The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-28


inst Il consisted Of the lst aad ID Cavalry
Divisions under the respective commands Of
Brigadiar- Generals Devin and Powell, the whole
under command Of Major-G General Torbert, Chief
Of the Cavalry corps. The brigade commanders
were Generals Gibbs and Tibbetts, and Coliuels
Caphart Kellogg, and Stagg. General Merritt,
the commandant Of the lst Division, was detained
in camp on account Of illness.
PREPARATION OF THE TROOPS.
For several days previous to the departure Of
the expedition, preparations for the full equip
mcnt of the troops were quietly proceeded with,
so as not 20 excite the cunosity of the troops or
Indirectly apprise the enemy of the movement.
Indeed, so secretly was the affair conducted that
many of the officers who aCCOmp lni6d IL knew
nothing of It's extent until few hours before
marching orders were received. The troops were
furnished with six days ratiOns, and took
one days forage for their horses. The expe-
dilon had no artillery, and the wagon transpor-
tation was confined to hospital, ambulance, and
ammunition wagons.
FRONT ROYAL REACHED,
At Front Royal the inhabitants gave our troops
cool reception, if sour looks long faces or
pousing lips would convey that Impression. The
town itself presented a diagidltsd appearance,
all business being suspended by he operations
Of war.
rHB MARCH RBsUMED-CoLD WEATHER
On the second day, the 10Th inst, the reyeille
was sounded Two hours before daylight. The
men got breakfast the horses were fed, and
every thing got ready to march at daylight.
During the night previous, a heavy Northwest
gale arose, and blew with great fury. This was
attended with heavy frost, which made the troops
feel anything but comfortable. A. daylight
the march commenced, General Tu. bert's brigade,
Of PowelPs Division in the advance. On account
Of the cold weather General rOrOtrt ordered the
troops 10 ride two miles aud walk one and 10 do
this alternately until the sun had warmed the
atmosphere.
RUMORs REGARDING THE REBELS.
On the march we learned that LDmax's cavalry
division had left Little Washing on "A few days
previous, and proceeded towards Richmond, and
that Rosser's Rebel cavalry division had, about
the same time proceeded from his encampment
east of the Is ne Ridge, and was proceeding via
the Shenandoah Valley, to reinforce General
Breckenridge, who was then confronting Gene
rails Burbridge and Stoneman, on the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad, in the vicinity of Salt
vile. Some of the inhabitants said all the Rebel
cavalry in the valley and in Eastern Virginia
had orders 10 proceed TO Richmond, to replaces
General Wade Hampton's CaYary, which h al
been sent to Georgia TO intercep. General Sher-
man.
CAPTIVE.
On the march one OF our scouts captured Cap
tain CagnOr, of the s0.h Virginii Infantry. lie
said he was wounded at tbs D4ue of OpeIuau
and had just recovered, and was on his way 10
rCjOn his regiment which was then 10 the vicinity
OF StauntOn. He was wounded on splendid
sorrCl horse, and was dressed ia a new winter suit
Of grey clothes. He vas handed over to the tea
der mercies OF the provost guatl who nc once
proceeded 20 disrO6e him of his tine clothes, and
gave him others less snowy and comfortable. His
horse became the properly Of Uncle sam, aud
WIS turned over to one of the troopers, whose
animal was broken down.
CAPTURE OF A HERD OF CATTLE.
Between Flint Hill and Lit le Washington
information was obtained that the Rebel army
ENN LU.l Ia.ua u.uH.
beef cattle in the county of RdgpahannDck, and
driving II TO Richmond for tue use of the army
there; and Furthermore, the night previous a
herd of one hundred head had Deen kept there
anu were then proceeding 10 heir destination,
and were only few miles In nd ance of u.s. Ou
this information General Powell gave orders 20
General Tibbeus to send forward squadron OF
troops TO oveTtake aud capture the cattle az all
hazard sand If possible t. capture the party guard
ing them.
Captain Fanon, of the Dist New York, was
placed in charge Of tue deta5n nent, and in five
minutes was of ON brisk trJs 70 comply with
his O der. He was soon ont of 81 ght of the maiu
coumn Alter travelling seyerG niles, he learned
thar the herd had been driven 70 the woods, as
those guarding them had byyn lpprised of our
approach. He soon found OUT le hiding place
drove the guards away, and IN few hours after
w9rd, joined the malu column "lJh his booty Ia
charge.
MORE REBELS CArru ED.
At Sperryylle we captured se raj Rebels be-
longing to the 9Th Virginia Cav ~. They were
caught with arms IN their htaa and only sur.
rendered after being oyerpoWo..l One of them
,tued that ROsser', and luy IDEAS cavalry ha
been consolidated and placed Under tbs COM
mand OF the former. lis destin lion has already
been referred %.
MOVEMENTS or THE EyEArY.
Before proceeding on this u rch, reliable in
formation was received OF the movements OF the
elemy. JacksOns Brigade ls reported at
Madison Court House, and NJ sCausand's Brit
gade at CTeighsylle, Ouly few niles in advance,
ana the Rebels whom are troops pursued the
night previous was his outer pi let post Gsne-
RAJ Iurbert, under these circ3m tauces, ha5tened
forward the cOlumni bur, as afOre stated, our
progress was necessarily slow.
On reaching CreighsYe we came upon the
camp which McC1us.And had treated from I'm
the morning. The camp fir, ere still burning,
aud hay ana cCrp which had been fed 10 MS
horses was lay Ing on the grOuui. From the ap-
ptarance Of the camp there W. no doubt he lett
in hurry. At CreghsyIlIe he column WAS
halted for a few moments TO rest the men and
horses. General POWelPs Division was ordered 10
encamp for the night; but General Dsvins Div-
sion was ordered TO proceed to Madison Court
House, which was six miles distant. Colonel
Saggs Michigan Brigade had the advance.
REBEL PIcKErs ENCOUNTERED.
When within mile of their destination for the
night they met the Rebel pickets, when desultory
skrmishng commenced, our troops driving the
enemy back upon their main column in the
bhuAlD7 VI luo tONus ne lkbUblb were soon IN
the saddle, and made the best defense they could
against our troops but Colonel Stagg advanced
his column at charge on gallop through tho
town, driving the Rebels in retreat, killing and
wounding thirteen Of them, including a major
and a captain.
The former was mortally wounded, and died
the next morning. Only two or three OF our men
were wounded. From Creighsyile the Rebel
General McCausand and his troops retreated TO
Stannardsyille, where he left all hls broken-down
horses aud sick men, and put his army in order
for lighting or retreating, as circumstances might
require.
APPEARANCE or MADISON COURT HOUSE.
The fourth days march was led by Powells
Division. The day was clear aud cold and the
roads very slippery. At Madison Court House
the appearance of things indicated that the bust
ness men of the town had left in = hurry, and
took such personal effects as they could transport
away with them. The postmaster retreated with
portion Of the letters u his charge, bat left
some 70 be seized by our troops. Some OF these
were letters of affection and love, many OF them
written in rather bad ohlrograpby. These letters
went the rounds Of the column, and afforded a
fund OF amusement TO the men.
AN ENGAGEMENT.
From Madison Court House the army pro-
ceeded on the pike towards Liberty Mills. On