Josiah H. Kellogg to Wade Hampton, December 19, 1862

December 19, 1862. Respectfully forwarded. Brigadier-General Hampton, with a com mand thinly clad and scantily fed, displayed, amid the rigors of winter and on the desert track of an invading host, an activity, gallantry, and cheerful endurance worthy of the highest praise and the nation’s gratitude. J. E. B. STUART, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS, December 20, 1862.

Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Department. The manner in which General Hampton planned and executed his expedition reflects great credit upon himself, officers, and men.*

DECEMBER 12-20, 1862.—White’s operations in Loudoun County, Va., and raid (December 14) on Poolesville, Md.

Report of Maj. Elijah V. White, Thirty-fifth Virginia Cavalry Battalion.* GENERAL: I have the honor to send you a detailed account of my scout since I left camp on the morning of the 12th instant. 1 encamped that night near Hillsborough.

On the 13th, I captured 12 infantrymen in the neighborhood of Hillsborough, whom sent back to Snickersville. I learned from them the enemy had gone in the direction of Leesburg, and had abovt three hours’ start. I immediately ordered an advance guard to push them as rapidly as possible, and learn the force of their rear guard. My advance captured 6 infantrymen on the way, who were also sent to Snickersville. I

reached Leesburg about 3 p.m. The enemy’s cavalry left the town as we came in sight. My advance pushed on, and encountered them about woundiag 3. Nobody hurt on our side. I did not deem it prudent to attack with my force their infantry and cavalry combined. Returned to the neighborhood of Waterford and encamped for the night.

On the morning of the 14th, started for Waterford, where I encountered Samnel Means’ force, some 60 men. We charged them and drove them through the town, killing 1 of their lieutenants and capturing their orderly sergeant and 1 private, both of whom, together with those already sent to Snickersville, making 22 in all, were sent to your headquarters for disposal. We pursued them about 5 miles in the direction of the Point of Rocks.

Learning that there was a force of about 60 cavalry in Poolesville, I determined to push forward to that place; sent my worst horses back ; sent a squad of men to watch the enemy at Harper’s Ferry. They charged the pickets, capturing 26, which were paroled. I crossed the Potomac at Conrad’s Ferry with 93 men about one hour by sun. Arrived at Poolesville about 8 p.m. Before entering the town I learned that about one-half of their force had gone on a scout, and that the remainder were quartered in the town hall. Divided my force and charged it in two directions. Upon surrounding the hall and demanding its surrender, was answered with a volley from door and windows. We returned the fire with good effect, killing a lieutenant and the orderly sergeant and wounding 8, including the lieutenant commanding. The hall was then surrendered. We captured 21 prisoners, all of whom we paroled. Our loss was 1 man killed. Some of the enemy were scattered around the town, and when they heard the firing made good their escape.

We also captured 43 horses and destroyed all their stores, consisting of clothing of various kinds, blankets, Enfield rifles, and muskets; also a large lot of commissary stores, together with wagons, &c. Remained a town for several hours, and recrossed the Potomac at White’s

While encamped at the Trappe, I sent a scout to Leesburg on the 20th. They captured 8 prisoners and paroled them.

I send you a list* of names of all prisoners captured and paroled during my scout.

B. E. V. WHITE, Major, Commanding [Thirty-fifth Virginia] Battalion. Brig. Gen. W. E. JONES, Commanding Valley District.

Hpgrs. Cav. Div., ARMY OF NORTHERN Virginia, January 27, 1863. Respectfully torwarded. Major White has thus given early evidence of the essential characteristic of a successful cavalry leader—prudent boldness. His command accomplished a hard march and successful expedition, and deserves great praise for it. J. B. E. B. STUART,

HEADQUARTERS, January 31, 1863.

Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant and Inspector General. 1 with pleasure call the attention of the Department to Major White, who seems to have captured 77 men during his expedition, in addition to the enemy killed.

DECEMBER 19, 1862.—Skirmish on the Occoquan, Va.

No. 1.—Col. Josiah H. Kellogg, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. No. 2.—General Robert E. Lee, C. 8. Army. No. 3.—Brig. Gen. Wade Hampton, C. 8. Army.

No. 1. Reports of Ool. Josiah H. Kellogg, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

GENERAL: Cavalry of Hampton’s Legion, 150 strong, at Snyder’s Ford, and 100 at Occoquan Ferry, destroyed the boat at Occoquan. We have driven them from both places, and they then retreated toward Dumfries. They left precipitately and left the trains that they had captured. I will camp in company with Colonel Rush, near Violet’s, on the Telegraph road. From the fact of its being cavalry of Hampton’s Legion, we infer there is a stroug force back of it.

_We will scour the country and hold our own to-morrow. We will have to build a new boat or go to Wolf Run Crossing; in either case we have not forage or rations enough to reach General Burnside.

JOSIAH H. KELLOGG, Colonel Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

General SLouGH, Alexandria.

CAMP NEAR STAFFORD CouRT-HovsE, V. A., December 27, 1862.

COLONEL: In accordance with instructions from Headquarters Eleventh Army Corps, I have the honor to report that on Thursday, the 18th December, 1862, in compliance with Special Orders from Headquarters Defenses of Washington, I marched with my command from the end of Long Bridge, opposite Washington, D. C., to join this army. Having been informed by the commanding officer of the detachment of Second Pennsylvania Cavalry doing duty at Accotink, Va., that his pickets extended to the river at Occoquan, I was marching at the head of my column, on Friday, 19th December, 1862, about half a mile from the river Occoquan, on the ferry road, when I was fired into by the enemy’s pickets. I had been informed but five minutes before by our own pickets on the road that all was quiet in front. 1 halted the column long enough only to send forward an advance guard and flankers, and then pushed on to the river. When I reached it I found the ferry-boat sunk and the enemy’s carbineers, who occupied the town on the other side, made the road to the ferry very warm. As it was impossible to cross here, I withdrew my men around the bend of the road, out of fire.

The enemy had been busy up to the time I arrived at the spot in ferrying over the river a Government train and some sutlers’ wagons. The presence of my command saved the wagons, which had not yet been crossed, consisting of 9 Government wagons and 3 sutlers’ wagons, making 12 in all.

Not knowing the country, and depending on a guide (Mr. Stiles) furnished the command at Alexandria by General Slough, I lost some time, unavoidably, in finding out Snyder’s Ford. I would say here that the guide (Mr. Stiles), by his own carelessness in going aheadl of the command without any permission-whatever, was captured by the enemy at the river. Leaving part of my command on the ferry road, I moved with the rest of the.command up to Snyder’s Ford, drove in the enemy’s pickets stationed there, and tried to cut off his rear.

On account of not knowing the country and roads, and my regiment being so new, never having been drilled, and having had their arms only three or four days before we left Washington, I could not effect as much as I might have done with older men; besides, there is not a carbine in the regiment, and consequently in a wooded country Lwas obliged to move carefully. 1 scouted the country in all directions some 5 or 6 miles, and my advance guard ran into the enemy’s rear guard, at about dark, on the road from Occoquan toward Dumfries. The enemy were then retreating at a gallop. As soon as it was quite dark, I deemed it advisable to recross the river and go into camp, starting out 600 men at daylight the next morning to Maple Valley, Wolf Run Shoals Ford, and in the direction of Brentsville. The country was thoroughly scoured, but could find nothing of the enemy. The enemy burned one of the Government wagons in the town of Occoquan, and but for the delay consequent on losing my guide, I would have been able to save more of them.

In reference to the number and part of our cavalry (Tenth New York) captured, I know nothing about them from observation, but it was reported to me that the picket was taken at or near the Neabsco Creek, half way between Occoquan and Dumfries, and that it consisted of a lieutenant and 30 men of the Tenth New York Cavalry. It was also reported to me that 5 men of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry were captured at the ferry. :

The officers and men of this command behaved very well; in fact, better than could have been expected. In all that I did I consulted with Colonel Rush, of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, who happened to be with me with 100 of his men.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,