Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-11
WooDsTocK, Va, Oct. Z, 0 P. NJ.

Lieut. General U. s. Grant,
have the honor to report my command
at this point tonight. commenced NOV
ing back from Port Republic, Mt. Craw-
ford, Bridgwater and Harrisonburg yester-
day morning. The grain and forage i'm ad-
vance of these points had previously been
destroyed. In moving back to this point
the whole country from Blue Ridge to the
North Mountain has been made untenable
for rebel army. have destroyed over
1000 barns filled with wheat and hay, and
farming implements; over 20 mills filled
with flour and wheat; have driven in
front of the army over four herd of stock,
and killed and issuedto the troops, not less
than 10000 sheep. This destruction en-
braces the Luray Valley and Little Fort
Valley, as well as the main valley. A large
number of horses have been obtained, a
proper estimate of which 1 cannot now
make.
Lieut.. Jno. r. Meigs, my engineer officer,
was murdered beyond Harrisonburg near
Dayton. For this atrocious act all the
houses within an area of miles were burn
ed. Since | came into the Valley from
Harper's Ferry, every train, every small
party and every straggler, has been bush
whacked by the people, many of whom
have protection papers from commanders
who have been hitherto in that valley.
The people here are getting sick OF the
war. Hitherto they have had no reason to
complain, because they have been living in
great abundance. .4..
have not been followed by the enemy to
this point, with the exception Of small
force of rebel cavalry that showed them
selves some distance behind my rear guard
to-day. ....r
A party of one hundred of the Sth Ohio
cavalry, which l. had stationed at the bridge
over the north Shenandoah. near Mt. Jack
son, was attacked by McNeal with seven
teen men, while they were asleep, and the
whole party dispersed or captured. think
they will all turn up. learn that fifty-siX
of them had reached Winchester. McNeal
was. mortally wounded and fell into our
hands. This was fortunate, as he was the
most daring and dangerous of all the BUSH
whackers III this section of country.
[Signedl p. I'll. SHERIDAN,
tl-E Major General.
Gen. Burbridge makes the following re-
port of his operations:
CArTLETTsBuRG, Ky, Oct. 8, 10 A. NJ.
Hon. E. NJ Stanton: e.i go"
Forcing the enemy from Clinch Noun
tain and Laurel Gap, after heavy skirmish-
ing, we met the enemy three miles and
half from Saltville, OH the morning of the
I'd, and drove him to his works around the
salt works, where he was stronglyIentrench-
ed on bluff in heavy force, under Echols,
Williams, Vaughan, and, it Is said, Breck-
inridge. We at once attacked him and
drove him from his works on our left and
center, and held him in check on the right,
and finally, in spite of artillery and supe-
rior numbers, whipped him at every point
and forced him back to his own works. In
the evening our ammunition gave out, and
holding the position taken until night,
withdrew the command in excellent order
and spirits. The occupation of the works
themselves was only prevented by the fail
ure of our ammunition.
From prisoners learn that the enemy's
force was between 5000 and 5000, and that
Breckenridge was present with 1000 from
Lynchburg. My force amounted to 1000
engaged. 1t is certain his force greatly
outnumbered ours. cfl s-ir'-tcW
A detachment sent to Pound Gap forced
Ifs way through and drove Prentice, with
superior force, from his works at Gladville,
capturing several prisoners, a number of
small arms and one piece of artillery. Our
loss in all is about $50, and tnat of the enc
1 will report more fully by mail in the
morning. a6sl5 ,s.sg.
On the Sd / received orders from General
Sherman to return.
-, Sc. BuRBRIDGE,
s -5s, = ~ sei Major Gen1.
The telegraph line between Fort Monroe
and City Point was broken by big storm,
and is not yet repaired. The latest military.
intelligence from there is the following
telegram from Major General Butler: