JULY 25-AUGUST 3, 1863.--Expedition from Portsmouth, Va., to Jackson, N.
C., and skirmish July 28.
No. 2.--Report of Maj. Samuel Wetherell, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.

BOWERS' HILL, VA.,
August 3, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor respectfully to report that, pursuant to Orders No.
--, I left Bowers' Hill with 650 effective men, July 25, joining your
brigade at the forks; proceeded through Suffolk; encamped on the Edenton
Road, near Dardin's.

July 26.--The regiment in advance to Gatesville. N. C., which we reached
at 5 p.m. Companies K and M were sent forward to n. Messengers arrived
during the night, stating that arrangements were needed to cross the river.
July 27.--The regiment, in rear, left Gatesville at sunrise; arrived
opposite Winton at 9 a.m.; crossed the Chowan as rapidly as the means of
transportation afforded; left Winton at dusk, and encamped in
Murfreesborough about 1.30 a.m.
July 28.--Pursuant to orders, detailed Lieutenant Nimmon, Company D, with
party, to capture horses. Left Murfreesborough at sunrise; reached Jackson,
N. C., at 4 p.m. The advance battalion, consisting of Companies I, Captain
Reisinger; C, Lieutenant Neil-son; E, Captain Bailey, and L, under command
of Capt. John B. Loomis, senior captain, deserves special mention for the
efficient manner in which nearly all the enemy's pickets stationed at
different points to convey intelligence were captured, thus in a degree
cutting off the news of our approach. At 1 mile from Murfreesborough, one
soldier of [S. J.] Wheeler's battalion (the outpost), captured; 3 miles
beyond, at the cross-roads, a lieutenant, 16 men, and 3 servants captured;
at the store cross-road, 3 miles beyond, a lieutenant, 5 soldiers, a
mounted messenger, and several citizens surprised and captured; at the
forks, 4 miles east of Jackson, a picket, consisting of 3 soldiers,
captured; making, in all, 2 lieutenants, 30 soldiers, 6 citizens, 3
servants, and the horse and equipments of the lieutenant.
The advance battalion, under Captain Loomis, and two howitzers. Lieutenant
[Lucien F.] Prudhomme, charged into the town and drove General Ransom, C.
S. Army, and staff at full chase into their intrenchments, situated so as
to defend a causeway and mill seat, 2 miles west of Jackson, charging to
within 40 yards of the breastworks, which General Ransom and party reached
50 yards ahead.
The enemy immediately advanced skirmishers across the causeway. Captain
Loomis dismounted the carbineers, and deployed them, and, with the
howitzers, drove them back within the intrenchments.
I moved down rapidly With Companies G, A. K. and M, at a trot, to support
the advance, when you overtook me, and ordered the regiment in position,
with Companies K, M, E, and I, under Major Stratton, to support the
artillery and howitzers, Companies G, A, L, and C drawn up in line, under
cover, leaving Companies H, F, D, and B, with prisoners, under Capt. R. B.
Ward, in Jackson, to picket strongly all roads leading to the rear, to
guard against surprise.
Lieutenant Prudhomme, commanding howitzers, took a position on the right of
the farm-house, within 240 yards of the enemy's works, and gallantly kept
his pieces usefully employed during the <ar44_983> engagement, in the midst
of a terrific storm, which seemed to put an end to the fight on both sides.
I received orders near night to cover the withdrawal of the artillery,
which was done. Arriving at Jackson, took the advance to the mill, 6 miles
this side, and encamped.
During the engagement, although our men were exposed to grape and canister,
shell and musketry, we had none killed or wounded, excepting a few horses.
It was reported to me by an officer of the First New York Mounted Rifles,
that 10 men of Company C had been left behind, drunk, in Jackson. Upon
investigation, I found the report to be incorrect, although a few of
Company C's men lost their way, but rejoined the column early in the morning.
July 29.--Left bivouac at 8 a.m., regiment in rear, Capt. John B. Loomis
commanding the rear guard. Battalion was ordered to burn the mill bridge
and causeway bridges. While so engaged, Private James Currance, Company A,
First New York Mounted Rifles, was brought to him by the caterer of my
mess, Dennis Riley, Company D, who, with one or two others, caught Currance
in the act of committing a rape upon an old woman sixty years of age. While
Captain Loomis was securing him, he shot at one of the men who was detailed
to tie him. Captain Loomis will prefer charges.

At the cross-roads, while waiting for Captain Loomis to report, a council
of officers was called, orders read, and it was unanimously the opinion
that the enemy had been expecting us for some days, and preparations made
to render success at Jackson and Hixford impossible.
Capt. R. B. Ward, in command of Companies D and C, was detached to convey
prisoners and captured horses by way of Reich Square to Winton. March
resumed on Captain Loomis' reporting the destruction of the bridges, and we
arrived at Murfreesborough, where we bivouacked.
July 30.--Left Murfreesborough in advance at 9 a.m. Previous to starting,
received orders to turn over to Colonel Onderdonk prisoner James Currance,
of Company A, with his arms, &c.; turned him over to Sergeant Fauthorne, of
Company A, who receipted for him. Arrived at Winton at I p.m. By order,
Capt. R. B. Ward appointed acting brigade provost-marshal, and 49 horses
and mules captured by Lieutenants Nimmon and Palmer, besides a number of
wagons, carts, and buggies, turned over to him. Captain Ward also reported
9 horses and mules captured by himself on the march from Murfreesborough to
Winton, via Reich Square, making in all 58 horses and mules captured on the
raid in North Carolina, beyond the Chowan, by the Eleventh Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, as well as 2 commissioned officers and 36
enlisted men of Wheeler's battalion (rebel), and 6 citizens and 3 servants.
Crossed the Chowan on transports, and bivouacked at the Somerton and
Gatesville forks, 4 miles from the river.
July 31.--As numerous complaints of the conduct of stragglers have been
made, and a disposition [manifested] on the part of the Mounted Rifles to
shield their own offenders by laying the blame on this regiment, I
appointed Lieutenant Titus, with I sergeant, 2 corporals, and 2 men from
each company (24 men), to march on the flank of the regiment, with orders
to arrest any man who left the column during the march, and at the regular
halts to arrest every enlisted man who left the ranks with his horse
without my pass. This was <ar44_984> done not only to keep stragglers in,
but to shield the regiment from the illegal acts of others.
Left bivouac at 10 a.m., regiment in rear. Delayed on the march several
hours, in consequence of broken bridges the other side of Buckland. Arrived
at Reynoldson at dark, and bivouacked on the ground of the Chowan Institute.
August 1.--By order, detached 400 men, under Maj. F. A. Stratton,
consisting of Companies E, G, I, F, D, K, and L, and Sergeant {Stewart B.]
Shannon, with one howitzer, for a reconnaissance to South Quay and
Franklin. They left at 7 a.m. I proceeded with the balance of the regiment
in advance, via Somerton, to the Leesville fork, at Dr. Corbin's, and
bivouacked on Smith's farm in the morning. Lieutenant McFarlan, Company B,
was detailed to capture horses, as 38 men were walking.
August 2.--Left Corbin's at 9 a.m., in rear, through Suffolk, when Mr. J.
B. Norfleet reported to me that one private, Higgins, First New York
Mounted Rifles, had stolen his mule. On reporting the theft to Major
Wheelan, he assured me that the mule had been sent back. Major Stratton
rejoined the command at Burchard's Mills. His report is respectfully
submitted.
This Side of the Sleep Hole Forks, a lady reported to me that her house had
been plundered by the regiment in advance, and sought redress. Arrived at
Bowers' Hill about dark.(*)
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
SAM. WETHERELL,
Major Eleventh Pennsylvania Vol. Cav, Comdg. Regiment.
Col. S. P. SPEAR,
Commanding Cavalry Brigade.