Summary:
Union General George Crook reports on his June, 1864, advance in the Shenandoah
Valley. Crook reports moving to make a demonstration against Staunton, fighting
Confederate skirmishers and guerrillas all the way. He also mentions getting
shoes for his troops upon arrival at Staunton. Crook also discusses burning
bridges and destroying railroad tracks.
Lieut. Col. CHARLES G. HALPINE,
Assistant
Adjutant-Gen.
Charleston, Va.,
July 7, 1864.
COL.:
I have the honor to report that on my arrival at Meadow Bluff, May 19, from the New River expedition, I received a dispatch from Maj.-Gen. Sigel, then commanding the department, to make a demonstration on Staunton as soon as possible. Being out of provision and many of my men barefoot, I was compelled to lay over here until such supplies could be brought up from Gauley Bridge, but owing to the miserable transportation furnished by the quartermaster's department (many of the animals thus furnished being not two years old), I was compelled to lie here eleven days instead of five, and then I was compelled to leave on the 30th (31st), with many of my men barefoot and scantily supplied with rations.
I marched via Callaghan's, Warm Springs, Goshen Depot, Pond Gap, and Middlebrook to Staunton, arriving at the latter place on the morning of the 8th of June. During the march we kept up almost a continued skirmish with the enemy's scouts, guerrillas, and found Millborough Depot, with McCausland's and Jenkins' brigades, who would occupy the strong positions in my advance in order to impede my march, but without avail. My loss in killed, wounded, and missing was very slight, inflicting a much heavier loss on the enemy. We burned Calf Pasture bridge, besides some lesser bridges and culverts, and tore up some three or four miles of the track on the Virginia Central Railroad. Gen. Averell left the vicinity of Lewisburg some two days after me. (For particulars see his report). At Staunton we were fortunate enough to get shoes for our barefoot men.
Col. Campbell reported to me on the 9th with the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned the command of the Third Brigade.
I marched on the morning of the 10th, per instructions from the major-general commanding, on the Lexington road via Middlebrook; met McCausland's brigade, some 1,500 strong, a couple of miles from Staunton. By skirmishing with my advance and occupying strong positions along the road ahead of me, he endeavored to retard my march, but his loss of killed and wounded that fell into my hands was more than double mine. We marched twenty-four miles and encamped at Brownsburg. Gen. Averell encamped some two miles to my right.
On my approach to Lexington next morning the enemy fled across the river, burned the bridges, and occupied the cliff on the opposite bank of the river and in the edge of Lexington, opening on me with artillery and musketry. I occupied their attention in front while I sent the Second Brigade, Col. White commanding, to ford the river about two miles above. Gen. Averell had also crossed the river several miles above town, and on the approach of Gen. Averell's and Col. White's commands, the enemy fled toward Buchanan. The advance guard of the First Brigade entered town on the heels of the enemy and were first in town. Lay at Lexington two days.
Marched to Buchanan the 14th, a distance of twenty-six miles.
Next day crossed the mountains by Peaks of Otter, and hearing and rear, I halted at Fancy Farm and requested Gen. Averell also to await until the remainder of the command came up.
Next morning moved to Liberty, seven miles. My division thoroughly destroyed the railroad from Liberty to Big Otter Creek by tearing up the track, burning the ties, and bending the rails. Encamped near Big Otter on the Forest road.
Received dispatch from the major-general commanding just before daylight next morning to march across to the main road at New London-that Gen. Averell reported the enemy in force there. Arrived on this road, eight miles from Lynchburg, next morning at 10 o'clock, marching eleven miles. Learning that the enemy had retreated toward Lynchburg, halted here until 4 p. m. for Gen. Sullivan's division, when we moved on the main road to Lynchburg, my division in front. Gen. Averell's division moved on a road to the right, which intersected the main road some four miles from Lynchburg, which caused the enemy to fall back beyond the intersection of these roads. When I arrived at these cross-roads Gen. Averell had already passed and was engaging the enemy at the church on the hill beyond. Upon my arrival at the church the enemy began to show themselves in considerable force and were pressing back our skirmish line. At Gen. Averell's request I sent a brigade of infantry to support his line; also sent the third Brigade, Col. Campbell commanding, to our left to clear a skirt of woods of the enemy. The Second Brigade of my division that I had sent to the right to support Gen. Averell, soon checked the enemy's advance and started them in the opposite direction and drove them over a mile, capturing 4 pieces of artillery, but by mistake only 1 piece was brought off the field. Part of this brigade had already turned the enemy's works, but by this time it had become so dark and not knowing the ground the pursuit was discontinued. Gen. Sullivan soon came up with his division and relieved mine, when I fell back, replenished my cartridge-boxes, and went into camp for the night.
Next morning I was sent to the right with my division to make a reconnaissance for the purpose of turning the enemy's left. Found it impracticable after marching some three or four miles, and just returned with my division and got it in position to support Gen. Sullivan's division when the enemy made an attack on our lines. On the retreat this evening my division brought up the rear. When I reached Liberty I found Gen. Averell had gone into camp in the edge of town; the infantry were going into camp some mile and a half farther on. Just as my division was passing through town the enemy were reported on the Lynchburg road. Gen. Averell desired me to leave part of my division to support his cavalry, but as my men had marched all night and day, with scarcely any rest, I was anxious to put them in camp as soon as possible, and also being well satisfied that nothing but the enemy's cavalry could have had time to reach Liberty, and also that our cavalry was superior in numbers to theirs, I declined unless the enemy should develop a sufficient force to warrant the harassing of my tired men. The enemy, however, only developed some 1,500 or 2,000 cavalry, and had an engagement with Gen. Averell's cavalry.
Left camp at 2 o'clock next morning; arrived at Buford's Gap at about 1 p. m. Early's corps reached the gap about 3 or 4 p. m. and endeavored to flank us out of the gap, but failed. We resumed the march at 9 p. m. I have no evidence that the enemy's infantry followed us farther than to this point. Their cavalry, however, followed us to the eastern slope of the Catawba Mountain. From here on to the Kanawha Valley no enemy made his appearance except an occasional bushwhacker. The division became a little straitened for provisions, but came in in good shape.
I cannot speak too highly of both officers and men of the division for their uniform good behavior and cheerful and prompt obedience to orders, and the uncomplaining fortitude with which they endured the hardships and privations incident to the march.
My losses during the whole expedition are as follows, viz:
Command. K W M
T
First Brigade..... 11 49 16 76
Second Brigade.... 17 58 4 79
Third Brigade..... 29 134 27 190
Total*...... 57 241 47 345
K=Killed.
W=Wounded. M=Missing. T=Total.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. CROOK,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 37, Serial No. 70, Pages 119-122, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
