War Department to EstEs, October 5, 1863

Captain EstEs, Assistant Adjutant-General: Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the result of the expedition sent yesterday evening, pursuant to orders from the general commanding division, to examine the upper road from Culpeper to Madison Court-House.

A Squier of the First [West] Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Captain Boon, went out yesterday at 5p.m.,and have just returned. They found a vedette of the enemy’s cavalry about 2 miles this side of ihe river, who fell back and crossed the river on their approach. A strong picket was observed on the south bank. This road turns to the rant from the Culpeper Court-House and James City road, about 14 miles this side of James City, and then runs to Robertson’s River in a direction nearly west, somewhat winding, but preserving that line throughout. The road is very bad, narrow, stony, and much washed by the late rains. There are no streams of an size to cross, but many small runs. It is thickly wooded on eac side for almost its entire length, with occasional cleared fields at long intervals.

The road, in the opinion of the officer commanding the expedition, is impassable for artillery, and in many places cavalry can only get through it marching by file. The distance to the river from the point of intersection with the James City road is10 miles. The bank of the river on this side is higher than on the other, but is thickly wooded and rocky, and gives no opportunity for placing artillery in position to advantage. The access to, and egress from, the ford is good, and the ford itself is good and easy. The southerly bank of the river is slightly the lower, but there is on the right an excellent position for artillery on cleared land that would enfilade a crossing, and difficult of approach by reason of arun that falls into Robertson’s River just at the ford.

I have the report that all is quiet this morning along my pickets.

Respectfully,