New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-14
THE MAIN FEEDER" OF RICHMOND
BADLY DAMAGED.
Our Troops Within Is Miles
OF Lynchburg.
THE SHOOTING OF COMMODORE HoLlIAs.
The Rebels Greatly Bewilderea

Wan DEPARTMENT.


WAR DEPARTMENT
WARRINGTON, D. c., March Is, ls65-l0sn.}
MaiOr-Gen. Dix The following report of Gen.
Sherdans operations has been received by this depart
msnt. tEDwN N. STANTON, Sec. OfWr
CITY PonT, Va, March IL, le65-7p M.
Hon. EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Seeresry Of Har: The fol.
U. s. GRANT Lieut.. Gen.
HpoRs. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION
COLUMBIA, Va. Friday. March 10, 1865.
Lieut.. Gen. Z. S. GRANT, Commanding a mies United
States.
GENERAL: In my last dispatch, dated Waynes-
borough gave you brief account Of tic defeat Of
Early by Clusters Division. Tie same mig this d.
vision was pushed across the Blue Ridge al entered
Charlottesville at D. m. the next day. The Mayor Of
the city and the principal inhabitants came CT and de-
Ilivered up the keys Of the public buildings.
I had TO remain at Chariot csville two days. The
time was consumed in bringing over from waynes
borough our ammunition and Pontoon trains The
weather was horrible beyond description and the rain
incessant The two divisions were, during this time
occupied in destroying the twoarge iron bridges one
over tie Riyanna River. the other Moses Greek
near Charlottesville and the railroad for distance Of
eight miles, in tie direction of Lynchburg. On the
9th Of March 1 sent the First Division, Gen.
Devin commanding to Scottsville, the james River
with instructions to send out light parties through the
country and destroy all merchandise. mills factories
bridges &c. on the Rivanns River the parties to join
the division at Scottsvle. The division then PRO
ceeded along the canal to Duguidsville IS miles from
Lynchburg destroying every lock- and in many places
the bank OF the canal. At DuglidTille we hoped to
secure the bridge to let the river 90 our pom
toous were useless on account Of the high water.
In this however We were foiled, as both this bridge
and the bridge at Hardwicksvile were burned BY the
enemy upon our approach. Merritt accompanied this
Division The Third Division started at the same time
from Charlottesville and proceeded down the Lynch
burg Railroad to Amherst Court House, destroying
every bridge ON e rad and In many places miles Of
the road The bridges this road are numerous, sno
some Of them Eve hundred feet in length
We have found great abundance in this country for
cur men and animals In fact the canal had been the
great feeder Of Richmond At the Rockfsh river the
hank OF the caral was cut and at New Canton, where
the dam il across tire James the guard-lock was de-
sroyed and the james river let into the canal carrying
away the banks and washing out tie bottom Of the
canal
Tie dam across tie James OF this point also par
TALLY destroyed.
I have had no opposition. Everybody is bewidered
by our movements. have had no news Of any kind
since left.
The latest Richmond paper was Of the 4th but con-
tanned nothing.
omitted to mention that the bridges on the railroad
from Swoops Depot the other side Of Stanton 10
Charlottesville utterly destroyed also all bridges
for distance Of 10 miles the Gordonsve Railroad
The weather has been very bad indeed, raining hard
every day with the exception Of four days since we
started Ny wagons have from the state Of the roads
detained me.
Up to the present time We have captured fourteen
pieces Of artillery eleven at Waynesborough and three
at Charlottesville.
The party that sent back from wayneseoroueh start
ed with six pieces but they obliged to destroy two
Of the six for want Of animals The remaining eight
pieces were thoroughly destroyed.
We have captured up to the present time twelve ca
nal boats laden with supplies, ammunition rations.
needed stores. etc.
cannot speak in too high terms Of Generals Merritt,
Custer and Deyins and the officers and men Of their
commands. They have waded through mud and water
during this continuous rain. and are all in fine spirits
and health.
Commodore Hollins Of the Rebel navy was shot near
Gordonsyile while attempting to make his escape from
our advance In that direction.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
.....,....... p. H. SHERIDAN, Major-Gen. Cong.