 1864. General Order No. 5:

The Brigadier-General commanding Cavalry Di vision, desires to express his sincere thanks to the officers and men of the division, for the uncomplaining fortitude with which they hav endured the terri ble vicissitudes incident to their recent march of three hundred and fifty miles, over mountains with out roads, and the unwavering courage with which they attacked and held a superior force of the enemy near Wytheville, on the 10th, thereby enabling an other command to accomplish its purposes without the opposition of overwhelming numbers. Your country will remember your heroism with gratitude; and the noble sacrifices and sufferings of our fallen comrades will be cherished forever in our memories. The 14th Pennsylvania and 1st Virginia cavalry first received the shock of battle, while the 2d and 3d Vir

ginia cavalry and 34th Ohio infantry established a fine which the enemy had reason to respect and remember. Great credit is due to the brigade commanders, Brig.-Gen. Duffie and Col. Schoonmaker, for the energy and skill they displayed. While the conduct of all was admirable and deserving the praise of the Brigadier-General commanding, he desires, without making invidious distinction, to express his high appreciation of the steady and skilful evolutions of the 2d Virginia cavalry, under Col. Powell, upon the field of battle. It was a dress parade, which continued without disorder, under a heavy fire, during

four hours.

The purposes of the enemy were foiled by the engagement. The railroad was reached and destroyed, New River crossed, and the baffled columns of the enemy arrived in time to witness the destruction which all the energies of their superior force, even with artillery, failed to prevent. (Signed)

W. W. AVERILL, Brigadier-General Commanding.

WILL RUMSEY, A. Å. G.

Gen. Crook moved from Charleston, Va., at the same time with Gen. Averill. His object was to strike the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at Dublin Station. His force consisted of the 23d, 34th, and 36th Ohio, forming the first brigade; the 12th, 91st Ohio, 9th and 14th Virginia, forming the second brigade; the 3d and 4th Pennsylvania Reserves, 11th and 15th Virginia, forming the 3d brigade. He proceeded without opposition nearly to Princeton, where two companies of the enemy, one of cavalry and one of infantry, were encountered and driven off. Near the southwestern base of Lloyd's Mountain, about four miles from Dublin depot, a more considerable force of the enemy was found. These were under the command of Gen. Jenkins. When he was killed, Gen. McCausland took the command.

After some skirmishing and manoeuvring for a position, the enemy were attacked in front and flank and driven through Dublin to New River bridge. The Union loss was one hundred and twenty-six killed and five hundred and eighty-five wounded; and that of the enemy was severe, but unknown. On the next day an attack was made on the enemy's position near the bridge, and it was destroyed. The expedition proceeded as far as Newberne, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, ninetynine miles from Bristol, destroying the railroad for some distance. The resistance of the enemy, with the approach of a strong force under Gen. Morgan, caused Gen. Crook to abandon the design of the expedition against Lynchburg and withdraw to Meadow Bluff, in Greenbrier County.

The force in the Shenandoah valley, numbering about fifteen thousand men, was placed under the command of Gen. Sigel. He advanced to the vicinity of New Market, about fifty miles from Winchester, on the west side of the Masanuttan range of mountains, and nearly midway between Mount Jackson and Harrisonburg. His command was designed to cooperate with. Gen. Grant, as before mentioned, up the She nandoah valley, and occupy Gordonsville and Lynchburg, and thus destroy the western com

munication of Gen. Lee s army, and aid to isolate Richmond.

On the 13th of May Gen. Sigel's advance encountered the advance of Gen. Breckinridge. Some skirmishing ensued, which was renewed on the next day, and also on Sunday. Gen. Sigel, however, continued to advance, and brought a part of his forces into position, one division still being in the rear. About 3 P. M. the enemy moved to attack. A hot contest ensued, which resulted in the defeat of Gen. Sigel, with a loss of a thousand stand of small arms, six pieces of artillery, and seven hundred men. The loss of the enemy was also large. Gen. Sigel fell back in disorder, abandoning his hospitals, and destroying a portion of his train, and retreated to Cedar Creek, near Strasburg. The enemy failed to pursue in force. These results to Gens. Averill, Crook, and Sigel, caused a suspension of that part of the plan of Gen. Grant which consisted in destroying the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and the occupation of Lynchburg.

The next important movement in coöperation with Gen. Grant, was made on the southeast side of Richmond, from Fortress Monroe up the James River. The 18th corps, under Maj.-Gen. M. F. Smith, and the 10th corps, under Maj.-Gen. Q. A. Gilmore, composed the military force of the movement, under the command of Maj.-Gen. B. F. Butler. These forces were concentrated at Yorktown and Gloucester as if designed for a movement up the York River. At the same time a brigade under Col. S. F. Alford, 3d New York, landed at West Point, up the York River, and commenced building the wharves, &c. On the 4th of May orders to move were issued, and the troops embarked on board the transports. After dark on the 5th, the vessels began to move down the York River, and up the James River, preceded by three army gunboats under command of Brig.-Gen. Graham; by the doubleenders Eutaw, Mackinaw, and Osceola; four monitors, the Tecumseh, Canonicus, Saugus, Onondaga, and the iron-clad Atlanta, and by the smaller gunboats Commodore Morris, Hunchback, Commodore Jones, Dawn, Delaware, Putnam, and Sheshonee.

At

As the fleet proceeded up the James River, a regiment of negro troops, under Gen. Wild, were landed at Wilson's Wharf, on the north bank, below Charles City Court House. This was done for the purpose of preventing the interruption of water communication. Fort Powhatan Landing, a little above on the south bank of the river, two regiments of the same brigade were landed for the same object. At City Point, the division of Gen. Hinks, with some other troops, and a battery were landed. At this place the flag of truce boat was lying with four hundred and fifty prisoners brought up on the previous day for exchange. remainder of the force proceeded up the river, and landed on the south bank at Bermuda Hundred, which is three or four miles above

The

the mouth of the Appomattox River. Immediately upon landing, the troops intrenched themselves, with the gunboats covering their flank on the water. On the same day, Gen. Butler sent the following despatch relative to his proceedings to Gen. Grant:

OFF CITY POINT, VA., May 5, 1864.

Lieutenant-General Grant, Commanding. Armies of the United States, Washington, We have seized Wilson's Wharf Landing. A brigade of Wild's colored troops are there. At Fort Powhatan Landing two regiments of the same brigade have landed. At City Point Hinks' division, with the remaining troops and battery, have landed. The remainder of both the 18th and 10th army corps are being landed at Bermuda Hundred, above the Appomattox.

No opposition experienced thus far. The movement was apparently a complete surprise. Both army corps left Yorktown during last night. The Monitors are all over the bar at Harrison's Landing and above City Point. The operations of the fleet have been conducted to-day with energy and success. Gens. Smith and Gilmore are pushing the landing of the men. Gen. Graham, with the army gunboats, led the advance during the night, capturing the signal

station of the rebels.

Col. West, with eighteen hundred cavalry, made several demonstrations from Williamsburg yesterday morning. Gen. Kautz left Suffolk this morning, with his cavalry, for the service indicated during the conference with the Lieutenant-General.

The New York, flag of truce boat, was found lying at the wharf, with four hundred prisoners, whom she had not time to deliver. She went up yesterday We are landing troops during the night-a hazardous service in the face of the enemy.

morning.

BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj.-Gen. Commanding. A. F. PUFFER, Captain and A. D. C.

Gen. Kautz, above mentioned, left Suffolk on the 5th, and forcing a passage over the Black Water, advanced to Stony Creek, on the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad, and burned the bridge over that stream. A part of the force of Gen. Beauregard moving from Charleston to Richmond, had previously crossed over, and contested the further progress of Gen. Kautz, who then moved through Surry and Prince George counties to City Point, which he reached on the 8th.

On the 5th, also, Col. West, with two regiments of cavalry-the 1st and 2d colored-made a demonstration on Williamsburg, above Yorktown, on the Peninsula. He advanced to the Pamunkey River, stopping at the White House, and returned to Williamsburg on the next night. On the 7th he advanced over nearly the same ground again, but met with more opposition, than on his previous expedition. Subsequently his force was embarked on transports, and landed at Bermuda Hundred.

On the 6th, Gen. Butler caused reconnoissances to be made of the position of the enemy. On the 7th, an expedition consisting of five brigades under Brig.-Gen. Brooks was sent forward for the purpose of cutting the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. When within two miles of the railroad, the cavalry advance came on the enemy in a strong position, from which they opened fire upon the mounted rifles.

The cavalry fell back to the infantry line, which deployed as skirmishers, and slowly advanced with a strong support in line of battle. The enemy were now steadily driven, with some loss to both sides, back to their main line in front of the railroad. Here a sharp contest took place, during which some of the railroad was torn up, and a railroad bridge, crossing one of the tributaries of the Appomattox, was set on fire and totally consumed. The increase of the force of the enemy finally compelled Gen. Brooks to retire, leaving some of his dead and wounded on the field, and with an estimated loss of two hundred and fifty.

At the same time when Gen. Brooks' main column started, a brigade under Gen. Heckman, with Belger's Rhode Island battery, moved out on another road, and meeting a force of the enemy, drove them back on the railroad, but were unable to penetrate far.

For the

The Petersburg and Weldon Railroad was supposed to be an important route by which supplies were brought to Richmond. purpose of disabling this line more effectually, another advance was made on the 9th.

Three divisions from the 10th corps, under Gens. Terry, Ames, and Turner, and two from the 18th, under Gens. Weitzel and Wistar, moved from camp at daylight, and reached the railroad at four points without opposition. Gen. Terry's division occupied Chester station, about fourteen miles from Richmond, and destroyed the track. Gen. Turner moved on his left toward Petersburg, until he came up with Gen. Ames' division, each destroying the road. Four miles was thus finished before noon, and the column began to move toward Petersburg, the division of Gen. Weitzel leading the advance. The enemy were met near Swift Creek. A desultory skirmish began, which was continued until the line of battle was formed and pushed forward. The fire on both sides then increased, and artillery was brought into action. Gen. Ames' division formed on the left, then Gens. Weitzel's, Turner, and Terry in the order named. The enemy were steadily driven back, with considerable loss on both sides. At night the enemy had fallen back to their batteries across the creek, and the skirmishers confronted each other on opposite sides. During the night the enemy formed in a column, and advanced about one o'clock, either to test the strength of the pickets, and to determine if the force had been withdrawn, or to capture a battery. The pickets on their approach fell back to the main line; and as they came well up, a destructive fire of musketry was opened upon them. Three charges were thus made in the dark, and repulsed, when the enemy withdrew, leaving sixty dead on the field. In the morning they made an attack upon the right flank, for the purpose of turning it, but without success. In the afternoon a similar attack was made on the left, which was repulsed with some loss on both sides. At night the forces had returned to their original