Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-14
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, TUESDAY MORNING,

OPERATIONS IN THE SHEN-
ANDOAH
OFFICIAL REPORT OF
SHERIDAN.
FROM SHERMANS ARMY.
a Brush with Hampton.
Later from the Southwest
GOO alrT7 - 7F''---
1c.. &c. &c. 4e.. &c.
OFFICIAL war Bulletin.
War DEPARTMENT
WAsHISGToS, March 18Th. !
To Maj. Gen. J. A. Dix:
The following report of Sheridans operation:
has been received by this department.
(Signed) Z N. STANTON.
Secretary OF War.
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIV :,
COLUMBIA, w. March 10
To Lieut. Cen Grant:
General-ln my last dated Wsynesboro,
gave you brief account cf the defea; OF Early
by Custar's division
The same night this division WAS pushed scros:
the Blue Ridge and entered Charlottesville =.
m the next day. The mayor and principal in
habtan;s came and delivered up the keys OF 'hf
public buildings.
had 70 remain 1t Charlottesville two days
The time wses consumed in bringing over from
Waynesoor0 our ammuntion and pontoOn trains
The weather was horrible aud rain was incess
ant, and the divisions. during this time. were
occupied in destroying two large iron bridges
one over the Anna river and the other over
Morse's Creek, near Charlottesville, and the rail
road for distance Of eight miles in the drec
tiou OF Lynchburg
On the 9Th instant sent It's ffsr division
Gen. Diven commanding, 10 Scottsvlile, on the
james river, with directions "a send out ligh,
parties through the country aud DESTROY al mer-
chandise. mills. factories, and bridges on tho Ri
wanna riTer. the parties to join Di,en At SCOTS
vile The division lhen proceeded along ihc
canal - Dagiutisvile. Is miles from Lynchorrg,
destroying every lock, and, in many instances
the bank OF the canal.
st Dugiudsyle We hoped TO secure the blidge
TO cross The river, as our pontoons were useless
Oh account ot the high water. In this We were
foilc5, both this bridge and the bridge al Her.
drioksyil.e we're burned oy the enemy OF orr ap
Pro4ch
Merritt accompanied this division
The tbrd division started at the same tmc
from Charlottesville and proceeded down tho
LYnchburg rGilrOsd % Amherst G. H., destroy
ing every bridge OF TIC road. sud II many places
miles miles Of the road
The bridges on this road are numerous. add
some OF them 500 feet in length
We have found great abundance in this coun
try tor uDen and aniulsls-in fact the canal
had been the great feeder OF Richmond
AT the Rockfsh river the bank of the canal
was cut, and near Canton where the dam is
across the James :he guard lock vas destroyed
and tbe James rive let into the canal, carrying
away the hanks and Washing ont the bottom OF
the canal
The dam across the James at this point vas
also partially destroyed / have had 10 opposi
ton, and everybody is beEdered at our more
ments
have had 10 news OF any kind since le(t
The latest Richmond papers were Of the 4 h,
but contained nothing and omitted to mention
that the bridge on the railroad from Swoop's
vile were utterly destroyed.
also eli bridges for a distance of ten mile.
on Csordonsvilie road
The weather has been very bad indeed rain
ing hard every day. with the exception of -four
days. since started. My wagons owing TO
the state OF the roads, have detained me
TIP to the present time We have captured IA
pieces Of artillery IL at Waynesboro and st
Charlottesville
The party that sent back from Waynesboro
started with 6 pieces, but they obliged to
destroy , Of them for waat Of animals.
| have captured l2 canal boats lsdened with
supplies ammunition. rstioRs, medical stores
&c &c.
| cannot speak in too high terms of Generals
Merit, Custar' division, and the officers ami men
OF their commands They have wsded through
mud and water during The continuous rains. but
all are in 6ne spirits srd health.
Commodore Holiips, of the rebel navy, was
shot near GorionsYile while attempting to make
his escape from eur advance in that direction.
(Sguea, y II. SHERIDAN,
Major General