The New York herald., 1863-08-13
The Cavalry Fight at Falling
Waters.
OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM GEN. MEADE
Correction Of the Rebel General Ices Ac-
count Of the Affair.
GIN. KILPAYRNK's REPORT OF THE FIGHT,
ke.s &s.s kss
The Fight at Falling Waters.
GENERAL AEADE's OFFICIAL DEsPArcH TO GENERAL
HALLECK.


HEADQUARTERS THE ARMY OF THE PoToxAc,)
August Q, 1868.
NAios General nArLEcK Generalin Chief, Washington
ny attention has been called to what purports be
sacai despatch Of General r. E. Lee commanding the
Confederate army 70 General s. Cooper Adutant and In
speceor General denying the accuracy Of telegram TO
you Of July H. announcing the result of the cavalry affair
q Falling Waters.
have delayed taking any notice OF General Lees
port until the return Of Brigader General Fitzpatrick,
absent on leave, who commanded the cavalry on the
occasion referred and whose report from the field
my telegram based. enclose the oacia report
u BrigsAer Fitzpatrick, made after his attention
bad been called TO General Lees report. You win see
hat he reiferates and confirms all that NV despatch
avsred and proves most concusvey that General Lee
Aas deceived by his subordnates would never
n tAc face OF tho facts alleged have made the
toas his report contains.
Il appears that in in stating that the body
q General Petgrew left IN hands, although
did not communicate that fact until officer the
Asd reported 70 he had seen the BODY. 1t is now
asoertained from tho Richmond papers that General
1ettigrew, though mortaly wounded In the affair
taken 70 Winchester, where he subsequently died.
The three battle flags captured this OCCASION and sent
eWashngton belonged to the Fortcth Forty and
yhtynfh Virginia regiments Of infantry. General Leo
viii surely acknowledge these In he hands
q ssrasgcrs "asleep in barns" Respectfully, yours
GEORGE G. MEADE,
Major General Commanding
ennRAL xnPArRIcK's REPORT OF THE FIGHT.
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD DIVISION CAvAIRY CoRrs,
WARRENroN JUNCTION, Va, august Z, 1858. !
- Cssonsl A. J. AuAxDER Chief Of stan Of Cavalry
Corps
CoL0N-In compliance with : letter just received
from the headquarters Of the Cavalry corps OF the Army
q the Potomac directing to give the facts connected
VIA my hight u Falling Waters, have the honor
shat ~ three O'Clock the morning Of the 14th ut
harmed that the cnemys pickets retiring my
6Fsot Having been previously ordered TO attack At
ssvsn A. NJ, ready TO At At
daylight I had reached tho crest Of hills occu.
yeod by the enemy an hour before, and at
Nv minutes before six General Custer drove the
rsar guard OF the enemy into the river at wAamsport
Learning from citizens that portion Of the enemy had
Fssreatsd In the direcson Of Falling Waters at
Hsved rapidly for that point and up with the
guard q the enemy halfpast seven A. NJ At point
two miles distant from Failing Waters. We pressed
driving them before u.s. capturing many prisoners and
ooe gun. When within and a har miles Of Falling
waters the enemy found in large force drawn up
1ns Of battle the Of h commanding tho road
- which ! was advancing. His left was protect
ID by earthworks, and his right extended 70 the
woods far on my left Tho enemy was, when nrst
sssn, In two lines Of battle with arms stacked.
Within less than thousand yards OF this largo force
second piece Of artillery with Its support consisting Of
sAsantry captured while attempting to get into posi-
sten Tho gun was taken TO the rear.
portion OF the Sixth Michigan cavalry. seeing only
chat portion OF the enemy behind the earhworks charged
mis- charge led by MAJOR Weber the most gallant
sver made Al he passed up the HILL received the
Ars from the whole line, and the next moment rode
through over the earthwoks passed 70 the right
sabrnr rebels along the entire line and returned with
~ OF thirty killed. wounded missing including the
gallant Major Weber, killed.
directed General Custer TO send forward regiment
- skrmshers They repused before support could
- sen. them and driven back closely followed by the
rebels until checked by the First Michigan and squad
ron or the Eighth New York.
The Second brigade having como up, II was quickly
thrown INTO position, and after fight Of two hours and
thirty minutes routed the enemy at all points and drove
him towards the river.
when within short distance o the bridge General
Buford's command came up and took the advance.
We lost twenty nine killed, thir.y-six wounded and
forty missing. We found upon the Geld hundred and
twenty Ave dead rebcs and brought away upwards Of
ATTY wounded.
A large number Of the enemy's wounded we're left
upon the field in charge Of their surgeons.
we captured two guns ihrce battle Gags and upwards
q fifteen hundred prisoners
To General Custer ard his brigade Lieutenant penning
tou battery, and squairon'of hs Eighth Now
York cavalry of General Buiords command, all praise "a
Aos Very respectfully, your obcdicni servant,
j. FITZPATRICK,
Brigader General Of Volunteers oommandng division.