The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1868-09-17

PennsylVania, Averill's Division orCsv.
airy was sent in pursuit Of Nee suSland
The Sd CavSlry regiment was in thil
Division. and they arrived 10 Chambers
burg while the town was yet burning,
but not soon enough 10 oVortake Mo
CauSlInd, who sought BY . near route "a
get back into Virginia with the booty
, he bed obtained 10 the rich diItrict be
had devastated.
Averill's Division continued the pur-
suit and came upon McCauslAnd and
Johnson At MOorefsld. on the South
Branch of the Potomac. Just before day
light, when AVeriIl's Brigade, led by tha
81 West Va. Cavalry. in command oil
Col. COugbr, male charge upon them
taking them wholly by surprise. aud to-
tally routed them: eaptucias ,heir artillery
trains, horses and the plumber that they
had gathered up IN Maryland and Penn
'sylvania. Gol Congsr fell sarly iu the
6ght and the command devOlVod upon
Mljor Witcher. Notwithstanding the
rebels we're surprised the 6ght was So
we're one, and the 81 West Va. Cavalry
lost several brava men, besides the COL
ouel and several o:her officers.
This regiment then returned by way
OF Martiusburg 10 the ShsnaU doah valley
where they were engaged in daily skir-
mishss with the enemy until tho 10th oil
September, 1854, when the great battle
between the fsdoral forces and tho robOI
army, under Early took place at Win
chester. Victory OgAin perchej upon
the banner of the UuiOn, E,rly was driv,
en- from Winchester and pursued to r'ish.
cr's Hill, whence he attempted TO make
a stand, but from whence after severe
fighting, he was again driven by the
"BOys in Blue" In these two great
battles the 81 West Va. Cavalry, under
Major Wilcher, bore a conspicuous part.
as also 10 all the battles aud skirmishcs
with the rebels in the valley during that
fall. During the succeeding winter the
81, with other troops, made two raids up
the valley to tho R,pidan to destroy the
Gordausville Riilrod, and endured great
suffering by the iuclemOncy Of the wealth
er and forced marching.
On The lst Of January, 1905. the 81
West Va. Cavalry was made a part oI
the 81 Cavolry Division. commanded by
Major General Geo. A. Cus,ar. The
whole command was placed in the most
complete discipline. aud, fully equipped
for active operations. and 90 thS s7lh
Of February, 1865. .byoks;cSmp aud NOV
cd with the Cavalry corps. commanded
BY Gen. Phil. ShsridsR; do tIis Shepau.-
doRh eAilSS. b cdds 0tk gBd StbApi.
tca, snd participated in ihs Spg Sgemeot {
with the enemy uqdsT:E,fly btMaynos.
bOro; Va, on the 81 Of March, 1865.
Liel. Col Witcher, acting from iufor
nation dsrivodffom a resident Union man
pushed on, tho same evening, to Green
wood Dspot. and captured immense sup.
plies of ammunition and other stores. The
next day the command moved on to Char
lottssylle anil thence with The command
Of Gen. Sheridan on his gros, raid, which
resulted in the complste destruction Of
more than Gfty miles of the James River
Canal and many miles Of railroad, a
large number Of bridges, and vast
amour, Of property oI greA! vAlus to the
enemy.
The eomm,nd arrived At White House
on the 18th Of March where Il remained
in camp until the 24,h; marched thence
by way Of Charles City Court House aud
cio1Ssd the Jsmes River at Deep Bottom
remained in front Of Petersburg until tho
esth. aud then novel 10 the direction Of
DinwiddiS G. H. aud participated 10 The
engagement at that place on the 3Oih and
3lSt. Here, 90 the morning Of the 3lst
Of March, 1865. The whole commaud was
disnOunted aud fought as Infantry, con-,
peling the enemy TO retire into his for
lifod position at Five FORKS. On the
morning Of the lstof April, most de'-
pernto engagement ensued in which the
Sd under the command Of Lieutenant Col.
ousl Wbcher, won Tor tbemseIves imper.
ishabls laurels. On April 2 / they march
ed to Ford's Station on tho South Side
Railroad. where they charged upon and
drovs a Brigade Of rObeI Cavalry, killing
the rebel General Pegram. On April 81
they participated 10 the engagements at
Deep Greek and Namozine Church being
actively and mcrlioilOusly engaged 10
each. On the 4th they moved 10 letters.
vile. on The Richmond aud DanVills,
Rsilroad! reaching that pOiut. after
most tedious m arch, oil about dSy break
on the morning Of the 9Th they remained
10 line Of battle all day, and 90 the NOR.
ming Of the 9Th were ia the ant charge
upon the tuemy'S lines at the battle Of
Sailors Creek, and behaved with eonspiO.
uouS gollautry throughout the whole en-.
gsgement. On the 9Th, they again moved
through Prince Edward Court House,