Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-14
OFFICIAL.
WAR DEPARTAEET,
WAsHnerOE, Hsrch 16.

1 HAAbIAGIOEJ AAfoa Aos
MyOT-GspsraI Diz:
The following report of Sheridan's ops-
rations has been received BY this Depsrt-
ment.
[signed,l EN-. STANTON
HEADQUARTERS MDDLE MILITARY
DTvmIoN, COLUMBIA, Va, Feb. 10.
Lieutenant General Grant:
GEEERAL:-In my LAST, dated WaYneg-
boro, l gave you brief account of the de-
feat of Early by Clusters division. Tha
same night this division was pushed
across the Blue Ridge and entered Char
louisville at o'clock in the afternoon.
The next day the Mayor and principal
inhabitants came and delivered up the
keys Of the public buildings. I had to re-
main at Charlottesville two days. Nv
time was consumed in bringing over from
Waynesboro our ammunition and pontoo1
trains. 9f
The weather was horrible-rsin inces-
SAINT. The two divisions were during this
time occupied in destroying the two large
iron bridges, one over the Rivians River
and the other over Morse's Greek, near
Charlottesville, and the Railroad for dis
tance Of eight miles in the direction Of
Lynehburg.
On the 9Th Of March sent the lst Di-
vision, General Devin commanding, to
OharlottsVllle, on the james River, with
directions to send out light parties through
the country and destroy all merchandise,
mills, factories and bridges on the Rivanna
River, the parties to join the Division at
Scottsville.
The division then proceeded along the
canal to Duguidsville, fifteen miles from
Cynchburg, destroying every lock, and in.
many places the bank Of the canal At
DuguidsYille We hoped to secure the bridge
to cross the river, as our pontoons were
useless on account of the high water. In
this We were foilsd, aS both this bridge and
the bridge at HsrdwiekViIle were burned
by the enemy upon our approach. Merritt
accompanied this division. The Third Di-
Y ion started 81 the same time from Char
lottesville, and proceeded down the Lynck-
burg railroad TO Amherst Court House
destroying every bridge on the road, and
in many places miles Of road. The bridges
on this road are numerous, and some Of
them 500 feet in length.
We have found q great abundance In.
fact the canal had been the great feeder Of
Richmond. At the Rockash river the
bank Of the canal was cut, and at New Cam
ton, where the dam is ACROSS the James, the
guard-lock was destroyed, and the james
river let into the canal carrying swsy tha
banks and washing out the bottom Of tha
canal. The dam across the Jamea at thiG
point was also partially destroyed.
have no opposition. Everybody il
bewildered by our movements. have
had no news Of any kind since I left. The
latest Richmond papers were of the 4th.
but contained nothing. omittedt men-
tion that the bridges on the railroad from
Swoop's depot on the other side Of Staun-.
ton TO Charlottesville were utterly des-
troyed, also all the bridges on for distance
Of ten miles on the GordonsVile pike.
The weather has been very bad indeed,
raining hard every day with exception OF
four days ince we started. Ny wagons,
have, from the state Of the roads, detained
me. Up to the present time We have cap
tured fourteen pieces Of artillery, eleven at
Wsynesboro and three at Charlottesville.
The party sent back from Wsynesboro
started with six pieces, but they vera
obliged TO destroy two Of the six for want
of animals. The remaining eight pieeeS
were thoroughly destroyed. I have also
captured twelve canal boats laden with sup-
plies. ammunition, ratiOns, medical stores.
SC, &c.
I cannot speak in too high terms of Gem
erals Merritt, Custer and Dsvins, and tha
officers and men of their commands. Thsy
have wsded through mud and water during
this continuous rain, and are all In fna
spirits and health.
Commodore HoIlins, Of the rebsl navy,
was shot near GordonsVille while attempts
ing to make his escape from our advance
in that direction.
(Signed,) P. Il. SHERIDAN,
Major General.