The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-03-18
War Bulletin.

| WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON. Mar.
!3:-To aMsjor General Di1:-The follow.
ing report of Shexidan's operations has
(Signed] z. N. STANTON.
HEAD Qa's. M1DDLx MILITARY DIy1-
Grant General, In my last date from
Waynesbcre gave you . brief account Of
the defeat Of Early by Custar's division.
The same night this divisions pursued tho
enemy across the Blue Ridge, and entered
charlottesville at p. n. the next day
The Mayor and principal inhabitants came
and delivered up the keys Of the pubic
buildings. aad 20 remain ct Charlotte
VILE two days. The time was consumed
IN bringing over from Wayneoboro our
ammunition and pontoon trains. Weather
was horrible. raining i4cessantly. 81,
The two divisions Weie during this time
occupied in destroying tho two large iron
bridges, one oyer the Ravanna river, the
other over Moss creek near harlotteville,
and the railroad distance Of eight miles
IN the direction Of Lynchburg. On the 9th
Of March sent tho First Division, Gener-
q Devins commanding, tc Scottsville, ON
the James river, with directions 70 send
out light parties through the country and
destroy al merchandise, mills, factories
ana bridges on the RavennA river The
parties to JOIN the division at ecottsville.
Ine division then proceeded along the ca.
nal to Dugaidville, fifteen miles from
tynchburg, destroying every lock, aud in
many cases the bank of the canal. At Du-
Saldviile we hoped to secure tho bridge to
cross the river, as our pontoons were use
less on account Of the high water. In this
we were foi!ed, as both this bridge and the
bridge at charlottesville were burned by
the enemy oou our approach. Merritt 40
companiet this division. 4
| ha pI ~
time from Charlottesvillea and went down
the Lyacaburg Railroad to Amherst Court
House, destroying every bridge on the road
and In Mauy places miles Of road. The
bridges on this road afe numerous, and
some Of them ave hundred feet in length.
We have found great abundancein this
country for orr men and animals. In fact
mond. Atthe' Rockfish river the banks Of
the CANA wore cut. and at New Erie where
the dam is across the James, the guard
lcck was destroyed and the James river let
into the canal, carrying away the banks
and washing ont the bottom Of the canal.
The dam across the James at this point was
also partially destroyed. 's
have had no opposition. Everybody
| - oewildered by our movements. I have
had no news of any account since left. y
The last Richmond papers wore Of the eth J,
but contained nothing. omitted to men.
ton that the bridges on the Railroad from
Swoop's Depot, on the other side Of 6taun-
ton to Charlottesville, were also destroyed;
also, all the bridges for distance Of 10
miles on the Gordonsville railroad. The
weather has been very bad indeed, rain
ing hard every day with the exception Of
four days since We started. Mywaeona
have, from the state Of the roads, detained
ne. Up to the present time we have cap
tured "a pieces Of artillery, IL at Waynes-
born, and 8 a. Charlottesville.
The party that I sent back from Waynes-
b0ro started with six pieces, but they were
obliged to destroy two Of tho six for want
Of animals. The remaining eight pieces
| were thoroughly destroyed. / have also
captured twelve canSl boAts lAden with
supplies, ammunition, medical supplies,
&c. . efsa ll -Sg =,
cannot speak in too high terms 81
Gems. Merritt. Gustav and Devine, aud The
officers and lnea Of their commands. They
have waAed through mud and water dur
ing this CONT n1ous rain, and are all in dne
spirits and health. 5a eEs soi ST
Commodore Hollins, 81 the rebernavy,
was shot near brownsville, while attempt.
Ing to make bis escape from our advance
In that direction. fSignedl -
r. 81. SHERIDAN, Maj. Con.