(Same to Lieut. Col. George Stetzel, commanding Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.)

SIR: In accordance with orders received from Major-General Butler last evening, through Colonel Shaffer, I have the honor to submit the following statement, viz: On the evening of the 9th instant as the cavalry command was returning to camp, and when the head of the column was on this side of the pontoon bridge, after crossing the Appomattox, Captain Clarke, an aide-de-camp to Genera1 Butler, came to me and said, "Who commands this column?" I answered, "Colonel Spear." Captain Clarke replied, "General Butler directs that all the prisoners captured to-day be sent to his headquarters at once, to be there delivered to an officer of the guard waiting to receive them."

General Kautz having left the column, and I being the senior officer present, at once, and in the presence of Captain Clarke, sent Lieutenant Cameron, my aide, to Lieut. Col. George Stetzel, commanding Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and to Major Kleinz, commanding Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with an order exactly repeating General Butler's order. At this time Lieutenant-Colonel Stetzer and Major Kleinz were in my rear, and all the prisoners were in either the Eleventh or the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry column.

In order that there should be no mistake, I sent, while Lieutenant Cameron was executing his orders, a trusty orderly, Private Conrad Reese, to Major Wetherill, who was at his quarters, informing him of the orders I had received. My aide, Lieutenant Cameron, also went to Major Wetherill, and said, "Major, Colonel Spear has received instructions from Major-General Butler to have all the prisoners turned over to-night." (See Lieutenant Cameron's report, second page.)

Lieutenant Cameron also reported the fact to Captain Asch, acting assistant adjutant-general to General Kautz (see Lieutenant Cameron's report). Major Wetherill was provost-marshal, and Lieutenant Bayard his assistant, both under direct orders to General Kautz. I could not order them but could only inform them of my instructions, also Captain Asch, as appears I did by Lieutenant Cameron's report. I most positively supposed the order was obeyed, and was greatly surprised on the morning of the 10th instant to find it was not. I have always carried out the orders of my superiors to the letter, and enforced the same upon all juniors, as the maintenance of discipline in all commands depends strictly and mainly upon this course.

I inclose reports(*) of Lieut. Col. George Stetzel, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; Maj. C. Kleinz, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry; Lieut. J. Frank Cameron, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, aide-de-camp; Capt. H. C. Clarke, aide-de-camp; Lieut. W. T. Carnace, Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry; Lieut. W. E. A. Bird, Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

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

SAMUEL P. SPEAR,
Col. 11th Pa. Cav., Comdg. 2d Brig., Kautz's Div. of Cav.

JUNE 9, 1864.--Engagement at Petersburg, Va.
No. 15.--Report of Col. Samuel P. Spear, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY BRIGADE,
In the Field, June 11, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report concerning the operations of my brigade during the expedition to Petersburg on the 9th instant:
Pursuant to instructions from division headquarters, my brigade, consisting of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, 640 men, two mountain howitzers, commanded by Lieut. Col. George Stetzel, and the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 450 men and two howitzers, commanded by Major Kleinz, left camp at 11.30 p.m. on 8th instant, crossed the pontoon bridge over the Appomattox, and marched forward about 2 miles. There halted until 4.30 a.m. on the 9th, when I took the line of march toward the Jordan's Point road, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry in advance. The advance guard soon came upon and charged the enemy's pickets, capturing 4 of them, 2 being wounded. I then marched on to the above-named road, and out in the direction of the Petersburg plank road. When within 7 miles of the plank road the advance was again fired upon by the enemy. I ordered the carbineers of the Eleventh to dismount and skirmish the woods to the front, and two squadrons of the.Fifth to the right and left. The enemy opened upon the Fifth with howitzers. One squadron from that regiment charged them, driving them from their camp into intrenchments. In the flight they left arms, horse equipments, and clothing in considerable quantity, and which we destroyed. The front being cleared by the Eleventh, the command was mounted and proceeded on the route. On approaching the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, the advance guard again came upon the enemy's pickets, charged them and wounded 1 mortally. The remainder made their escape to the woods. On reaching the plank road at 10.30 a.m., 5 miles from Petersburg, I received instructions from the general commanding to march in the direction of Petersburg. I did so, driving in and capturing some of the enemy's pickets on the road. Within 1 mile of the city I came in sight of the earth-works, consisting of four redoubts and a line of intrenchments about half a mile in length. I ordered one squadron of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry to charge the works with drawn sabers, which they did in gallant style, but owing to the superior force and position of the enemy, they were compelled to fall back, forming line again in advance of the main column. After due consultation with the general commanding, I made a careful reconnaissance of the enemy's position, and ordered the following disposition of my command: On the right, carbineers of the Eleventh to dismount and advance as skirmishers. One squadron, mounted, of the Eleventh was ordered to the extreme right and one to the extreme left, with orders to charge in concert with dismounted line of skirmishers; the remainder of the Eleventh were posted on the center and right center, with orders to charge mounted on the appearance of wavering or confusion among the enemy. The Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry was ordered and took position on the left of the road, with orders to storm the two redoubts in their front and penetrate the line of intrenchments. The line moved forward simultaneously, under cover of two 6-pounder rifled guns, commanded by Lieutenant Morton, Eighth New York Battery, and two 12-pounder mountain howitzers of the Fifth, the right being assisted by a detachment from First District. The enemy received us with a determined and vigorous musketry fire along the whole line; also on the left with grape and canister from one piece of artillery. The position occupied by the enemy was well chosen and defended with obstinacy. Our assaulting party continued to press forward in the face of the fire, captured the redoubts, and occupied them, then prepared to charge the line of intrenchments, which was done, and the works carried, with a loss to the enemy of 30 killed, many wounded, among whom were several officers left on the field, and about 40 prisoners, besides one piece of artillery and a large quantity of small-arms. The latter were destroyed by our men. The squadron on the right charged around the works to within one-half of a mile of Petersburg; there halted for the main column. Owing to obstructions the squadron on the extreme left could not move forward, whereby the principal portion of the enemy made their escape into the woods close by. These works were said to be defended by two regiments of militia and one of regulars under the supervision of General Beauregard. On the approach of the main column the advance squadron moved forward. It was ascertained that during the engagement mentioned the enemy had received large re-enforcements, and when the advance reached within 150 yards of Petersburg the enemy opened with musketry, grape, and canister from four pieces of artillery posted on a bluff immediately in front of the town. The fire was so severe that I ordered the advance to wheel to the left about and retired about 50 yards to the cover of a bluff along the road. There I halted about ten minutes until it was ascertained the column had left and the enemy approaching in force. I retired slowly, soon met the general commanding, stated the condition of the enemy's force, and was ordered to fallback slowly, which was done, after a delay of one hour and a half, in order to prosecute a search for wounded and missing. My rear guard was followed by infantry, cavalry, and artillery for a distance of 2 miles from Petersburg. A detachment of the First District then formed in the rear of my column, and I returned to camp with my command, reaching here at 10.30 p.m.
Inclosed please find the reports of my regimental commanders; with lists of casualties.
I am, captain, with high respect, your obedient servant,
S. P. SPEAR,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. M. J. ASCH,
A. A. A. G., Kautz's Cav. Div., 18th Army Corps.
ADDENDA.
HATCHER'S, VA., June 18, 1864.
Col. S. P. SPEAR,
Second Cavalry Brigade:
DEAR SIR: You led the advance of Kautz's attack on the left on the fortifications of Petersburg on the 9th. Will you please answer the following interrogatories: First. What force did you estimate in your immediate front on outer line? You mentioned three regiments in your report. Second. Where were the other troops for the defense of the outer line, and whose command were they under? Give your sources of information. Third. Do you consider that on that day the interior defenses near the town were strong or weak? Fourth. Where could the enemy have got re-enforcements from, and where did they get them from? Give sources of information. Fifth. Give your estimate of force adequate, if it were practicable, to force the inner line and reach the bridge across the Appomattox on that day. Sixth. Was the resistance you met on approaching the inner line strong or weak, and of what character? Seventh. What was the character of the inner line of defenses? Eighth. Was General Kautz with you in front?
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. A. GILLMORE,
Major-General.
-----
IN THE FIELD, NEAR HATCHER'S, VA.,
June 18, 1864.
Maj. Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE:
DEAR SIR In reply to your communication of this date, I have to state that :I led the advance of General Kautz's attack on the left of the fortifications in front of Petersburg on the 9th instant. I estimated the strength of the force on the outer line in my immediate front at about 1,500 infantry and three pieces of artillery. On my right was a force of artillery and infantry whom I was informed by prisoners and intelligent wounded officers and citizens to be commanded by Wise in person. The defenses in the immediate front of the town consisted of a stockade with earth-work in front, very strong, and on my approach about 150 yards a most murderous fire of artillery and infantry was opened upon me. Had the enemy reserved this fire for a few minutes longer the most fearful results to my command would have ensued, and I was compelled to fall back under cover immediately. After falling back about 1 mile I found in a house about 14 wounded soldiers and citizens. I interrogated each separately. They were in different rooms and could not hear the conversation in the adjoining rooms. I found in summing up their statements the following results, viz, that Beauregard had a large force (they could not state the number) between the Appomattox and Swift Creek, and that the town of Petersburg could be and was re-enforced by him. Heard engines whistling often and the rolling of cars. My first impression was that the town could be easily entered, but after falling back (and at about 1.30 p.m.) I concluded that it would take 8,000 or 10,000 men to take and occupy Petersburg. No officer superior in rank to me was with me in leading the attack with the First Battalion. I reached the outer works in front of the town at 11.30 a.m. by the watch.
I am, general, with high respect, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL P. SPEAR,
Colonel Eleventh Pennsylvania Cav., Comdg. Brigade.
I fully concur in the above statement, excepting the number of guns and men specified as being in the outer line of works. I was not in a position to state how many of either were located there.
GERARD REYNOLDS,
Captain, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
The above statement of Colonel Spear I fully concur in. The facts stated occurred under my personal observations. I saw, however, but two guns in the outer works, although it is possible there were others there.
WILLIAM BAILEY,
Captain, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
From personal observation I concur in the above statement of Colonel Spear. I could not say exactly how many guns were in the outer works. I saw, however, two, but in the inner line of works there was at least a whole battery. I saw four guns at least, all of which opened on us with a terrific fire and compelled us to fall back and seek a shelter.
JOHN G. SAMPLE,
Second Lieutenant, Comdg. Co. D, 11th Penn. Cav.