Circumstances surrounding the capture of R. B. Wallace C.S.A. Information derived from Official Records of the War of the Rebellion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNION REPORTS OR: Series I, Volume 43, Part 1 page 437 Headquarters Cavalry, Middle Military Division, Kernstown, Va., November 12, 1864 Sir: I have the honor to report that a portion of the cavalry moved to-day, as follows: Second Division, Brigadier-General Powell commanding, moved out on the Winchester and Front Royal pike and engaged General Lomax's (rebel) division of cavalry at Nineveh and routed them completely, pursuing them two miles south of Front Royal. Captured all of the artillery (2 pieces and caissons) they had, their ordnance train (3 wagons), and 180 prisoners, among them 18 officers; killed and wounded several, among them General McCausland slightly. Third Division, Brevet Major-General Custer commanding, moved out on the Middle and Back roads and engaged rebel General Rosser's division of cavalry, about four miles north of Cedar Creek, and routed them completely, driving them across Cedar Creek. Captured 16 prisoners, killed and wounded several, among them 4 field officers. I regret exceedingly to mention the loss of Colonel Hull, commanding Second New York Cavalry, who lost his life while gallantly leading his regiment in a charge. A portion of the First Division, Brevet Major-General Merritt commanding, moved out on the Valley pike and engaged the enemy's infantry about dark and fought them until about 10 o'clock. The cavalry returned to camp about 11 o'clock. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. T. A. Torbert Brevet Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Forsyth, Chief of Staff to General Sheridan ===================================================== OR: Series I, Volume 43, part 2 page 612-613 Headquarters Middle Military Divison November 12, 1864 Brevet Major-General Emory Commanding Nineteenth Corps: General: The major-general commanding directs that you have your corps on the alert in the morning. General Powell just reports that he has driven Lomax's division two miles south of Front Royal, capturing all their artillery (two pieces), his caissons, ammunition train, and 150 prisoners. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. Kingsbury, Jr. Assistant Adjutant-General ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Headquarters Middle Military Divison November 12, 1864 Major-General Crook, Commanding Department of West Virginia: General: General Powell reports that he has driven Lomax's division two miles beyond Front Royal, capturing all their artillery (two pieces), their caissons, ammunition train, and 150 prisoners. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. Kingsbury, Jr. Assistant Adjutant-General ================================================ OR: Series 1, Volume 43, part 2 Page 611 Kernstown, November 12, 1864 - 10 p.m. (Received 7 p.m. 13th) Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant Commanding U. S. Armies, City Point, Va.: Yesterday the enemy's cavalry made a demonstration on my front south of Newtown, and my scouts reported a large infantry force having moved down the pike to Middletown with the intention of attacking. This morning I had everything ready, but no attack was made. About 1 p.m. I moved Custer's division of cavalry up the Back road and the Middle road. Pennington's brigade met two brigades of Rosser's cavalry on the Back road, charged them, and drove them at a run four or five miles and across Cedar Creek, capturing some prisoners. While this was going on General Powell moved on the Front Royal pike and thence toward Middletown. At Nineveh he met Lomax's cavalry, increased by what is called John Morgan's cavalry, charged it, capturing all of Lomax's artillery (two pieces), with caissons, horses, artillerymen, &c., and his ammunition train, and ran his cavalry up the Luray Valley for a distance of eight or nine miles. One brigade of Merritt's division moved up the pike late this evening, but nothing important occurred. Colonel Dudley's brigade, of the Nineteenth Corps, moved out to demonstrate in this cavalry movement; aso some sharpshooters of the Sixth Corps. Our losses are very slight. I have to regret the loss of Colonel Hull, of Pennington's brigade, who was killed while gallantly leading a charge. Powell captured 14 commissioned officers, 200 privates, and 2 battle-flags, killed several officers, and brought in 35 wounded. As yet I have seen no infantry, and think the report of the scouts untruthful. P. H. Sheridan Major-General =========================================== OR: Series 1, Volume 43, part 2 Page 624 Kernstown, November 14, 1864 -11 a.m. (Received 10 p.m.) Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, Commanding Armies of the United States: The reconnaissance made yesterday by the cavalry enables me to give you definite information of the recent movements of the enemy here. Early moved with his whole army from New Market on the same day that I moved back from Cedar Creek, under the impression (so prisoners say) that a large number of the troops here had been sent North on account of the election. He came down to the north side of Cedar Creek on the 12th. The information given by my scouts was correct in every particular. Early's cavalry having been driven in and broken on both flanks, he fell back in great haste on the night of the 12th instant, and, according to the reports of prisoners, was going back to New Market. General Torbert pushed on to Strasburg yesterday, driving the enemy out of town and up to Fisher's Hill. The cavalry fight of Powell and Custer was very creditable. Merritt was but slightly engaged after dark with the enemy's infantry on the pike. The result of the day's operations was 20 commissioned officers, 225 men, 2 pieces of artillery, 3 caissons, 2 battle-flags, and 4 ammunition wagons captured, and the complete rout of the enemy's cavalry. Our loss was only 2 killed, 7 wounded, and 7 captured. The railroad will soon be finished to the crossing of Opequon Creek. I can then get long forage for our animals. They are now suffering very much from the cold weather and insufficiency of food. P. H. Sheridan, Major-General =============================================== OR: Series I, Volume 43, part 1 page 512-513 Headquarters Second Cavalry Divison Department of West Virginia November 17, 1864 Major: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my command on the 12th instant, in an engagement with rebel Major-General Lomax's divison, on the Winchester and Front Royal pike, near Nineveh, Va. In compliance with orders from headquarters Cavalry, Middle Military Division, I moved my command at daylight of the 12th from camp at Parkins' Mills, on Winchester and Front Royal pike, moving in the direction of Front Royal, and to the crossing of the road leading from Newtown, Va., to White Post. Before arriving at this point orders reached me from Major-General Torbert (by Captain Martindale) to send one brigade on a reconnaissance toward Cedarville. On my arrival at the cross-roads I sent my First Brigade, commanded by Col. William B. Tibbits, Twenty-first New York Cavalry, immediately forward on the reconnaissance. Soon after Colonel Tibbits had moved out I again received orders from chief of cavalry (by Captain Reno) to move my whole command to Nineveh, and thence across the country to Middletown. On my arrival at Nineveh, while in the execution of the latter order, I found Colonel Tibbits engaged with the enemy about half a mile south of the village. I moved Second Brigade forward at once to his support and learned from him that he had driven the enemy back to under cover of his guns. Colonel Tibbits was then falling back, in compliance with my orders to move across to Middletown. While forming my division for a charge, the enemy charged my advance. I moved my whole line forward at once with drawn sabers (having the lines well supported on each flank and the center), charged the enemy, baroke his lines and drove him in great confusion beyond Front Royal and pursued him so closely as to prevent the possibility of his rallying or reforming his lines. The close of the day prevented farther pursuit. The conduct of the officers and enlisted men throughout the entire command was most gallant--seldom equaled, rarely excelled. The enemy's force consisted of the Fourteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-second Regiments of Virginia Cavalry. Sixty-second Regiment Mounted Infantry, and Lurty's battery--two guns. My command was composed of Eighth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and Twenty-first New York Cavalry, commanded by Col. William B. Tibbits (First Brigade), and the First Virginia Cavalry, Third Virginia Cavalry, and First New York Cavalry (Second Brigade), commanded by Col. H. Capehart, First Virginia Cavalry. The enemy's loss was 20 killed, 35 wounded, and 161 prisoners, including 19 commissioned officers (prisoners), from the grade of lieutenant-colonel down. Among the enemy's killed was Colonel Radford, of the Twenty-second Virginia Cavalry, a major on General Early's staff, and a captain on McCausland's staff. I captured of the enemy 2 pieces artillery (all he had), 2 caissons, 2 wagons and 1 ambulance, and 50 horses, and 2 battle-flags. I was obliged to destroy, for want of means to bring from the field, one of the caissons, one wagon laoded with ammunition, and the ambulance. The enemy had strewn the ground with small-arms in his flight; these were broken up as far as practicable. The prisoners reported that General McCausland was slightly wounded, and escaped by taking to the woods. My own loss was 1 commissioned officer and 1 enlisted man killed and 15 enlisted men wounded. Among the killed was Capt. R. G. Prendergast, acting provost-marshal on my staff. I brought the wounded of my command and most of the enemy's wounded off the field, and returning reached camp at Parkins' Mills at 9:30 p.m. same day. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. H. Powell, Brigadier-General (to)[Maj. William Russell, Jr. Assistant Adjutant-General] ================= CONFEDERATE REPORTS================ OR: Series 1, Volume 43, part 1 page 614 Camp near Milford, November 13, 1864 Captain: I reached this point with my command about 11 a.m. I inclose a report of the engagement of McCausland's brigade. I trust his loss of prissoners is overestimated; the prisoners are coming rapidly. He has three regiments dismounted and the enemy charged in an open field. The general states that Merritt came in on the Newtown and Nineveh roads, and until then he had been successful. The ground shows evidence of a hard fight. My advance reached Cedarville about half an hour after the enemy left. I have not heard of the enemy being so low down on that road until after I passed through Cedarville. Respectfully, L. L. Lomax (to) Captain W. K. Martin, Assistant Adjutant-General No. 187 Report of Brig. Gen. John McCausland, C. S. Army, commanding brigade, of operations November 12. Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, November 13, 1864 Captain: I have the honor to submit the following brief report of the engagement on yesterday between my brigade and the cavalry of the enemy: As you are aware I was left at Cedarville to guard the Winchester and Front Royal pike, and also the Cedarville and Middletown road. About 11 a.m. November 12 scouts reported the enemy advancing. I at once formed my command across the road, and put the two pieces of artillery under Captain Lurty in position so as to command the road. Soon the enemy drove in the pickets and advanced. They were soon checked and were afterward driven back. They formed and attacked the second time and were repulsed. I then advanced and drove Powell's division two miles, when he was re-enforced by a command supposed to be a division. They advanced, charged, broke my lines, and drove me to Front Royal, capturing the artillery and about 100 prisoners. I lost 10 killed and about 60 wounded. Owing to the absence of many officers I cannot state exactly the number of men killed, wounded, and missing, and the above may be considered as the nearest approximation that can now be made. I made the best fight that could be made with the same number of men, and I considered it absolutely necessary to fight on account of the great danger that would have resulted had I fallen back to Gaurd Hill, and thereby exposed the whole Valley pike to Middletown to the enemy. We have to regret the loss of many brave men and officers. Capt. C. I. Harvie, assistant adjutant and inspector general, mortally wounded; Lieut. Col. J. T. Radford, mortally wounded; Lieut. Col. J. A. Gibson, wounded and left near Cedarville; several lieutenants also wounded. The men and officers behaved with great gallantry. The fight lasted from 12 m. to 3.30 p.m. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Jno. McCausland, Brigadier-General. (to) Capt. W. K. Martin, Assistant Adjutant-General ============================================ OR: Series 1, Volume 43, part 1 page 550-551 No. 171 Medals of Honor awarded for distinguished services under Resolution of Congress, No. 43, approved July 12, 1862, and section 6 of Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1863 Adams, James F. Private, Company D, 1st West Virginia Cavalry 1864, November 12 (awarded for) Capture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry at Nineveh, Va. Shoemaker, Levi Sergeant, Company A, 1st West Virginia Cavalry 1864, November 12 (awarded for) Capture of flag of 22d Virginia Cavalry at Neneveh, Va.