Summary:
Union General Franz Sigel reports to Assistant Adjutant Wager on the May, 1864,
battle at New Market. He also mentions his orders that General Crook operate in
the direction of Staunton.
Capt. WAGER:
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
Cedar Creek,
May 19, 1864. (Received 11 p. m.)
Your dispatch dated May 17, 10 p. m., has been received. I reported to the Adjutant-Gen., from Mount Jackson and Strasburg on the 15th and 16th instant, that we had me Breckinridge on the 15th at New Market, and fought him the whole day with about 5,500 men, against about 8,000 to 9,000 men. After a loss of 800 killed and wounded, I withdrew my force slowly to Mount Jackson. The enemy sustained heavy losses. I deemed it prudent to withdraw behind Cedar Creek, in which position I am at present, with my advance between Strasburg and Woodstock. The enemy has made no advance; his main force is at Mount Jackson and New Market and his cavalry at Woodstock. I will watch his movements, follow him closely if he withdraws, and resist him if he advances. I have ordered the last two regiments from the interior of the department to join me, and have directed Gen. Crook, through Gen. Kelley, to operate from Lewisburg in the direction of Staunton.
F. SIGEL,
Maj.-Gen.
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 493-494, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
