Summary:
General Samuel Jones reports to Adjutant General Samuel Cooper on August, 1863,
action in West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Staunton played a role in
these engagements both as the supposed destination of the Federal raid, and as a
gathering point for Confederate reinforcement.
General S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector
General
Dublin,
October 2, 1863.
GENERAL:
On the evening of August 23, I received information from Col. William L. Jackson that Brigadier-General Averell, U.S. Army, with a force estimated at over 4,000 men, consisting of cavalry, mounted infantry, and artillery, was in motion from the direction of Moorefield. So far as I could ascertain, General Averell was on a raid toward Staunton. He had driven Colonel Jackson from Hightown and his camp near Huntersville, and the latter had fallen back to Gatewood's, on Back Creek, on the road from Huntersville to Warm Springs.
I had a few days previously ridden over that road, Colonel Jackson accompanying me part of the way, and from my own observations and his representations believed that he could detain the enemy on that road long enough to enable me to send a force to his assistance or place it in the rear of the enemy. I accordingly ordered the First Brigade of my command, Col. George S. Patton commanding, to move by the Antony's Creek road. I joined the brigade myself on that road on the 25th.
On the morning of that day, I received a dispatch from Colonel Jackson, dated at 9 o'clock on the previous day at Gatewood's. Pie informed me that he had driven back the enemy's skirmishers to his old camp near Huntersville. The tenor of the dispatch induced me to believe that he could not only check the opposing force at Gatewood's, but could move up and join the First Brigade at the intersection of the Antony's Creek road from Huntersville to Warm Springs. I dispatched him, informing him of the movement of that brigade, and directed him, if possible, to join it at the junction of the two roads above mentioned. I have reason to believe that he never received my dispatch, and that it was intercepted by the enemy.
While on the march on the 25th, information was received, which I deemed reliable, that the enemy had not only driven Colonel Jackson from Gatewood's, but had forced him beyond Warm Springs. Still remaining under the impression that the destination of the enemy was Staunton, the First Brigade was ordered to turn off from the Antony's Creek road and take a shorter route to Warm Springs.
After 10 o'clock that night information was received which satisfied me that the enemy had abandoned the pursuit of Colonel Jackson and that, while the First Brigade was marching toward Warm Springs, General Averell was advancing from Warm Springs to Callaghan's. I immediately ordered Colonel Patton to return on the Antony's Creek road in the hope of intercepting the enemy on the road from the Warm to the White Sulphur Springs. By a night march our advanced guard reached the intersection of the latter named road at the same instant that the head of Averell's column debouched from the defile through the Alleghany Mountains on the road from Callaghan's. General Averell endeavored to force his way through, but the First Brigade was quickly placed in position, when an engagement commenced, which for five hours was very warm and continued at intervals until dark.
That night the troops occupied the same position that they had taken in the morning. The enemy made two vigorous attacks the next morning, which were handsomely repulsed, when he abandoned his position and retreated towards Warm Springs.
My cavalry and artillery were ordered in pursuit. For about 10 or 12 miles the road passes through a narrow and thickly wooded defile. The enemy availed himself of the advantage offered to retard pursuit by felling trees across the road. I was informed that he had left a regiment of infantry and a squadron of cavalry at the Warm Springs, and under the impression that he would make a stand at the latter place, the First Brigade was pushed forward in pursuit. The enemy, however, turned off from the direct road at Morris' Hill and retreated rapidly by way of Huntersville toward Beverly.
The reports and accompanying papers from Colonels Patton and William L. Jackson will give the details of the engagement near White Sulphur Springs and of the pursuit of the enemy.
The conduct of the troops on the 26th and 27th was admirable, and they moved forward in pursuit with spirit and alacrity, and, although much fatigued, without straggling.
Col. George S. Patton, commanding the brigade, displayed good judgment in placing his troops in action, and his gallantry was conspicuous throughout the engagement.
I am greatly indebted to the officers of my staff who were with me (Maj. W. B. Myers, assistant adjutant-general ; Capt. R. L. Poor, Engineer Corps; and my aides, Lieuts. James L. Fraser and P. C. Warwick) for the intelligent and active performance of their duties. Lieutenant Warwick made a difficult and hazardous reconnaissance of the enemy on the night of the 25th and morning of the 26th.
I must add that on receiving information of Averell's movements, I telegraphed to the Secretary of War and General Lee, informing them of it, and asking that Jenkins' brigade of cavalry and Wharton's, of infantry, be returned to me by way of Staunton and Warm Springs, and they were ordered accordingly. If Wharton's brigade had moved by railroad to Millborough, as I supposed it would, it would have reached Callaghan's on the evening of the 26th or morning of the 27th. With that force at Callaghan's and the First Brigade pressing in the rear, the country is such that I scarcely think that General Averell's command could have escaped destruction.
On first receiving information of the enemy's movement, apprehending that he might be aiming at Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, I warned the home guards along the line of that road to be in readiness to turn out at a moment's notice. On the night of the 25th, I ordered them to turn out, which they did with great alacrity, and were prepared to defend the important points along the line of that road.
My inspector-general, Maj. Giles B. Cooke, assistant adjutant-general, was in charge of my office at Dublin, and was very active and energetic in organizing and disposing of this force.
The accompanying topographic sketch will illustrate the position of the troops near White Sulphur Springs.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
SAM. JONES,
Major-General.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 29, Serial No. 48, Pages 44-46, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
