The New York herald., 1865-03-14

Tine ENEMY TAKEN uMAWARES.
Waynesboro, Staunton, Charlottesville,
Scottsville, New Canton, Duguids-
vile, HardwicksvilIe and AM
hcrst Court House Occupied.
Fourteen Pieces Of Artillery and
Twelve Canal Boats Laden
with Supplies Captured.
Immense Destruction Of Railroads,
Bridges, Canals, Mills, SC.
Commander HoIlins, Of the Rebel
Navy, Shot,
&c., &C.. &c.
Secretary stanton to Major General DIE.
wAansGros March lS-l0AM.
Major General DIX. New York.
The following report Of General sheridan's operations
has been received by this department.
EDWIN N STANTON,
Secretary Of Wer.
General Sheridnn's Report.
CrrY PoIsr, Va March l2-7 p M -
Hon. EDWIN n. STANTON, Secretary OF War;
The following despatch is just received:
U. s. GRANT, Lieutenant General
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIvsos,l
COLUMBIA, Va, March 10, 1865
Lieutenant General U. s GRANT, commanding armies
United states:-
GEasRAL-In my last despatch, dated Waynesboro,
gave you brief OF the defeat OF Early by Gus
ter's division
The same night this division pushed across the
Blue Ridge and entered Charlottesville NJ the
next day The Mayor OF the city and The principal In
hsbants and delivered up the keys Of the pub
lie buildings
had TO remain at Charlottesville days This time
was consumed in bringing from Waynosboro our
ammunition and pontoon trains.
The weather was horrible beyond description and the
rain incessant.
The two divisions during this time occupied In
destroying the two large iron brdgcs-onc the Ri
wanna river tho other Morsc's creek, Char
Iottesvileand the railroad for distance Of eight miles
in the direction OF Lynchburg.
On the 9Th OF March tho Arst division, General
Dcvn commanding, 70 Scottsvllc, on the James
river, with directions 70 send oit light parties
through the country and destroy all merchandise,
mills factories bridges, &c, the Rvanna river, tho
parties join the division scotsvc The division
then proceeded along the canal to Duguidsvlle, dcen
miles from Lynchburg. destroying every lock- and in
many places the bank Of the canal At Duguldsyille
hoped the bridge to lot the nvor
pontoons were useless.
On account OF the high water In this, however wc
foled both this bridge and the bridge at Hard
wckWlle burned by the enemy upon approach.
Merritt accompanied this division
The Third division started At the time from Char
lostesvie, and proceeded down tAs Lynchburg Railroad
70 fAmheast Court House. destroying every bridge
the road, and In many places miles Of the road.
The bridges this road and
some Of them FIVE huDdrcdTeet in length wc have
found great abundance this country for and
anmas In fact the canal had been tho feeder Of
Richmond At the Rockhsh river the bank of the canal
out and at New Canton whore the dam the
James the guard lock destroyed and the James
river let into the canal carrying away the banks and
washing out the bottom OF the canal.
The dam the James at this point was also par
TALLY destroyed
have had opposition. Everybody Is bewildcred
by our movements have had news OF amy kind
since left
The latest Richmond paper Of tho 4th, but
| tanned nothing.
| omitted monitor that the bridges the railroad
from Swoops depot the other side Of Stanton, to
Charlottesville utterly destroyed also all bridges
for distance OF ten miles the Gordonsv III lalroad.
The weather has been very bad indeed raining hard
every day, with The exception or four days. since
started Ny wagons have, from the state the roads,
| detained me-
Up TO tho present tmo have captured fourteen
pieces OF artilleyeeven at wayncsboro and three ai
Charlottesville
The party that sent back from Wayncsboro started
with pieces, but they obliged TO destroy two OF
tho for want OF animals The remaining eight pieces
were thoroughly destroyed.
We have captured to the present time twelve canal
boats laden with supplies ammunition, ratour medical
stores, &c
cannot speak in too high terms OF Generals Merritt,
Custer and Devn and the officers and OF tbor
mands. They have waded through mud and water
during raln and all in nnc spirits and
health.
Commodore Hons, Of the rebel navy was shot near
Gordonsviio while attempting 10 make hts escape from
our advance In that direction.
Very respectfully, your obedicnt servant,
r H. SHERIDAN,
Major General COMMANDING