gether with General Hill's command, would fall back, thinking re-enforcements would arrive, which, in conjunction with my command, would move on Leesburg. In full expectation of our advance General Hill sent his stores and baggage to Middleburg, and commenced burning hay and grain stacks to prevent them falling into our hands.

About noon I put my main body, with cavalry and artillery, in motion, leaving instructions for the balance to follow during the night. We entered Wheatland in time to prevent the incendiary designs of White's cavalry, who would have burnt it. This created a panic among the troops at Waterford, who fled to Leesburg without applying the torch.

We entered Waterford about 11 o'clock at night, where the command rested 3 hours. By a forced march we reached Leesburg shortly after sunrise, and took possession of Fort Johnston, where we planted the Stars and Stripes, and then entered the city. The rear of General Hill's retreating forces could be seen in the distance. They retired to Middleburg. General Hill and staff retreated at full gallop. My other detachments joined me during the day. We at once took possession of the court-house, bank, and all other public buildings, and Forts Beauregard and Evans. We found considerable secession feeling, and established a rigid provost-marshalship, and enforced strict order and decorum. We garrisoned Fort Johnston and made every preparation to resist attack. We took a number of prisoners of note, whom we dispatched to the division provost-marshal. The day of our occupation was announced for a general impressment of citizens into the army. Many persons came forward and took the oath of allegiance, and paroles of honor were administered to many rank secessionists. Hon. John Janney, Major Scott, and other distinguished Virginians gave their parole.

On the 9th we ascertained that the rebel troops were falling back to the Rappahannock near Gordonsville, and that their artillery was moving southward. We scouted upon the trail of the retreat of the enemy as far as Carter's Mill, and found their path blackened with devastations hurriedly committed, and that they had burned the bridge over Goose Creek, impeding our farther progress, as it was unfordable.

On the 12th, in obedience to orders, we marched to Snickersville, a distance of 16 miles, leaving a garrison at Fort Johnston consisting of three companies of infantry and one gun, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel De Korponay. Prior to our leaving Leesburg the inhabitants of that city unanimously expressed their intention of preserving order and abnegating any local government opposed to that of the United States, soliciting protection against guerrilla parties of the enemy who might return. We effectually reconnoitered Snicker's Gap and vicinity of Blue Mountains to Front Royal, resulting in my decision to push on to Upperville, 10 miles distant, after a stay of forty eight hours.

The order preserved and respect for property maintained (unexpected, through misrepresentations made with regard to the Federal Army) left a favorable impression on the people, and friends to the Union came forward in every town and village and proclaimed their allegiance to the Government.

We reached Upperville March 15, at 4 p. m. We scouted that section, and took prisoners an officer and a number of privates of the Sixth Virginia Cavalry and a private of Ashby's cavalry. The rear guard of the enemy was only 4 or 5 miles south of us, and upon the first 33 R R-VOL V

evening 125 cavalry retreated from our scouts. We had effectually driven the enemy out of Loudoun County.

Deeming Leesburg and its vicinity now perfectly safe without a garrison (from the pledges given by the inhabitants), I ordered LieutenantColonel De Korponay to join me with his detachment, that I might concentrate my forces against any attempt made upon the left of the column on this line, and prevent destruction intended to impede the progress of our troops. It was necessary to keep these mountains clear, as they afforded great natural advantages of defense. We reconnoitered some distance along the railroad and found the country very rugged and mountainous. Three or four bridges had been burned, one of them over Goose Creek at Piedmont. We extended it also into the mountain region towards the river through Paris. About 125 cavalry fled as we approached Piedmont on the 19th. We took prisoners of the Eighth Virginia Infantry and the Sixth Virginia Cavalry.

As a portion of our supply train was absent at Harper's Ferry, a short delay was occasioned in obeying Special Orders, No. 2, dated March 23, ordering the command to proceed to Aldie. We were without sufficient transportation for subsistence and quartermaster's stores. In conformity with said orders the detachment at Leesburg, under De Korponay, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was ordered to proceed to Aldie and rejoin this command there, leaving Leesburg without a garrison.

On the 21st large bodies of rebels were reported in and around Warrenton and Salem.

On the 24th, in obedience to orders from General Williams, we marched to Aldie and encamped, and on the following morning, under orders from General Abercrombie to march to Winchester to support the division, we returned to Snickersville, where we were joined by our Leesburg detachment and encamped.

Receiving contra orders on the following morning from yourself, through General Abercrombie, to push forward to White Plains and commence repairs on the railroad towards Strasburg, we took up the line of march at noon, encamped at Philomont at sunset, and on the following morning marched to Middleburg, where we repulsed a body of about 300 of the enemy's cavalry with a reserve of infantry, who had approached from the direction of Upperville. We opened a well-directed fire upon them, when they retreated in disorder to the mountains. Owing to the violent secession feeling manifested in this town, we remained here a day and a half and enlisted some of the leading men of the place in our wishes to preserve order. Among others who gave their parole were Generals Rogers and Wright, ard Colonel Chancellor, the latter of the One hundred and thirty-second Virginia Militia.

A revulsion of feeling took place, and we left on the morning of the 29th, and reached White Plains at 2 o'clock of the same afternoon. We found no troops here. We encamped in the strongest position on the road. We proceeded to examine the line of railroad to Salem and also to Thoroughfare, and found it in good running order to Salem, and the only break in the direction of Thoroughfare was a burned bridge about 14 miles from the town. The bridge was 40 feet long, in two spans, resting on a stone pier in the center, which remained undisturbed. Immediately after our occupation of the place the rebels evacuated War

renton.

Late in the afternoon of April 1 I received an order from General McClellan, through General Abercrombie, dated March 29, to proceed at once to Warrenton Junction and report for temporary duty to Gen

eral Sumner. At the same moment I was in receipt of instructions from yourself, dated March 30, to proceed with the repairing of the railroad. Accompanying the orders from General McClellan was a communication from General Abercrombie from his headquarters, 5 miles from Warrenton Junction, expressing his expectations to see me at the junction, in consonance with General McClellan's orders, as soon as I could get through. The same day Adjutant Phelps, First Michigan Cavalry, was shot and killed by the accidental discharge of his revolver. A party of 10 cavalry and I citizen, who went to Salem to obtain a coffin for de ceased, was surrounded by a superior number of enemy's cavalry. Seven were captured; the citizen (John Downey), a guide from Lovettsville, was mortally wounded, 1 man only escaping. Three of the enemy were afterwards taken prisoners by a reconnoitering party in a skirmish with the same body.

At night the command marched to Thoroughfare Gap, 5 miles distant, over very rough roads, for the purpose of effectually avoiding a large force of the enemy who were endeavoring to surround and capture the command. This force was supposed to have been re-enforcements sent to Jackson, and who had not been able to cross the river at Front Royal, and turned their attention towards my command.

We took up a strong position in the gap and prepared for attack, but during the day were informed that the enemy, baffled, had retired across the Rappahannock, and on April 3 we marched to Greenwich, a distance of 13 miles, and encamped, resuming our march on the following morning towards Warrenton Junction, and arriving at Catlett's Station, where we encamped, about noon.

Late on the 5th I received a telegram from you to join the column by the shortest and safest road, and at sunrise on the 6th left Catlett's Station in obedience thereto, and at noon reached Warrenton, compelling a force of about 800 rebel cavalry to retreat across the Rappahannock, a similar force having retired early the same morning. We took formal possession of the town and encamped near it. We captured here the flag of the Forty-ninth Virginia Regiment, formerly commanded by ExGovernor William Smith. We were joined by Companies II and I, First Michigan Cavalry, ordered to report to me.

On the morning of the 7th we took up the line of march, but being overtaken by a violent snow-storm, we pitched tents about 6 miles from Warrenton. The storm continued with unabated violence for four days, compelling us to remain where we were encamped.

On the 10th your body guard, Zouaves d'Afrique, joined our com mand.

On the 11th I received orders from you to move to White Plains and report to Colonel McCallum to assist in repairing the road. We immedi ately marched to that place and encamped on the same day. We here learned that a large force of the enemy was concentrated near Waterloo, threatening to attack us. We put the road in good running order to Rectortown, and had men actively engaged on a bridge of 120 feet span over Goose Creek. I dispatched a train to Alexandria for the requisite timbers, which were furnished promptly, together with materials and force of workmen sent by Colonel McCallum. In order to push the work actively forward the building of the bridge over Cedar Run was temporarily delayed.

On the 14th we marched to Rectortown, Va., where we encamped in an elevated position, and a reconnoitering party was attacked by and had a skirmish with rebel cavalry near Piedmont, in which 2 of our advance guard were killed. We immediately repaired the telegraph ime

to Front Royal. Munford's regiment of cavalry was scouting daily in the vicinity of the road at various points, threatening to obstruct and destroy it.

At noon on the 16th the train crossed over the bridge at Goose Creek and the workmen at once engaged themselves on two bridges at Piedmont, each of 60 feet span, which were completed on the evening of the 18th, the timbers for some of the work being cut in the vicinity of the bridges. The four bridges between Piedmont and Markham now occupied our attention, and the work was rapidly pushed forward. At Linden the road required the attention of the engineers. The mountains were infested with forces of cavalry, in bodies of between 200 and 300, having designs against the bridges already constructed, making it necessary to strictly guard the entire road. The rebels made several unsuccessful attempts to force our pickets to accomplish their designs. A continuous storm from April 18 to 22 materially retarded progress on the road. The creeks all became swollen; the bridge over Bull Run was carried away, and the whole force of workmen was recalled to rebuild it. The bridge over Goose Creek at Rectortown was partly washed away, and three others above it were somewhat injured. The persistence of the rebel cavalry in their attempts to obstruct the road became a daily annoyance. Scouting parties of my command were in frequent pursuit of them in every direction.

Two of White's cavalry were taken prisoners while creeping up to my pickets in the darkness with the intention of murdering them-a nightly occurrence. Other prisoners-noted enemies to our Government and abettors of the enemy-were taken in various sections of the surrounding country.

I had detachments posted from Salem to Linden guarding the road. The Eleventh Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel Coulter, was guarding from Manassas to White Plains, leaving 30 miles of the most important section in my hands. The work progressed under persevering effort and almost unremitting labor, and no exertion was spared to expedite the completion of the road.

On the 27th I pushed forward detachments to Front Royal, estab lishing stations at all the important intermediate points. The railroad to Front Royal was in complete running order on the afternoon of the 29th, and five trains laden with subsistence, forage, &c., passed over to that point, and my command was then guarding 32 miles of the road, disposed as follows: Four companies of cavalry, taking charge of road from White Plains to Rectortown, patrolling it, viz, one company of cavalry at Salem and three at Rectortown; my headquarters, 13 miles west of Rectortown, near large bridge over Goose Creek, where I had seven companies of infantry and one company of artillery; two companies of infantry and one company of cavalry were located at Piedmont; two companies of infantry at Markham, and four companies of infantry and one company of cavalry posted from Linden to the Sheuandoah, the latter companies guarding the workmen engaged upon the bridge over that river and the stores of forage and subsistence which had been deposited at that place. Owing to our line of advance and various positions held being detached from all direct facilities of transportation from any central depot of stores, we were compelled to procure our forage and subsistence through our quartermaster from citizens throughout the country, and many local places were so impoverished that numerous difficulties were attendant upon getting our necessities. I take pleasure in being able to represent to you the indomitable, persevering, and uncomplaining spirit of the men of my command under

trying circumstances and in the endurance of hardships necessarily attendant upon some of our movements; also their unflinching determination and zeal in moments when danger was imminent.

In obedience to orders from the Secretary of War, on May 2 I established a line of mounted couriers between Front Royal and Strasburg, with relays at intervals, until repairs to the telegraph were made. I was informed by a telegram from Major-General McDowell, bearing date May 5, that I should from that date report to him; and upon May 8 I received the following dispatch:

Col. JOHN W. GEARY:

WAR DEPARTMENT,

1862.

Report daily to this Department; also to General McDowell, from whom you must take your instructions.

P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War.

In closing this report, which I respectfully submit to you, permit me to express my high appreciation of the many great favors you have bestowed upon my command, as well as myself, while in your division, our connection with which we have always had occasion to be proud of. We have been recipients of many high honors at your hands, and in your selection of us to fill posts in which we could serve the cause of our country most effectually and susceptible of credit to ourselves. Your orders, which have always been replete with urbanity, we have taken pride in executing to the best of our ability, and our severance from your command, with which we have been assimilated since our earliest appearance in the field (a period of ten months) is not without its many regrets to one and all.

I have the honor to be,

Major-General BANKS,

Commanding Department of the Shenandoah.

JNO. W. GEARY.

MARCH 5, 1862.—Skirmish at Bunker Hill, Va.

Report of Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, BUNKER HILL, VA., March 6, 1862-10 a. m. MAJOR: I reported yesterday afternoon my arrival here. We found a small picket of cavalry and a few infantry, several of whom were taken-furloughed men-who probably preferred being captured. I send them forward this morning to Provost-Marshal Andrews.

The information I get from Winchester is that Jackson is being considerably re-enforced, some say very strongly; that the slopes of the hills west of Winchester are strongly intrenched with rifle-pits and several earthworks with heavy guns. The works near the railroad southeast of Winchester you are probably well advised of. Jackson, Loring, and Kirby Smith are said to be at or near Winchester, but it does not seem possible to get any reliable information of number of troops. A good many of the Virginia militia are home on furlough. One man recently in Winchester reports Jackson as saying that he left Winchester once to whip us at Manassas, and now he is going to do the same for us here unless these intrenchments are very strong. I trust he will prove a false prophet. General Shields I knew was at Martinsburg after I left yesterday. I could get nothing reliable about the position