American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-22


operations has been received by this De-
partment:
(Signed) i. NJ. STANTON,
HEADQUARTERs MIDDLE DIVISION,
| March 10.-Liem. Gen. Grant Gen
REAL: In my last, dated Waynesboro, l
gave you a brief account of the defeat of
Early by Custars division. The same
night this division was pushed across the
Blue Ridge, AMI entered Charlottesville at
p. m the next day. The Mayor and
the principal inhabitants came and deliv-
cred up the keys of the public buildings.
| had to remain at Charlottesville two days.
Time was consumed in bringing over
from Waynesboro our pontoon and am
munition trains, The weather was hor-
rible and the rain incessant. The two
divisions were, during this time, occupi,
ed in destroying the two large iron brid-
ges-one over the Rivana river, the 9th
er over Morse's creek, near Charlottesville,
and the railroad for a distance of eight
miles in the direction Of Lynchburg.
On the 9th of March | sent the First
division, Gen. Devin commanding, to
Seottsvile, on the James River, with di-
rections to send out light parties through
the country and destroy merchandise,
mills, factories, and bridges on the rail
road, the parties to join the division at
Scottsville The division then proceed
ed along the canal to Dugensville, fifteen
miles from Lynchburg, destroying every
lock and, in many places the banks of
the canal. At Dugensvlle 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 foiled,
as both this bridge and the bridge at
Hardwicksville were burned by the enc,
my upon our approach. Gen. Merritt ac-
companed the division.
The Third Division started at the same
time from Charlottesville and proceeded
down the Lynchburg railroad to Amherst
Court House, d stroying every bridge on
the road. The bridges on this road are
numerous, and some of them five humid
red feet in length.
We have found great abundance in this
country for our men and animals; in
fact, the canal had been the great feeder
of Richmond.
At the Rockfish river the bank of the
canal was cut, and at New Canton where
dam is across the James, the guard lock
was destroyed and the James river let
into the canal, carrying away and wash
ing out the bottom of the canal The dam
across the James at this point was also
partially destroyed.
l have had no opposition-everybody is
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. |
ommitted to mention that the bridges on
the railroad from Swoop's depot, on the
other side of Staunton to Charlottesville,
were utterly destroyed. Also all the
bridges for distance of ten miles on the
Gordonsville railroad.
The weather has been very bad indeed,
raining hard every day, with the exception
of four days, since we started My wag-
ons have, from the state of the roads, de-
tained me up to the present time.
We have captured fourteen pieces of
artillery, eleven at Waynesboro and three
at Charlottesville. The party that was
sent back from Waynesboro started with
six pieces, but they were obliged to de-
stroy two of the six for want of animals
The remaining eight pieces were destroy
ed. We have also captured twelve canal
boats, laden with supplies, ammunition,
rations, medical stores, &c.
/ cannot speak in too high terms of
Gems. Merit, Custar and Devins, and the
officers and men of their commands. They
have waded through mud and water dur
ing continuous rain, and are all in fine
spirits and health.
Commodore Hollins, of the rebel navy,
was shot near Gordonsville, while attempt
ing to make his escape from our advance
in that direction.
TheUnion League of Philadelphia has
just completed the work ofGlling up its
seventh regiment of soldiers for the field
and has received authority to recruit an