The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-14
GEN. SHERIDAN.
War Department Bulletin.
Complete Report Of the Raid.
Destruction of Bridges, Railroad
Track, Canals, &c.-Capture Of Ar

tillery. '.tHt i' E
Press Dispatch
WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, I
. March 18th
To MAJOR General Die:
The following report of Sheridan's
operations has been received by this De-
partment:
Signed f. NJ. STANTON.
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY
DIVISION, COLUMBIA, Va, Mar 10. !
Lieatendnt General Grant:
GENERAL:-In nv last, dated Waynes-
boro, | gave you brief account OF
the defeat of Early by Clusters division.
The same night this division was pushed
across the Blue Ridge and entered Char
louisville at 9 o'clock p NJ. the 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 con-
sumed in bringing over from Waynes-
bOro our ammunition and pontoon trains.
The weather was horrible. The rain was
ineessant. The two divisions were dur
ing this time occupied in destroying the
two large iron bridges, one over the Ri
wanna river and the other over Morse's
creek, near Charlottesville, and the rail
road for distance of eight miles in the
direction of Lynchburg.
On the 9th of March sent the first
division, Gen. Devin commanding, to
Scottsville, on the James river, with
directions to send ont light parties
through the country and destroy mer-
chandise, mills, factories and bridges on
the Rivanna, the parties to join the di-
vision at Scottsville The division then
proceeded along the canal to Dugands-
Vile fifteen miles from Lynchburg, de-
stroying every lock and in many places
the bank of the canal AT Dugands-
vile we hoped to secure the bridge to
cross the river, as our pontoons were
useless on account of the hight of the
water. In this we were foiled, as both
this bridge and the bridge at Hardons-
vile were burned by the enemy upon our
approach Merritt accompanied this
division.
The third division started at the same
time for Charlottesville and proceeded
down the Lynchburg railroad to Am
herst c. r., destroying every bridge on
the road, and in many places, miles OF
the road. The bridges on this road are
numerous, and some of them 500 feet in
length.
We have founda great abundance i'll
this country for men and animals. In
fact the canal had been the great feeder
of Richmond.
At the Rock Fish river the bank Ofthe
canal was cut, and at New Canton,
l.. hn To
great lock was destroyed and the James
river let into the canal carrying away
and washing ont the bottom of the canal.
The dam across the James at this point
was also partially destroyed.
have had no opposition. Everybody
is bewildered by our movements. | have
had no news of any kind since l left,
The latest Richmond papers were OF the
4th, but contained nothing.
omitted to mention that the bridges
on the railroad from Stroop's depot, on
the other side of Staunton, to Charlottes
Vile we're utterly destroyed; also all
the bridges for distance of ten miles on
the Gordonsville railroad.
The weather has been very bad in
deed, raining hard every day, with the
exception of four days, since we started.
My wagons were from the state of the
roads delayed much.
Up to the present time I've have cap
tured fourteen pieces of artillery, eleven
at Waynesboro and three at Charlottes-
vile. The party that J sent back from
Waynesboro started with six pieces, but
they were obliged to destroy two of the
six for want of animals. The remaining
eight pieces were thoroughly destroyed.
We have also captured twelve canal
boats, laden with supplies ammunition,
rations, stores, &c.
cannot speak in too high terms of
Generals Merritt, Custer and Devin, and
the officers and men of their commands.
They have waded through mud and wa
ter during this contiguous rain, and are
all in fine spirits and health.
Commodore Hellings, of fthe rebel navy,
was shot near Gordonsville, while at
tempting to make his escape from our
advance in that direction.
GSioned1 p II. SHERIDAN,
Major General