Brigadier-General KAUTZ,

Commanding Cavalry Division:

GENERAL: One of your men, who was captured on picket near Mount Sinai or Mount Zion Church, on last Thursday night, states that he learned that a large number of the enemy's scouts and men were prowling about the rear of the army and among the camps of the trains, picking up information, stealing horses, &c. the man's name is Wilcox, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. He is on his way to your command. The commanding general desires that you send small patrolling parties to look after these men. General Patrick has been directed to send patrols for the same purpose.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,

August 28, 1864--11 a.m.

Captain WEIR,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Division:

CAPTAIN: I have to report one man wounded of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry last night on picket near Rollins' house, on the Powhatan road. He was fired upon three or four times and struck in three places with buckshot and horse killed. In other respects the line has been undisturbed.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,

August 29, 1864.

Captain WEIR:

CAPTAIN: I have to report, for the information of the general commanding the cavalry, that one man of the First District of Columbia Cavalry was slightly wounded on picket last night, and one man, with horse and equipments, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was captured whilst patroling. No other events reported.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,

August 31, 1864.

Captain WEIR,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Division:

CAPTAIN: I have to report that a force of ten or twelve of the enemy attacked the picket-line, near the Blackwater, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, but were easily driven off. They were dismounted and seemed to desire to break through the picket-line. They have not been heard of since. Rebel scouts were seen at other points along the line, but they made no attack; otherwise, everything is quiet.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, KAUTZ'S DIVISION,

Near Olive Branch Church, September 7, 1864.

Capt. M. J. ASCH,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: I learn that about sunrise this morning several rebel soldiers were seen near Doctor Bryant's house. A few were mounted. I have just returned from a visit along the right of the line. There is a safeguard named Gay, Thirty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers, at Doctor Bryant's. The officers complain that on other occasions when rebels have been seen about there that he is very uncommunicative and they are suspicious of him. As this safeguard is outside of our picket-line nearly a quarter of a mile, I respectfully submit that he should either be withdrawn or relieved. Our line is so thin that it is impossible to keep out determined and skillful scouts, and I think in places through the woods on the Lawyers' road that a wire could be stretched from tree to tree, running through small iron staples, so that the picket could hear any one striking the wire during the night. There must be old worn-out telegraph wire about which could be used advantageously. I have directed Major Stratton to endeavor to entrap the parties who come near Doctor Bryant's.

Respectfully, yours,

SAM. WETHERILL,

Major Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE,

Mount Sinai Church, September 16, 1864.

Captain ASCH,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

The rebels have certainly been in our rear and up the stage road for some distance. I can't hear from Major Baker, and do not believe that a messenger could get through. The rebel pickets are one-quarter of a mile in advance of ours on Powhatan road. The time of attack looks more serious than anything that has yet occurred. Companies D and B, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, have lost nearly all their horses; at least eighty, we think. Captain Titus has about forty-five more at the cross-road, but we have no men to send out on reconnaissance, and really don't know what the rebs are doing.

Yours,

WETHERILL,

Major.

MOUNT SINAI CHURCH, September 16, 1864--5.15 a.m.

Major WETHERILL,

Commanding Brigade:

MAJOR: I have just received a report that Companies B and D have been driven off their position and have fallen back toward E Company. The report came from E Company by a sergeant. I have ordered Company M to go down immediately. Will let you know as soon as I get more definite information. There has been no firing for fifteen minutes.

Respectfully,

FRANKLIN A. STRATTON,

Major, Commanding Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.

All is quiet here. It hardly seems a serious attack. A man just in from Captain McFarlan's company says those two companies have been driven back on the straight road (stage road) for a mile; thus the rebs are in between E and the old post of D and B. Many horses are lost in Companies D and B. The enemy are reported as coming up the main road, this behind E, but I haven't this certain.

[ Indorsement. ]

5.30 A.M.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Humphreys for his information.

The attack seems to be for some distance along the line.

Very respectfully,

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,

September 18, 1864--9.30 p.m.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: Inclosed I send you reports from the pickets, just received. I do not understand the movement. If there is such a force as represented it must be in connection with some other movement. I have directed the avenues to be guarded as well as possible, but the whole force, by concentrating all the cavalry east of Mount Sinai Church, will not muster over 500 men. I send these reports to your headquarters to save time. Please to notify the general commanding the Second Cavalry Division of the fact.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Cavalry Division.

ar88_908>

[Inclosure.]

HDQRS. SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE, KAUTZ'S DIVISION,

September 18, 1864---8 p.m.

Capt. M. J. ASCH,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

CAPTAIN: Inclosed please find report from Maj. F. A. Stratton. Captain Speers sends word by an orderly that he went out on the road we went out on in pursuit of the rebels some distance, and he saw between twelve and fifteen mounted rebels; that they fell back as he approached them. The citizens reported to Captain Griffin that a brigade of rebel cavalry is advancing on the Cocke's Mill road. He, Captain Griffin, in Captain Speers' absence, drew back his pickets, doubling posts until he connects with the Eleventh Pennsylvania. I have ordered him to picket to Sycamore and to re-establish his picket on the road we went out. Please send further directions if required. Telegraph road on my rear is open to City Point.

Yours,

SAM. WETHERILL,

Major Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.

[Sub-inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY,

Near Rollins' House, September 18, 1864.--8 p.m.

Lieutenant GULIC,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brigade, Kautz's Division:

SIR: The First District of Columbia sent word to my outpost before sundown that a citizen by the name of Dunn came in and reported that there was a rebel brigade at the Blackwater; that he could hear bugles and see camp-fires, &c. Sergeants Cook and Smith, of Company D, went up to Sycamore Church about sundown. The corporal on picket where the road turns to the right just this side of Sycamore told them that the citizen (the same one) reported a division about two miles out, and that a force was advancing on the telegraph (Fort Powhatan) road. Captain Speers had gone out to reconnoiter on the latter road. Sergeants C. and S. are certain they heard bugles at a considerable distance while they were there. Smoke could be seen, but whether campfires or fire in the woods was uncertain. I send you all the information I have, thinking that you may not have received a report from Captain Speers.

Respectfully,

FRANKLIN A. STRATTON,

Major Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Commanding Regiment.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, KAUTZ'S CAVALRY DIVISION,

In the Field, Va., September 25, 1864.

Capt. M. J. ASCH,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General :

SIR: I have the honor to return the inclosed communication with the following report, viz: At 9.30 p.m. last evening I received a dispatch "by command of General Kautz" and signed by you, stating that" our pickets had fallen back upon the infantry supports from Old CourtHouse," &c. Upon the receipt of this, I immediately sent for my brigade officer of the day, and directed him "to proceed in person at once and ascertain facts and report" the same to me. I also ordered an officer and fifty men "to reconnoiter my left" and to report at the earliest possible moment "the state of that portion of my line." Fearing there should be some mistake, I ordered my own horse saddled and in person visited my line. I found not the least foundation for such report. I found the pickets posted exactly where they were ordered, and I found not one had fallen back upon the infantry supports. I found everything particularly quiet. My brigade officer of the day returned and reported:

All is right, sir; every sentinel is where I was directed to post him by your orders; none have fallen back, nor has there been the least cause for such report..

The officer in command of the reconnaissance of fifty men also returned and reported:

I have obeyed your orders; I have been to your extreme left and all is very quiet; no pickets have fallen back or have had cause for the least alarm.

My orders to my officers on that portion of the line intrusted to my charge are such as to furnish me "with the first indications of any irregularity or the approach of the enemy at once," and upon the reception of such report to furnish facts as soon as they can be ascertained to my commanding general. This course I have always pursued to the entire satisfaction of all my superiors.

I am, sir, with high respect, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL P. SPEAR,

Colonel Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.

[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,

September 26, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Major-General Humphreys, chief of staff, Army of the Potomac, for his information.

AUGUST V. KAUTZ,

Brigadier-General.

[ Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

September 26, 1864.

Respectfully referred to Brigadier-General Benham, who will investigate the matter as reported in his command and endeavor to ascertain the names of the parties belonging to the cavalry that came into his command and made the reports referred to. He will also report to what persons in his command the statements of the cavalrymen were made.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS No. 266.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VA. AND N. C., ARMY OF THE JAMES,

In the Field, Va., September 27, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

III. Major-General Ord, commanding Eighteenth Army Corps, will direct two companies of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and one company of the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry to report at once to Brig. Gen. A. V. Kautz, at Jones' Neck.

* * * * * * * * * *

By command of Major-General Butler:

ISRAEL R. SEALY,