Summary:
Union Colonel George D. Wells reports to Captain William Boone on December, 1863,
actions in the Shenandoah Valley in conjunction with General William Averell's
raid in West Virginia. Wells mentions the feint against Staunton.
Capt. WILLIAM M. BOONE, Asst. Adjt. Gen.
Strasburg,
December 22, 1863.
CAPTAIN:
I have the honor to report my arrival at this place to-day. I proceeded up the valley as directed, reaching Sparta on the 19th, and entering Harrisonburg with the cavalry. I reached there the 20th with the infantry. We found nothing in the way but O'Ferrall's battalion, most of which was captured at different times.
At New Market I found a dispatch from O'Ferrall, directed to General Fitz. Lee, which gave me my first intimation that he was in the valley. Two of the prisoners taken there belonged to General Rosser's brigade. They stated that they had come home on furlough, but that when they left the brigade was under marching orders for the valley. Before reaching Sparta, I received information from various sources leaving no doubt in my mind that the brigade was then near Ashby's Gap, intending to cross in my rear. I relied on the high water to prevent this and kept on.
On the 20th, two deserters from his brigade came in, who reported the brigade as awaiting for the river to fall. The men swam the river, reported it then too deep for fording, but failing rapidly. On reaching Harrisonburg, I learned that Fitz. Lee had crossed on Friday with his brigade and some additional force, and that he and Imboden were trying to intercept Averell, who it was reported had completed his raid, burning the depot and tearing up the track at Salem, and had made good his return, eluding the forces sent in his pursuit. I also learned that Early's division had been in the valley some days, and was then encamped at Mount Crawford. This state of facts being so different from that contemplated in my instructions, and feeling certain of being intercepted if the river should fall, I consulted with Colonel Boyd, and decided to withdraw the infantry to New Market, leaving the cavalry to mask the movements and continue the feint on Staunton as long as possible. I moved after dark and reached New Market before morning, and the next day Edenburg, thus covering the roads leading to Luray Gap.
Colonel Boyd joined me at Edenburg. He reported that Early and Lee moved on Harrisonburg on the 21st; that the cavalry advanced with great caution until they reached the place where my artillery had been, evidently supposing me to be still there; that they then closed on him, driving him out of town about noon on the 21st, and followed him closely, with frequent skirmishing, as far as Mount Jackson.
This morning we have not been molested, except by a small party of guerrillas, who rendezvoused at Mount Jackson. I learned at Edenburg that Rosser, together with considerable infantry and artillery of Ewell's corps, unable to cross at Front Royal, moved, to Thornton's Gap on the 20th, and I am told here that he succeeded in crossing at New Market on the 21st, the same day I passed through. I have certainly out marched any infantry force, if any has followed me, and cavalry alone could do nothing with this command except to delay it. I shall move toward and beyond Winchester to-morrow. The men are in excellent health and spirits, and averse to halting to-day. They want to get home. Some, however, are very foot-sore and many barefooted.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
GEO. D. WELLS,
Colonel, Commanding.
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 938-939, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
