encountered a movement on their part against the Federal left. At the same time the main body advanced in the direction of Mount Crawford, and met the enemy on North River, twelve miles from Staunton. A hot conflict ensued, as well here as at Port Republic, but the enemy were steadily driven on the North River, which exposed their right, and thus compelled it to fall back. At the same time Gen. Crook was approaching from the west, and the enemy in falling back retired toward Waynesboro' on the east. The loss of Gen. Hunter was two hundred and fifty. That of the enemy was severe, and included the commanding general, W. E. Jones. Staunton was immediately occupied by Gen. Hunter. Stores and railroad property of a large amount were captured.

The advance of Gens. Crook and Averill from Meadow Bluff was commenced on May 31st. They moved through Lewisburg, White Sulphur Springs, &c., to the Gaston depot on the Virginia Central Railroad by June 5th. This is about forty miles below the terminus of the road. Here the work of destruction commenced. The track was torn up, and bridges and culverts destroyed for a distance of ten miles. Thence the force moved over North Mountain, through Pond Gap to Staunton, and arrived on the 8th of June. The enemy attempted constantly to impede their progress.

On June 10th the consolidated command of Gen. Hunter marched from Staunton on the road through Middlebrook to Lexington, Gen. Crook's command being in advance. Three miles from Staunton the enemy, under Gen. McCausland, were posted behind rail breastworks, designed to delay the movement as much as possible. The steady advance, however, dislodged them, driving them ahead. Seventeen miles from Staunton they managed to kill two men and wound two others, when a strong force of cavalry dispersed them for that day. In the forenoon of the 11th Lexington was reached. The enemy had burned the bridge over the James, and were posted on the high bank opposite. They were driven off with artillery, after which the river was crossed at the fords and the town occupied. On Sunday, the 12th, the Military Institute and the house of Gov. Letcher were burned. Ten minutes were allowed to remove any property from the latter. A number of canal boats were destroyed, and considerable ammunition seized. A bronze statue of Gen. Geo. Washington, cast upon the orders of the legislature of Virginia, was taken down and subsequently transported to Wheeling, Va. On the 13th Gen. Averill was ordered to Buchanan, and the whole force followed on the next day. On Thursday, the 16th, Liberty was reached, and seven miles of railroad and the culverts and bridges destroyed. On the 17th the advance under Gen. Crook arrived within eight miles of Lynchburg at 10 A. M., and halted for the main force to come up. It arrived at 3 P. M., and moved on within

an hour. After an advance of two miles the first position of the enemy was reached. They immediately opened with a brisk cannonade, but were soon driven back two miles to their line of breast works with considerable loss to both sides. Night coming on Gen. Hunter was compelled to halt. All night the whistles of locomotives were heard in Lynchburg, bringing reënforcements from Richmond. On the next day the enemy appeared in force, and advanced to turn the right of Gen. Hunter's force. After a sharp struggle they were driven back to their breastworks, which were protected by others in the rear. The position of the enemy now appeared to Gen. Hunter to be so strong, and his numbers so great, as to destroy all hope of success with his army, now on limited rations. In the afternoon, therefore, the trains were started back, and at 9 P. M. the command commenced retreating, and marched until 1 A. M. the next morning, when they arrived within five miles of Liberty. At 9 A. M. the march was renewed until 2 P. M., when a halt was made three miles southwest of Liberty. The enemy followed close, and the skirmishing was continually heavy. The rear was brought up by Gen. Crook. At 6 P. M. the command was again on the march, and reached Bonsack's depot at 10 A. M. of the 20th, where a halt for rest was made. At 8 P. M. the march was resumed, via Buford's Gap, for Salem, which was reached at 5 o'clock on the next morning. The enemy continued a hot pursuit, and on the 21st captured ten pieces of artillery in a deep gap. Six were recaptured. That night the command rested all night for the first time since leaving Lynchburg. New Castle, in Craig County, was reached at 6 P. M. on the 22d. On the night of the 25th Meadow Bluff was reached by the force, being without supplies, except such as could be obtained from the sparse inhabitants of a mountainous country. On the 27th rations were obtained, and Gen. Hunter arrived at Loup Creek during the next day. On the same day the following despatch from Gen. Hunter was issued by the War Department:

Maj.-Gen. Dix:

WASHINGTON, June 28-4 P. M.

The following despatch has just been received from Gen. Hunter:

"I have the honor to report that our expedition has been extremely successful, inflicting great injury upon the enemy, and victorious in every engagement. Running short of ammunition, and finding it impossible to collect supplies while in the presence of an enemy believed to be superior to our force in numbers and constantly receiving reenforcements from Richmond and other points, I deemed it best to withdraw, and have succeeded in doing so without serious loss to this point, where we have met with abundant supplies of food. A detailed report of our operations excellent heart and health, and ready, after a few will be forwarded immediately. The command is in days' rest, for service in any direction."

Nothing later than my telegram of this morning has been received from Gen. Grant or Gen. Sherman.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. The operations of the expedition were commented upon unfavorably by two newspapers

seventy prisoners of war, including twenty commissioned officers. My loss in captured will not exceed one hundred and sixty. They were principally from the 5th Michigan cavalry. This regiment gallantly charged down the Gordonsville road, capturing fifteen hundred horses and about eight hundred men; but were finally surrounded and had to give them up. When the enemy broke they hurried between Gen. Custer's command and Col. Gregg's brigade, capturing five caissons of Pennington's battery, three of which were afterwards recaptured, leaving in their hands two caissons.

The contest at Trevilian was reported by Gen. Lee to be a rebel victory.

The retirement of Gen. Hunter to West Virginia, with his army in such condition as to need rest and reorganization, left the Shenandoah valley open to the unresisted occupation of the enemy. At the same time the state of affairs at Petersburg permitted Gen. Lee to detach a force for the invasion of Maryland, and perhaps cause troops to be recalled from Gen. Grant for the defence of Washington. Rumors of the advance of the enemy down the Shenandoah valley preceded their appearance by some days. On Saturday, July 2d, they first reached the region of Martinsburg. On the news of their approach, Gen. Sigel determined to evacuate Martinsburg and a part of the stores were removed, including nearly all the rolling stock of the railroad company, and heavy trains loaded with supplies for Gen. Hunter. A quantity of valuable stores, however, were lost. The enemy first appeared at North Mountain, eight miles north of Martinsburg, which compelled Gen. Sigel to fall back to Harper's Ferry. On Saturday, July 3d, he was attacked at Leetown, and quickly driven from his position, and moved to the strong position of Maryland Heights, which he held. The main line of the enemy's advance was by way of Martinsburg and North Mountain, across the Potomac to Hagerstown. A panic spread over the region, and the inhabitants fled with such property as they could hastily seize and remove. At Fredrick, Md., on the 5th, all the Government stores were loaded on railroad trains, and preparations made for an immediate evacuation of the city. On the same day Hagerstown was occupied and the stores plundered, and a requisition made on the inhabitants for $20,000. This money was paid and the raiding party left. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was held by the enemy as far down as Sandy Hook, and much of the track torn up. The following were the orders of the commanding officer of the enemy to his force:

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION, VALLEY DISTRICT, June 28, 1864. The following directions for the march of this command will hereafter be strictly observed:

:

Before the march begins on each morning the rolls of each company will be called after mounting, and the adjutant of each regiment will keep a list of the names of all deserters.

Before dismounting at camp in the evening the rolls will again be called, and the brigade commanders will report to these headquarters the number of

men absent at each roll call.

The habitual order of the march will be in column

of "fours," but on narrow roads by "twos." The distance between the head of one brigade and the rear of the other will be two hundred yards. When artillery and ambulances accompany the brigades, those assigned to each brigade will follow immedi ately in rear of their brigades. During the march the brigades in rear will regulate their movements by those in front.

Regular halts will be made during the march, and neither officers nor men will leave the column, except at such halts, unless by the written consent of the brigade commander, and such permission will not be granted unless for important reasons.

Brigade, regimental, and company commanders will pass frequently from front to rear of their respective commands, to see that the column is at all times well closed up. Brigades will alternate in the march daily. A rear guard will be placed behind each brigade, and no person, except staff officers or couriers, will be permitted to fall behind such guard.

All the wagons of this division will march together under direction of the division quartermaster. accompany their respective trains. One man, disThe quartermasters of the command will constantly mounted when practicable, will go with each wagon to assist the driver. He will remain with the wagon. No other parties will be permitted with the train, except when a guard shall be necessary. The quartercompany the wagons. No other wagons or conveymasters will be held responsible that no others acances than those allowed from army headquarters will be allowed.

Upon reaching camp, officers and men must remain in their camps, and commanders will establish proper camp guards.

Immediately upon fixing the headquarters of the brigade the commanders will report their locality to division headquarters.

The utmost order and perfect quiet will be preserved upon the march and in camp. The silly prac tice of whooping and hallooing is strictly forbidden. Destruction of the fences and crops of the farmers is positively prohibited, and such outrages will be paid for from the pay of the officers of the command nearest where such depredations may be committed.

Greatest care must be taken of ammunition. Not a cartridge must be fired unnecessarily. An important campaign is commenced, and upon its results depend more than we can estimate.

The Major-General commanding asks and expects from every man of his command a hearty and cheerful compliance with orders, assuring all that they shall reap and enjoy the full fruits of whatever their labors and privations may obtain.

By command of

Maj.-Gen. RANSOM. WALTER K. MARTIN, Asst.-Adjt.-Gen. Brig.-Gen. NED MCCAUSLAND, com'dg brigade. N. FITZHUGH, Asst.-Adjt.-Gen.

On the same day the President issued a call for twelve thousand militia from Pennsylvania, twelve thousand from New York, five thousand from Massachusetts, and the various Governors issued proclamations calling out the troops, and the militia began to assemble.

On Wednesday there was some skirmishing with a few of the enemy's cavalry, between Hagerstown and Frederick. The Federal force from Hagerstown fell back toward Chambersburg. At various points along the Potomac and north there was some skirmishing.

On Thursday, a reconnoitring force sent out by Gen. Wallace from Monocacy, was quickly repulsed by the enemy. Boonsboro' and Middletown were occupied by them, and they advanced within a few miles of Frederick, and threw some shots into the city. Before morn

ing of the 8th they withdrew to another quarter. The country on all sides was scoured for horses, forage, provisions, and money. On the 8th, another party from Harper's Ferry entered Hagerstown from Williamsport, and again plundered the inhabitants and burned some buildings. The enemy still occupied the road to Frederick with their main body behind Catoctin Mountain. In the evening of the same day, Gen. Wallace withdrew with his force from Frederick to Monocacy Junction. At sunrise on the next morning, the 9th, the enemy entered and levied a contribution on the inhabitants. About 9 A.M. they advanced against Gen. Wallace, who occupied a position on the east side of the Monocacy River, with his batteries protecting the railroad and the turnpike. The attack of the enemy was made on his left under Gen. Ricketts, with varying success for some hours, when it was forced to give way. At the same time the right of Gen. Wallace was outflanked by the enemy, who, appearing in the rear, poured in a reverse fire and swept off about six hundred men and officers, including Gen. Tyler. Gen. Wallace now fell back, and the enemy pursued him some miles toward Ellicott's Mills on the Baltimore turnpike. His loss was about twelve hundred men, with six cannon. The command under Gen. Ricketts had been sent forward from Petersburg by Gen. Grant. The force of the enemy consisted of a column which crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and another which had besieged Gen. Sigel for four days in Harper's Ferry.

The disaster to Gen. Wallace created great excitement in Washington and through the Northern States. Washington appeared to be in imminent peril, and reenforcements were hurried forward. The 19th army corps, which had been sent from New Orleans to reenforce Gen. Grant, was at this time entering the Chesapeake Bay. It was at once sent to Washington. One corps of Gen. Grant's army-the 6th, under Gen. Wright—was detached from the lines before Petersburg, and also sent to Washington. Gen. Wallace, in command at Baltimore, was superseded by Gen. Ord. Meantime the enemy, after tearing up some of the railroad from Frederick to Baltimore, sent their main body south of it and detached a cavalry force toward the Northern Central Railroad from Harrisburg, Penn., to Baltimore. This cavalry expedition overran Eastern Maryland. Twenty-five miles of the Northern Central road were destroyed, and on Monday, the 11th, a force appeared on the Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia road, and captured and set on fire the trains at Magnolia station, seventeen miles south of Havre de Grace. In one train Maj.-Gen. Franklin was captured, but afterwards made his escape. Some damage was done to the track, and Gunpowder bridge was partially burned. The cavalry, heavily loaded with plunder, came within six miles of Baltimore, then turning southward they joined the

force near Washington, which had been sent in that direction to guard against surprise. Part of it halted before Fort Stevens, on Seventeenth Street. Toward evening their sharpshooters had become so annoying, and their presence at the Capital so humiliating, that an attempt was made by Gen. Augur to dislodge them. A brigade of veteran infantry was detached along Seventeenth Street road, which encountered them, and a sharp skirmish ensued. The enemy were driven off, leaving about a hundred dead and wounded on the field. The Federal loss was between two and three hundred. While this demonstration was made before Washington, the rest of the enemy's force were moving across the Potomac, and on Wednesday morning the whole force was approaching the river and the invasion was ended.

On the retreat they were cautiously followed by a column from Washington, under Gen. Wright, consisting of the 6th corps and a division of the 19th. He crossed the Potomac below Edward's ferry and moved to Leesburg. At the same time a portion of one train was captured by the cavalry under Gen. Crook, with some of the teamsters and guard, and the rear driven through Snicker's gap after a sharp fight. The enemy, however, held the ferry across the Shenandoah with two guns, and checked the pursuit. On Monday, July 18th, the command of Gen. Wright and the cavalry under Gen. Crook, excepting a body sent to guard Ashby's gap, passed through Snicker's gap to the ferry. The infantry began to cross below the ferry. The cavalry also crossed, and forming a line with the brigade of Col. Wells on the left, and that of Col. Thorburn on the right, hotly engaged the enemy. As the latter were concentrating on the right, Gen. Wright began to cross the 6th corps to meet the enemy's concentration. But they charged the line with violence, and at length turned the right and drove it with some confusion across the ford. Finding the right giving way, Col. Wells withdrew the left, and the troops recrossed the river with a loss of three hundred. The force sent to Ashby's gap drove the enemy through the gap and across the river, but the latter finding their rear attacked, hurried back in force and compelled the command to retire with a loss of two hundred. The enemy now leisurely moved toward Winchester and Strasburg, and the force of Gen. Wright crossed the Shenandoah. They soon halted and recrossed, returning to Leesburg, whence Gen. Crook moved to Harper's Ferry, and Gen. Wright to Washington. On the 19th, the same day on which the enemy were overtaken at Snicker's ferry, Gen. Averill moved from Martinsburg toward Winchester, and encountered a cavalry force near Darksville. On the next morning he pressed toward Winchester, where he met the enemy, and a contest ensued for three hours, during which Gen. Averill captured four guns, several hundred small arms, and about two hundred prisoners. The total loss