S. CooPEr, May 25, 1864

I have the honor to submit the following report of the battle of Bue farm on the 9th instant and the operations subsequent

On the 8th instant I received orders from Brig. Gen. A. G. Jenkins to move my brigade, then encamped near Dublin awaiting transportation to the east, out on the road to Giles Court-House to meet the enemy, advancing toward Dublin, under Brig. Gen. George Crook, and estimated at 5,000 men. I moved at once and took position near the base of Cloyd’s Mountain and on Cloyd’s farm. The position was not a good one, but the best: we could get for the force under mycommand. The troops were placed in line on the 8th and remained until the morning of the 9th, when the enemy engaged us.

The Forty-fifth Regiment arrived early on the 9th and was placed on our right by Brigadier-General Jenkins in person, who also at the same time changed the position of the Sixtieth Regiment and Forty-fifth Battalion.

I can only say that I did not approve these dispositions, and so expressed myself to General Jenkins in the presence of his staff, and urged him to conform to my original line. He declined doing so, and the battle was joined on our right. The enemy threw two brigades upon that part of our line, and was forcing it back, when I brought up two pieces of artillery and opened upon them. This seemed to check them, when General Jenkins ordered up the Thirtysixth Regiment from the left. It came up handsomely to the right, when General Jenkins ordered the Forty-fifth Battalion to charge, which they did, driving the enemy some distance. The Thirtysixth Regiment was also ordered to charge, when an officer rode up, informing me that the enemy had turned our left. The Thirtysixth Regiment was then ordered back to its original position.

Meanwhile the Sixtieth Regiment had repulsed a charge made by the Pennsylvania brigade upon our center, and General Jenkins had been wounded ; and during this time there had been a fierce artillery duel between our battery and those of the enemy coming into position in front of ourcenter. After the Forty-fifth Battalion charged, the enemy charged in return and broke that part of our lines, and at the same time the Sixtieth and Forty-fifth Regiments were driven from their positions, when the whole line gave way.

As soon as I learned that General Jenkins had been wounded I assumed command and began to make a new disposition of our forces. The troops were formed about 200 yards in rear and upon the line I had originally suggested.

Meanwhile the enemy had moved upon our left and occupied a good position before the Thirty-sixth Regiment could reach their position to prevent it. The fight was maintained here for some time. I attempted to make a new disposition in rear of our second position, when the enemy charged our whole line and forced it back.

It was now apparent that our third line could not be held, when I ordered the troops to be moved to the rear, and taking charge of the Thirty-sixth Regiment covered the retreat. The enemy soon formed upon our last position and charged our rear with his cavalry, when another position was taken about one mile from the battle-field, and the charge repulsed. I then moved on toward Dublin, frequently checking the enemy, until the arrival of Col. D. H. Smith, with about 500 dismounted men.of Morgan’s command. They joined me about a mile from Dublin and were placed in position to check a cavalry charge that was made by the enemy at that time. They did it well and covered the rear until we reached New River bridge. I found the works at this place incomplete and untenable, and moved the infantry across the New River and encamped for the night. The wagon trains and artillery had, meanwhile, passed the river on a bridge three miles above, and the artillery had joined me at the railroad bridge.

The enemy halted at Dublin for the night and moved on the bridge early next morning. I stationed sharpshooters along the river-bank and placed all my artillery in position to command all the approaches to the bridge. The enemy opened with artillery, and we replied for seven hours, and until our ammunition was exhausted. Many horses were killed, and the guns could be workednolonger. I then withdrew them, and finding that the bulk of the enemy’s forces was crossing at Pepper’s Ferry, below the bridge, and moving out toward Blacksburg, I withdrew in the direction of Christiansburg and moved east to Big Hill, near Salem, where we occupied a position to contest the farther advance of the enemy toward the east, and also protected the bridges across the petioles River.

While at Christiansburg I sent an order to Colonels French and Jackson, then at the Narrows of New River, to move toward Christiansburg via Blacksburg, and, if possible, unite their forces with mine; and if they found the enemy in Blacksburg to attack, and thereby accomplish what I proposed to accomplish by the first order. During this time Averell had been defeated by Morgan near Wytheville, and had escaped from him and come to Christiansburg to unite with the main body under Crook, thereby throwing their whole force in front of me. The movement of French and Jackson caused Crook to evacuate Blacksburg and move toward Newport and Salt Pond Mountain. I moved from Big Hill upon the enemy at Blacksburg by a country road} but found upon my arrival there, which was delayed several hours by the bad roads and swollen ‘streams, that Crook had gone, and that Averell had passed from Christiansburg. French and Jackson met Crook near Newport, and were forced back toward Giles Court-House, and this enabled him to pass over to the Salt Pond. Assoon as he passed on they moved in behind him and occupied the position at Gap Mountain, intercepting Averell’s command, which soon came up and attacked their position. He was driven back, his command scattered in the mountains, but the bulk of it afterward crossed the mountains of Craig and into Monroe by a bridle path. I reached Gap Mountain with a small cavalry force about the close of the fight, and just in time to see Averell pass into the woods. I then rode up to our lines and over the ground the enemy occupied a few moments before. My infantry marched twenty-seven miles that day. and was halted a short distance from Blacksburg after the enemy had escaped. Heavy rains fell during our marches ; the roads were bad and streams much swollen. Colonel Jackson was ordered to follow the enemy into Monroe, and intercepted Averell again at Greenbrier River, capturing some prisoners, a few horses, and driving a portion of his command into the river. Colonel French moved into Monroe via the Narrows.

The staff officers of the department reported tome near Dublin, and have been faithful in the discharge of their duties.

I have endeavored to give a simple narrative of facts as they occurred. The reports of subordinate commanders are hereby submitted, with a tabular statement of our losses. We have to mourn the loss of many brave officers and men.

In conclusion, I can only state that the movement was a great failure on the part of the enemy, and that they have accomplished nothing commensurate with their preparations. Their entire force aggregated 9,000 men of all arms, and we never had 3,000 men in all.

I submit this report for the consideration of the Department, with the firm conviction that for the means employed no better results have been accomplished during the war.

The enemy lost 600 in killed and wounded at Cloyd’s, and we have taken nearly 200 prisoners from them, and their loss in all will not fall short of 1,000 men. Our loss will be found on the tabular statement.

I return to all the staff officers, and also those who volunteered for the emergency as aides, scouts, or vedettes, my thanks.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,