Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-14
photographic.
OFFICIAL DISPATCH.
Gen. Sheridnn,s Account of his Oper.
aIiOns in the Shenandoah valley.

Gen. Sheridnn's Account of his Oper-
aliOns i'm the Shenandoah Valley.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, March 1876
Maj. Gen. Di1, New York:
The following report of Sheridans opcr-
ations has been received by this department.
lSigned T.. M. STANTON.
HEADQU'Rs MIDDLE MILITARY DIv,l
COLUMBIA, Va, March 10.
Lieutenant General Grant:
GENERAL-ln my last dated Waynes-
boro, gave you a brief account of the de-
feat of Early by Clusters division. The
same night this division was pushed across
the Blue Ridge and entered Char arottesville
at o'clock p. NJ, hext day. The Mayor
and principal inhabitants came ana deliver
ed 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-rain in
cessant. The two divisions were during
this time occupied in destroying two large
iron bridges, one over the Rivanna river,
the other over Morse's creek, near Char
lottesville, and the railroad over distance
of eight miles in the direction of Lynch
burg.
ion, Gen. Devin commanding. to Scottsville,
on James river, with directions to send ont
light parties through the country and de-
stioy all merchandise, mills, factories and
bridges on the Rivanna, the parties to join
the division at Scottsville. The division
then proceeded along the canal to Duquids-
vile, fifteen miles from Lynchburg, destroy
ing every lock, and in many places the
bank of the canal. At Duqudsville we
hoped to secure the bridge to cross the
river, as our pontoons were useless on ac-
count of the high water. In this we were
foiled, as both this bridgeand the bridge at
Hardwicksville were burned by the enemy
upon our approach. Merritt accompanied
this division.
The 3D. division started at the same time
from Charlottesville, and proceeded down
the Lynchburg railroad to Amherst G. H.,
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 800 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 ca
nal was cut, and at New Canton, where the
dam is across the James, the guard lock
was destroyed and James river let into the
canal, carrying away the banks and wash
ing out the bottom of the canal The dam
across the James at this point was also par
TALLY destroyed.
have had no opposition. Everybody is
bewildered by our movements. l havehad
no news of any kind since left. The latest
Richmond papers were of the 4th, but con-
tanned nothing.
omitted to mention that the bridges on
the railroad from Swoop's depot, on the 9TH
er side of Staunton, to Charlottesville, were
utterly destroyed, also all bridges for dis
tance of ten miles on the GOrdonsville rail-
road.
The weather has been very bad, indeed
raining hard every day, with the exception
Of four days, since we started. My wagons
have, from the state of the roads, detained
me. Up to the present time we have cap
tured Ia pieces of artillery, IL at Waynes-
boro and 3 at Charlottesville. The party
that sent back from Waynesboro started
with pieces, but they were obliged to de-
stroy of the 6 for want of animals. The
pieces were thoroughly de-
stroyed. We have also captured II canal
boats laden with supplies, ammunition, ra-
tions medical stores, sc.
| cannot speak in too high terms of Gen
erals Merritt, Custer and Devins, and the
officers and men of their commands. They
have waded through mud and water during
this continuous rain, and are all in fine
spirits and health. Commodore Hallings,
of the rebel navy, was shot near Gordons-
vile while attempting to make his escape
from our advance in that direction.
[Signedl p. ii. SHERIDAN,
Major