Daily national Republican., 1863-05-13
AYERlLLSLAIE CAVALRY EXPEDITION,
HIS oPERATfONS SUCCESSFUL.

We have received the following senl-oficial
account OF the operations T Gen. Ayerill's
command in connection with the late grand
movement Of Gen. Stoneman's cavalry. Il
shows that Gen. Averill, acting constantly
under orders, was perfectly successful.
The orders given were thSt all except one
brigade Of the cavalry corps should be employed
in turning the eneny's left, and throwing a
force between him and Richmond, isolating
him from his supplies, checking his retreat,
and inAlctlng every possible injury upon him.
At the time this expedition started, Fitzhugh
Lees brigade Of cavalry, 1900 strong, was at
Culpeper Court House, and IL was TO be at
tackled and dispersed. It was also believed
that only small provost guard OF infantry
was at GordonsvillG. II was afterwards dis
covered that Jackson, with a corps Of $4,000
men, was at Gordonsville at the time, but that
afterwards, by forced march, he Joined Lee
In time for the battle Of the Rappahannock,
The primary object Of the cavalry expedition
was to cut the lines of the enemy's communl-
cation; and whilo Stoneman, Gregg, Fitzpatrick,
and Davis were doing this work, Gen. Averlll
was TO keep the enemy's cavalry employed, and
prevent any interference from them. This he
did successfully.
While bivouackd at warenton, an order was
received to go forward. A reconnaissance was
made Of the Rappahannock ford, and 1t was
found impracticable, on account Of the high
water, for g. 400 cavalry, with arms, equipments,
ammunition, forage, and rations. For this
reason the crossing was made at Kelly's Ford.
The force engaged consisted of the brigade Of
Coils. b. +. Davis, Mcintosh, and Sargent, with
Tidball's battery. Gen. Averlll was directed 10
proceed in the direction Of Brandy Station, by
the right-hand road from the ford, and to reach
there II possible that night, and to communi-
cate with General Buford who was 70 take the
left-hand road, and go TO Stevensburg.
The following day he was to proceed 10 Cul-
pepper Court House and drive out Fltzhugh
Lees Cavalry, and destroy the Orange aud Alex
andria Railroad.
The object of this expedition was to keep en-
gagged the cavalry Of the enemy in that direc-
tion, while the rest of Stonoman's Corps de.
stroyed or cut off the bridges and communica.
| tlons between Lees Army and Richmond. Hall
an hour after leaving Kelly's Ford, Gen. Avcrill
engaged the enemy, with cavalry and artillery.
II was then ascertained from desertors that Gen.
Stuart was at Brandy Station, with four brigadCs
of cavalry and fifteen pieces Of artillery. On
| the morning of the 9th Gen. AyeTill was advised
| by dispatch from Gen. Stoneman that the in.
| tended cooperation of the rest of the cavalry
expedition would necessarily be delayed, and
| he was consequently to take care of himself
He was ordered to keep open his communiCa.
tiOns with the infantry support, which was In
the vicinity of Relly's Ford.
Upon arrivngat Brandy Station II was found
| that Stuart had sent two brigados towards Ste.
yensburg, and that two brigades under Fitzhugh
and W. H. F. Lee had gone through Culpeper,
Gen. Avcrill proceeded TO Culpeper, and dis
! persed the rebel force there, capturing their
rear guard. A large amount Of flour, salt
bacon, ETC., was seized at that point, and what
was not destroyed, was distributed among the
people who were on the verge of starvation.
Averlll's command pursued the enemy by
| way of Cedar Mountain towards the Rapidan
The heavy rain had rendered the river unford
able at the station, and the enemy opened with
artillery, and harrassed the cavalry pickels
during the night. The prisoners taken repre-
scented that II was the belief OF tue rebel forces
| that the whole army of the Potomac was ad
vancing In that direction, and thay Jackson
was holding GOrdonsyille with twenty-five
thousand men 10 check Its progress. This in
formation was sent to General Hooker about
noon, April 80.
The following morning Con. Averill received
n dispatch stating that Gen. Stoneman had beer
delayed by high water, and desiring him TO pusl
the enemy as vigorously as possible, and kcGI
him occupied, and drive him from the direction
| of Rapdan station. Gen. Averill had alread,
reached Rapidan station and anticipated these
orders. On the morning Of the lst scouting
parties from both sides were sent mp and dowI
the river.
The defences of the enemy, upon the othel
| side, we found to be strongly and skillfully con
structed, with rife pits which completely com
| manded the ford and the RappahannOck bridge
They had six guns In position, which could
sweep the open space upon this side. A feinl
was made which induced the enemy to burr
the bridge, and the river was crossed by the
ford. The bridge, three miles north of the sta
tiOn, and the telegraphic wires had been de
strOycd by General AvUrl during the night
The crossing was made by Burnctt's ford, anC
the enemy was Obliged TO shift their position
Afterwards the whole force crossed at Raccoou
| ford, with the expectation of Ranking the enemy
and joining General Buford, who was expected
| to be within reaching distance.
On the I'd of May, Gen. AyeTill received al
order from Gen. Hooker saying that he did moi
understand what he was doing at Rapldan Sta
tion, and directing him percmptorily to United
States Ford, and remain there for further or
ders. This order was SO peremtoTy that 1t d
rected him to move towards headquarters even
The next morning Gen, Averill sent party tC
reconnoitre the position of the enemy with tho
intention of throwing his cavalry division upon
his flank. The country was found to he i'm
passable for cavalry. He then proceeded tC
| the United States Ford and reported In person
to Gen. Hooker and exhibited his orders, anC
was directed to make his report and hold hii
command In readiness for work that was to hC
done. At daylight the following morning h,
! received an order dated nowhere, addressed tC
Gen. PleasantOn, directing Gen. Pleasantou Il
take command of Ayerill's division, and order
| Ing Averill to report TO Washington for orders
DISTRICT SUPREME COURT.