No. 3. Report of Lieut. Col. Turner Ashby, C. S. Army. CAVALRY CAMP, On Martinsburg Turnpike, Va., March 8, 1862. I have the honor to report the result of a skirmish between Capts. S. B. Myers' and Koontz's companies with the advancing column of the enemy coming out from Bunker Hill on yesterday, brought on by his advance, while Captains Myers and Koontz and myself were visiting the outposts of pickets. Upon learning that he was advancing in force, I ordered these two companies up from their rendezvous (1 mile in our rear), ordering the pickets, under charge of Lieutenant Neff, to keep him in check as long as possible, which he did most gallantly until these companies arrived, only amounting to 45, as many of them were still on duty as pickets. Having ordered them to form behind a skirt of timber, which reached across the turnpike, under charge of Captain Myers, Captain Koontz and myself moved forward to make an observation, when I became satistied, from movements made by the enemy's officers, that he had a cooperating force upon each flank and was quite strong, which afterwards proved true, as I saw two regiments in column on our left, one-half mile from the turnpike, and had reports from scouts of another column on the right. Being, however, confident of being able to elude them at the proper time, I determined to check the column advancing upon the turnpike as long as prudent to remain, which I did for more than one hour, as upon every advance he made my men give him such a galling fire as to drive him back out of sight under the hill, at one time driving him for one-fourth of a mile. I did not allow my men to pursue, as I had a position of my choice, and feared, in the excitement, they might charge to the supporting column of infantry. After the column of infantry upon my left made its appearance, double-quicking, and had passed beyond me about 300 yards, I ordered my men to fall back slowly, which they did in a walk, turning every time the enemy made a demonstration to charge and driving them back. In the stand made behind the timber the enemy had 3 men wounded that I know of and 2 horses left on the ground; i wounded (that of an 1 officer). I had 1 man dangerously wounded. I skirmished before the advancing column for 3 miles, he throwing shot and shell from two pieces which he had on the turnpike. Upon meeting three companies of cavalry, which I had ordered to re-enforce me, I again formed across the road, when the enemy halted, and after a little time returned towards Bunker Hill, near to which place I followed them, they having their encampment three-fourths of a mile this side, their pickets 1 mile, into which I fired. I am pleased to express my highest commendation and appreciation of the conduct of Capts. S. B. Myers and Koontz, as well as Lieutenants Neff, Clarke, and Myers, and also of the privates of their companies, who gave evidence of much hope of success to our cause when the struggle for the valley comes. Respectfully, TURNER ASHBY, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Cavalry. GEORGE G. JUNKIN, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. MARCH 7-9, 1862. Withdrawal of the Confederate forces from Evansport, Dumfries, Manassas, and Occoquan, Va. REPORTS, ETC. No. 1.-Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker, U. S. Army, with correspondence and orders. No. 2.-Lieut. Robert H. Wyman, U. S. Navy. No. 3.-General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army. No. 4.-Letters from President Davis to General Johnston. No. 5.-Brig. Gen. W. H. C. Whiting, C. S. Army, with congratulatory order from General T. H. Holmes. No. 6.-Col. Wade Hampton, C. S. Army. No. 7.-Col. J. J. Archer, Fifth Texas Infantry. No. 9.-Capt. D. F. Summey, C. S. Army. No. 1. Reports of Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker, U. S. Army, with correspondence and orders. MARCH 9, 1862-10.30 a. m. I have dispatched the statements of the contrabands to Captain Wy man, with the request that he will forward them to you at once. Whit ing's command, consisting of five regiments and one battery of six pieces, expects to reach Fredericksburg to-night. They left in great haste, leaving their supplies of clothing and provisions behind them. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Brig. Gen. R. B. MARCY. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 9, 1862. Your dispatch regarding Whiting's movement to Fredericksburg received. The General Commanding desires you and Captain Wyman to keep a sharp lookout upon the batteries opposite you, and if you find they are abandoned or so feebly manned that you can destroy them without running any great risk, do so. Please communicate with Captain Wyman at once and hold yourself ready to seize the first favorable moment that presents itself. Send back your spies as soon as possible and keep the general commanding informed of everything that occurs. General JOSEPH HOOKER, Camp Baker. R. B. MARCY, HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S DIVISION, Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md., March 9, 1862. I am directed by the brigadier-general commanding the division to request that you will detach 500 men, with instructions for them to proceed to the opposite side of the Potomac River to examine and bring off all ammunition and stores of any value left by the enemy in their sudden evacuation of the camps and batteries at Cockpit Point and Evansport. A portion of the detachment should be provided with axes, spades, and picks, to cut away the parapet if necessary, in order tha hawsers may be attached to the guns, for the purpose of hauling them off the banks on which they stand, that they may be secured by vessels of the flotilla. Some of these pieces are represented to be of great value. The detachment should be commanded by a discreet officer, with instructions to keep his men well together, with pickets well thrown out to prevent surprise, should rebel parties be found lurking in that vicinity. The detachment will be directed to be on board one of the barges now lying at Rum Point as early as sunrise to-morrow morning, as one of the vessels of the flotilla will be in readiness to tow them across the river at that hour. As soon as the work assigned them is completed. the command will return to camp. The officer in command will be directed to collect all possible information of the movements of the rebels and report it as early as practicable. Very respectfully, &c., JOS. DICKINSON, Assistant Adjutant General. Col. S. H. STARR, Commanding Third Brigade. HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S DIVISION, Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md., March 10, 1862. GENERAL: I have nothing important to add to the advices sent you yesterday concerning the abandonment by the enemy of their positions in my front along the shores of the river. Everything left behind indicates that they left hastily and in great confusion. All the guns in the Cockpit Point battery were left mounted on their carriages and in good condition, except the guns being spiked. An effort was made to burn the carriages of most of the guns at Shipping Point, which the rebels succeeded in accomplishing in the majority of cases. The large English rifled piece, 98-pounder, remains on its carriage, uninjured. Most of the magazines were blown up and great quantities of clothing and subsistence stores destroyed. I have sent 1,000 men across the river to tumble the orduance over the bluff banks on which the greater part of their batteries stand, in order that they may be more easily removed to such points as may hereafter be determined on. It is reported that the rebels took little or nothing with them in their retreat. Their roads appear to have been worse than ours, and their teams utterly worthless, from overwork and little or no feed. I feel very confident that the Merrimac wears no armor the bolts of the Whitworth will not penetrate. Evidences of their accuracy, length of range, and effect are to be seen all over the deserted camps of the enemy. Two shots were fired at a house standing nearly half a mile in rear of the Shipping Point battery and in the center of one of their camps, both of which struck it about 4 feet from the ground and within 2 or 3 feet of each other. One of these shot was found on the mantel-piece, labeled "Fired by the Yankees February 27, 1862." Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac. HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S DIVISION, Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md., March 11, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that the rebel batteries at Cockpit Point were entirely destroyed yesterday. The valuable guns of these batteries were tumbled over the bank on which they stood, and are now where the vessels of the flotilla can remove them at their leisure. An effort was also made to demolish the batteries at Shipping Point and vicinity, but in consequence of their remoteness from the bank, the great weight of the pieces, and the absence of all aid from the vessels of the flotilla, the work was not completed. My men have been waiting on board of one of the barges for a tug to come for them to return to that duty to day. It is now 11 o'clock a. m., aud no tug has come. I regret this, as large quantities of powder and shell still remain on the rebel shore. Several loads were brought over yesterday. I will report more particularly when the reports of those in charge with that duty reach here. The rebels burned 800 barrels of flour before quieting Dumfries. I send to the provost-marshal by the steamer 3 prisoners, captured yesterday, whose testimony it may be interesting, if not valuable, to learn. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac. No. 2. Report of Lieut. Robert H. Wyman, U. S. Navy. WASHINGTON NAVY-YARD, March 9, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I have just received the following message to Secretary of the Navy: SIR: The Cockpit Point and Shipping Point batteries are abandoned. They have been shelled for an hour without a reply from them. Large fires at Shipping Point and Evansport make it apparent that they are destroying their material there. The Page also I believe to have been burned and blown up. Many explosions have oc curred. Very respectfully, R. H. WYMAN, Lieutenant, Commanding. JNO. A. DAHLGREN. No. 3. Report of General Joseph E. Johnston, O. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS, RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE, GENERAL: The troops left Manassas and its vicinity on the evening of the 9th. The chief quartermaster having reported that the public property of value would be removed before Friday, I had ordered the troops to march on Saturday morning, their baggage wagons leading. So much was found remaining on Saturday, however, that the troops were kept until Sunday evening. The miserable performance of the railroad rendered this measure almost useless. A good deal of property, public and regimental, was destroyed. Smith's and Longstreet's divisions followed the Warrenton turnpike; Ewell's and Early's the railroad and a route through Brentsville. The first named is now near Culpeper Court-House. The two last have this morning completed the passage of the river here. Our pickets are on a line a little beyond Warrenton and the Warrenton Junction. A reserve depot was established at Culpeper Court-House, the stores in which I have ordered to be removed to Gordonsville. I will remain here to cover that operation unless otherwise ordered. The management of this railroad is so wretched that it may require a week or 10 days. My post-office for the present is Culpeper Court-House, 10 miles off. A. P. Mason, for whom I have asked a commission on my staff, is very useful to me. I hope that the commission can be given. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J. E. JOHNSTON, General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. General. No. 4. Letters from President Davis to General Johnston. RICHMOND, March 15, 1862. Your letter of 13th received this day,* being the first information of your retrograde movement. Have no report of your reconnaissance and can suggest nothing as to the position you should take, except it should be as far in advance as consistent with your safety. JEFFERSON DAVIS. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, Culpeper Court-House. RICHMOND, VA., March 15, 1862. GENERAL: I have received your letter of the 13th instant,* giving the first official account I have received of the retrograde movement of your army. Your letter would lead me to infer that others had been sent to apprize me of your plans and movements. If so, they have not reached me; and before the receipt of yours of the 13th I was as much in the dark as to your purposes, condition, and necessities as at the time of our conversation on the subject about a month since. "Tis true I have had many and alarming reports of great destruction of ammunition, camp equipage, and provisions, indicating precipitate retreat; but, having heard of no cause for such a sudden movement, I was at a loss to believe it. I have not the requisite topographical knowledge for the selection of your new position. I had intended that you should determine that question; and for this purpose a corps of engineers was furnished to make a careful examination of the country to aid you in your decision. *Not found, but see report No. 3, p. 526. |