Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-20
Official Account of Shcridan,s
Raid.
WAR DEPARTMENT, J
WASHINGTON, June l8--ll A. M(

| WAX DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON, June l8--ll A. Mi
To Major General Dir: r1a
Dispatches from Gen. Sheridan have lust
been received. Hereports victory over
the enemy at Trcvelain Station, on the Viz
GINA Central railroad, Il few miles south OF
oordonsvilIP, where Gen. Lee, II few days
since, reported rebel victory. The oili-
cial report is as follows:
have the honor to report to you the ar
rival OF my command ut this point, and
also to report its operations since leaving
| Newcastle ferry. / crossed the Pamunky
river on the 9TH inst marching via Ay-
| letts, and encamped on Herring creek. On
the morning of the 9Th resumed the march
via Polecat Station and encamped three
miles west of the station. On the 9th
marched through Childsburg and New
Market, encamping on Erie creek, near
Young's bridge
On the 10th marched via Andrews tay-
ern and Crinan's store, crossing both
branches Of the North Anna and encamped
at Buckchilds, about three miles east Of
'rrevelain's station. My intention was to
break the railroad at this station, march
through Mechanicsville, cut the Gordons-
vile and Charlottesville railroad near Lind
says house, and then to march on Char
louisville! But on our arrival at Buck
cllild's, found the enemy's cavalry in nv
immediate front. On the morning of thr
llth, Gen. Torbitt, with his division, al d
Col. Gregg, of Gen. Gregg's division, at
tackled the enemy. After an obstinate con-
test they drove him from successive lines of
6reastworks through an almost impossible
forest back on Trevelain station.
In the meantime Gen. Custar was order
ell with his brigade to proceed by n country
CO nc 10 ,nl. 4, ,No T.. A.
OF the enemy's cavalry. On his arrival ut
this point, the enemy broke into a complete
route, leaving his dead and nearly all of his
wounded in our hands; also twenty officers
five hundred men and three hundred horses.
These operations occupied the whole of the
day. AT night / encamped at Trevelain's
Station, and on the morning of the 18th
inst. commenced destroying the railroad
from this point to Lorain G. III.
This was thoroughly DONE the ties burn.
ed and the rails rendered unservicable. The
destruction of the railroad occupied until 3
o'clock of this day, when / directed Gen.
Iorbit to advance with his division, and
Gen. Davis brigade of Gen. Gregg's divis-
ion, in the direction Of Gordonsville, and
attack the enemy, who had concentrated
and been reinforced by infantry during the
night, and had also constructed rifle pits at
point about five miles from Gordonsville.
The advance was made, but as the enemy's
position was found too strong to assault, no
general attack was made. On the extreme
right OF OAR lines, a portion of the reserve
brigade carried the enemy's works twice,
and was twice driven therefrom by infantry.
Night closed the contest. | found on cX-
animation of the command that there was
not suf1iciency of ammunition left to con-
tlnue the engagement.
The next day trains of cars also came
down to where we were engaged with he
enemy. The reports of prisoners and citi-
zens were. that Pickett's old division was
coming to prevent the taking of Gordons-
VILE. Therefore during the night and next
withdrew my command over the
North Anna, via Carpenters ford, near
Miners Bridge. In addition, the animals
were, for the entire days in which we were
without forage; the surrounding
country afforded nothing but grazing of a
very inferior quality, and generally at such
points as were inaccessible to us. The cav
airy engagement of the 18th was by far the
most brilliant one of the present campaign.
The enemy's loss was very heavy. They
lost the following officers in killed and
wounded: Col. McAllister, commanding a
regiment killed; Brig. Gen. Roster, COM
brigade, wounded I; and Colonel
CuSIeT, COMMANDING regiment, wounded.
My loss in killed and wounded will be about
575. Of this number 400 are wounded. |
brought off in my ambulances 377, all that
could be transported. The remainder were,
with number of rebel wounded that fell
into my hands, left behind. Surgeons and
attendants were detailed and remained in
charge of them. Icaptured and have now
with me $40 rebel soldiers, including twen-
" commissioned officers.
Our loss in captured will not exceed 100 J
they were principally from the 9Th Mich 1
gan cavalry, This regiment calamity !
charged down the Gordonsville road, cap
uring 1,500 horses and about 800 men, but
we're finally surrounded and had to give
hem up. When the enemy broke they I
hurried between Gen. Custar's command |
md COL Gregg's brigade, capturing five [
aissons of Pcnnington's battery, three, of
which were Afterwards recaptured. leaving
n their hands two caissons. A more de-
allied report will be made hereafter
(Signed) +. M. STANTON,
.,.....-e Secretary of War.