The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-03-17
SHERIDAN.
Omcial Report of Sheridan's Re.
cent Operations.
SECRETARY STANTON TO GEN.
DIX.
SHERIDAN.

OFFICIAL BULLETIN.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN,l
March 49, 1865. !
To MAJ. Gen. Dir, Ne,o York:
The following report of Sheridan's opera
tons has been received by this Department:
(Signed) E. NJ STANTON,
Secretary of War.
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIvIsIoNC
COLUMBIA, Va, March 10, 1865. {
Gen. U. s. Grant, city Point:
GENERAL: In my last, dated Waynesboro,
gave you q brief account of the defeat of Early
vision was pushed across the Blue Ridge and
entered Charlottesville at 2P. next day.
The mayor and principal inhabitants came and
delivered up the keys of the public buildings.
had to remain at Charlottesville two DAYS.
Time was consumed in bringing over from
WaynesbOrO our ammunition and pOntoOn
trains. The weather was horrible-the rain
incessant
The two divisions were during this time oc-
cupied in destroying the two large iron bridges
-One over the Ravanna River and the other
over Morris Creek near Charlottesville and
the Railroad for a distance of eight miles in
direction of Lynchburg.
On the 9th l sent the LIST division, General
Devon commanding, to Scottsville, on the
James River, with directions to send out light
parties through the country and destroy all
merchandise, mills, factories and bridges on
the Ravenna River-the parties to join the d.
vision at Scottsvile.
The division then proceeded along the canal
to Dugansville, Is miles from Lynchburg, de-
stroying every lock, and in many places the
bank of the canal.
At Dugansville we hoped to secure the
bridge to cross the river, as our pOntoons were
N Of ha hioh II,
we were foiled, as both this bridge and the
bridge at Harwicksyille were burned by the
enemy upon our approach. Merritt accom-
panied this division.
The Sd division started at the same time from
Charlottesville and proceeded down the Lynch
burg Railroad to Amherst Courthouse, destroy
ing every bridge 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 great abundance in this country for our
men and animals-in fact the canal had been q
great feeder of Richmond
At the Rockfisher River the bank of the
canal was cut. At New Canton. where the
dam is across the guard, the lock was de-
stroyed and the James River let into the canal,
carrying away the hank and washing out the
bottom. The canal dam across the James at
this point was also partially destroyed. l have
had no opposition. Everybody is bewildered
by our movements.
l have had no news of any kind since left.
The latest Richmond papers were of the 4th,
but contain nothing. l omitted to mention
that the bridges on the railroad from Sweeps
depot on the other side of StauntOn to Char
lottesville were utterly destroyed; also bridges
for distance of ten miles on the Gordonsville
railroad.
The weather has been very bad indeed, rain
ing hard every day with the exceptions of four
DAYS since we started. My wagons have, from
the state of the roads, detained me. Up to the
present time we have captured fourteen pieces
of ar.illery-eleven at Waynesboro and three
at Charlottesville.
The party l sent back from Waynesboro
started with six pieces, but they were obliged
to destroy two of the six for want of animals.
The remainder of the pieces were thoroughly
destroyer. Have also captured twelve canal
boats laden with supplies, ammunition, ra-
tons, medical stores, etc.
cannot speak in too high terms of Generals
Merritt, Gustav and Devens, and the officers
and men of their commands. They have wad-
ed through mud and water during this contin-
nous rain and are all in fine spirits and health.
Commodore Hollins, of the rebel navy, was
shot near Goldonsville while attempting to
make his escape from OuI advance in that d.
rection. P. II. SHERIDAN.
New YORK, March 13.-The Times Shenan-
doah correspondent says among the papers
found in Earlys baggage was a letter from
jeff. Davis in reply to petition of the soldiers
to have the war brought to a close as they had
fought four years and accomplished nothing.
Davis reply is characteristic. He simply ex.
presses the hope that it does not represent the
feeling of a majority of his men.