Summary:
During the fall of 1864, Union cavalry wreaked havoc in the strategically important Shenandoah Valley. In this letter, Union cavalry General George Armstrong Custer itemizes captured and destroyed supplies in the Valley. He estimates that his cavalry did $30,000 worth of damage to the Staunton railroad.

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Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, JR.,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Cavalry, Middle Military Division:

November 15, 1864

MAJ.:

In compliance with Special Orders, No., 78, from your headquarters, I have the honor to report the following:

Captured from the enemy since the beginning of the campaign; 51 pieces of artillery, 30 caissons, 1 battery wagon, 44 army wagons, 23 spring wagons and ambulances, 1 medicine wagon, 243 horses, 182 mules, 207 sets artillery harness, 197 sets wagon harness, wagons containing ordnance stores, 152 head beef-cattle, 180 horses captured and branded.

Destroyed during the campaign; 3 caissons, 4 army wagons, 4 spring wagons and ambulances; 10 mills, valued at $20,000; 150 barns, containing 1,500 tons hay, valued at $30,000; Staunton railroad and railroad property, valued at $30,000; 10,000 bushels wheat, valued at $20,000; 2,000 bushels oats and rye, valued at $3,000; 400 head sheep, 100 head cattle, driven to near our lines. Lost, 4 blacksmith forges.

I am, very respectfully, &c.,

G. A. CUSTER,
Brevet Maj.-Gen., Cmdg. Third Division.

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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 43, Serial No. 90, Pages 529, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.