Summary:
Union General William Averell writes General Benjamin F. Kelley on January, 1864, scouting reports from the Shenandoah Valley. Averell mentions that Confederates captured parts of his force and moved them through Staunton.

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Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY,
Cmdg. Department of the Cumberland:

Martinsburg,

January 1, 1864.

My own scouts have returned from Winchester and report nothing in the place except scouting party of 40 rebels up to dark last night, but that Sixty-second Virginia Infantry, Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, White's battalion, and one or two companies of Gilmor's battalion were in the vicinity of Winchester. The rebels reported my force in the mountains unable to escape; that 1,200 of my command which had been captured passed through Staunton yesterday. I think it is proper that I should assume command of the entire force at this place. I will endeavor to have no more stampedes. Col. Rodgers' command can, however, make their returns to their proper division commander. If this meets your approbation, please direct it. I still think the permanent infantry force should be increased at this point. As soon as I get my command in order I will clean out Winchester, if the rebels attempt to occupy it.

WM. W. AVERELL,
Brig.-Gen.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 33, Serial No. 60, Pages 322, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.