No. 1.
Report of Col.
Charles R. Lowell, jr., Second Massachusetts Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY
CAMP,
August 12, 1863.
COLONEL: I have the honor to report information on Mosby's
last raid as far as collected.
Mosby's and White's men – together about 140 strong – came
down Little River turnpike the day before yesterday, and passed that night near
Gum Springs. Moved down yesterday forenoon through Ox road junction toward
Flint Hill. Hearing that our pickets were there, turned to the north again,
and, passing through Vienna by Mills Cross-Roads, to Little River pike, near
Gooding's Tavern, captured one sutler's train there between 3 and 4 p.m. and
another about a mile farther east. An hour later half plundered some of the
wagons, took all the horses and mules, and started back in a hurry through
Vienna, toward Hunter's Mill.
About 1 mile south of the mill they divided, one-half going
toward Dranesville, the other by Hunter's Mill, nearly down to Chantilly, then
turned to the right, and, I presume, passed through Gum Springs early this a.m.
On receiving your dispatch about camp of 40 men 5 miles from
Falls Church, on Monday, I placed pickets on Ox road, at Fairfax Court-House,
at Flint Hill and at all cross-roads between there and Vienna. These pickets
had orders to return to Fairfax Court-House at 12 a.m. on Tuesday. Put 30 men
at Vienna and 75 men at Freedom Hill and in that neighborhood. These last with
orders to move toward Falls Church by all the roads from the west early Tuesday
morning, carefully examining all cross-roads. These instructions were obeyed,
and nothing suspicious found.
From Falls Church I sent 70 men to relieve Captain Reed at
Fort Ethan Allen, and started with the remaining 30 to beat up the country
round Chichester Mills. This I did thoroughly, and reached Fairfax Court-House,
by back roads, about 11 a.m., and passed on to Germantown and Centreville.
The pickets at Flint Hill, &c., came in at the time
ordered, and Captain McKendry, the officer in charge, was examining into the
liquor traffic, said to be carried on at Fairfax Court-House, when news was
brought of the capture of the sutler's train. He started down at once with 40
men, and arrived about dark, Mosby having already left.
As soon as I heard of it I telegraphed to Captain Reed at
Fort Ethan Allen to take his 80 men toward Dranesville, and directed Captain
McKendry to follow as soon as he could see the trail.
Major Hall, Sixth New York Cavalry, with 70 men – part his
own, part furnished from this command – having already started on a scout
toward Gum Springs and Aldie, he could not be communicated with, but I relied
on him to stop the main roads to the west. From Major Hall I learn force, and
fact that Mosby and White had joined, and left Aldie on Monday.
From Captain McKendry I learned the force, and the route
taken by Mosby on Tuesday. From Captain Reed I have not heard, but hope that he
may yet give some account of the party that went toward Dranesville. He had 80
men with him and an excellent guide.
From other facts collected by Major Hall, I think it is
Mosby's intention to leave the country round Gum Springs to White's men, and
himself to move his headquarters to near Dranesville.
With your approbation, I propose to establish a regular
escort of 30 to 50 men over the pike from Centreville to some point near
Alexandria, once each way at irregular hours, all sutlers and stray wagons to
be halted and compelled to come with this escort. This will be less fatiguing
to my horses, and will, I think, with the detachments going to the front,
afford all necessary protection to the sutlers.
I would call your attention to the necessity of having good
officers in command of all detachments going to the front of cattle guards.
With so many sutlers on the road anxious for escort, whisky is very easily
obtained, and it is not uncommon to see both officers and men drunk.
I think most of the wagons broken down or left by Mosby have
been plundered by our stray cavalrymen. I would also suggest that some more
systematic method be adopted for encouraging citizens to bring in information.
When citizens bring in valuable and reliable information, is there any fund
from which I can rely upon their getting some reward?
I sent in 61 horses on Monday, and 55 more to-day, most of
them United States horses, some captured, some collected to the northwest of
here, and some near Maple Valley.
The party sent Sunday to Maple Valley remained two days
scouring there, and has just returned from there. Kinchiloe left a week ago, according to last
information. His men are again returning by twos and threes.
I am, colonel,
respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. R. LOWELL, JR.,
Colonel Second Massachusetts Cavalry,
Commanding.
Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
29, Part 1 (Serial No. 48), p. 68-9
