Summary:
Union General Winfield Scott Hancock writes Assistant Adjutant T. S. Bowers in May, 1865, to report the return of a cavalry force from Staunton. Hancock reports that 750 men were paroled there. He also mentions the disposition of the citizens of the Valley, and the continuing problem of guerrillas.

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Lieut. Col. T. S. BOWERS,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Hdqrs. Armies of the United States:

May 5, 1865.

COL.:

I have the honor to report that Gen. Torbert, commanding Army of the Shenandoah, reports to me by telegram of this date that the cavalry force under Col. Reed, of the Twenty-second New York Cavalry, has returned from Staunton having paroled about 750 men, in addition to those heretofore reported. Gen.'s Rosser and Lilley left Staunton the day before Col. Reed arrived there, having been engaged without success in endeavoring to raise men to go south. Gen. Torbert expects to receive on Monday the surrender of the remnant of Dearing's old brigade. The people are reported as well disposed. Guerrillas are reported as troublesome in the vicinity and Mount Jackson. I have directed a force to be sent against them, and no quarter to be shown.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Maj.-Gen. of Volunteers, Cmdg. Middle Military 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 46, Serial No. 97, Pages 1095, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.