The National tribune., 1892-10-06

Gen. Averell had in the meanwhile moved
with his command as directed, reaching
Tazewell Courthouse On the 9th, when he
ascertained that large force had been as
sembled at Ssltville, and that the place was
we'll defended with earthworks and artillery.
He therefore concluded to march to Wythe-
vile, arriving there on the afternoon Of the
| 10th, when he engaged n rebel force, the
fight lasting until dark, when the rebels re-
tired. Gen. Averell lost ia officers and
men killed and wounded. After the battle
Gen. Averell marched to Dublin, reaching
there on the evening of the 18th. From
Dublin he moved to Christiansbug, destroy
ing the railroad as much as practicable, with
depots, shops, etc, to point four miles east
of that place.
His ammunition by this time was nearly
exhausted and he therefore determined to
join Gen. Crook, who had started on his re-
turn to the Kanawha, and succeeded in effect
ing junction with him at Union on the
18th. The whole command then retired to
Meadow Bluff, reaching that place on the
10Th.
Gen. Sigel moved up the Shenandoah
Valley at the time indicated in his instruc-
tions from Gen. Grant and had proceeded as
far as New Market, Va, where lie was met
on May Is by a force about equal to his
own under Gen. Breckenridge. After some
skirmishing and manuvering q severe en-
,oA It'd GA,,
Sigel's defeat with heavy loss, and he was
forced to retire behind Cedar Creek.
Gen Grant not being satisfied with Sigel's
operations asked his removal, and on the
21st of May, 1864, he was superseded in COM
mand by Maj Gen. David Hunter.
The command of Gen. Hunter for service in
the field May 81, 1864, was composed az fol-
lows: -e2 sra A-4eH elA .g7
First Infantry Division-Brig. Gen. Jere
miah C.. Sullivan. First Brigade-Col. Au-
gustus Moor-lsth Conn, ed Md. tE. 81. 28th,
10th and 1854 Ohio Second Brjgade-Col
Joseph Thoburn--34th Mass, 5tb n. Y. Il. A.
-four compancs). 54tb Pa. list and 12th w. Va
Crook. First Brigade-Col. Rutherford B.
Hayes-23d and Seth Ohio. 5tb and 18th VIVA
Second Brigadc-Col Carr B. Whits-12th and
9lst Ohio, 9th and 14th w. Va Third Brigade
Col. Horatio g. Sickel--3d and 4tb Pa. Res,
18th and 18th w. Va. Artillery-Capt. James
Z. McMullin-1st Ky. battery, list Ohio bat
terry.
First Cavalry Division-Maj. Gen. julius
Stahel. First Brigade-Col. William B. Tbbits
list Nd. p II. B., 1st n. Y. (Lincolnl, 1st N
Y. (veteran) 2lst N. Y, 14th Pa. (detachment).
Second Brigade-Col. John E. Wynkoop-I5th
n. Y, Cos. A, B, c. and d; goth Pa
Second Cavalry Division-Brig.- Gen. w. W.
Y-sx. NJ
fed w. Va. Cav, 34th Ohio MID Inf, 9Th
Ohio Cav. Second Brigade-Col. J. NJ. Schoon-
maker-14th Pa. Cav, LIST w. Va. Cav. Third
Brigade-Col. J. II. Oley-7th, 9Th, and Sd W.
Va. Cav. Strength present for duty, 16, CAB.
Gen. Hunter on assuming command of Sigers
troops Immediately took the offensive and adj
vanced upon Staunton. At Piedmont he met
the enemy on the 5th of june under Gems. w.
Z. Jones and McCausland, and after obsti-
nate and hard-fought battle lasting 10 hours,
routed and defeated him, capturing 800 men,
three pieces Of artillery, and 300 small-arms.
Gen. Hunters loss was about 500 killed, wound
ed, and missing.
On the 9Th he was joined at Stanton, Va,
by Gems. Crook and Averell, who had left
Meadow Bluff about the last of May, march
ing via Callaghans, Warm Springs, Goshen
Depot, Pond Gap, aud Middlebrook, skirmish-
ing continually with the enemy's scouts and
guerrillas, with but slight loss.
The whole body, now about $4,000 strong, at
once moved toward Lynchburg by way of Lex
ington, which place was reached on the 18th Of
June, and all the enemy heretofore operating
in the Valley and West Virginia were found
concentrated, under the command of Gen.
Breckinridge; also large force detached from
Lees army, all well supplied with artillery and
protected by strong works.
After some skirmishing ON the 17th Gen.
Hunter on the 18th assaulted the lines of the
enemy without success. He soon became satis-
fed that the force in his front and the works
were too strong to be successfully attacked, ard
therefore on the night of the 10Th withdrew
his forces and retreated in the direction of the
Kanawha, reaching Charleston on the Both Of
June. He remained at Charleston awaiting
transportation until July 3, when he embarked
his command, proceeding by water TO Parkers-
burg, and thence by rail to Cumberland, Nd,
arriving there on the morning of the 9th at 10
o'clock.
Up to the time of Gen. Hunters arrival at
Lynchburg he was very successful, and by the
destruction of property of great value had
inflicted vast injury upon the C0nfederates.
Gen. Grant, in his official report, says: I" have
never taken exception to the operations of
Gen. Hunter, and ! am not now disposed to
find fault with him; for have doubt he
acted within what he conceived to be the spirit
of his instructions and the interests of the
service. The promptitude OF his movements
and his gallantry should enttlo him to the
commentator of his country"
The loss Of the Union forces from June 10 to
June %, 1854, during the Lynchburg campaign,
was 103 killed, 564 wounded, and Ell captured
or missing; total 93S.
On the 18th of July, 1854, Brig. Gen. George
Crook was placed in command of all the forces
proceeding from the Department Of West Vir-
ginia to form junction with Maj. Gen. Ii. q.
Wright then in pursuit of Gen. Early. who
was retreating from Washington. Gen. Crook
at once relieved Gen. Sullivan OF command of
the forces then at Hillsboro, and joined Mai.
Gen. Wrights command 1.-THE Sixth and Nine
teenth Corps at Purcelville, The united
forces then moved to Smokers Ferry, where
the troops of Gen. Crook overlook and engaged
the enemy in a sharp skirmisl losing 65 killed.