mish ensued, in which we had 1 man killed, 1 mortally and 3 slightly wounded. The rebels captured 1 captain and 36 men, with all the camp equipage of the company, 40 Enfield rifles and 4,000 rounds of rifle cartridges. They then set fire to the Patterson's Creek bridge, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and thence went to the North Branch bridge, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and fired it, the guard at the latter bridge making their escape. I may here say that as there was known to be a large Union force some 18 miles south and west of Patterson's Creek, and part of the Ringgold Cavalry there, taken in connection with the fact that the rebels wore our uniform and claimed to be Union cavalry, may, in a measure, account for the pickets being deceived. Neither the Patterson's Creek bridge nor the North Branch bridge were protected by blockhouses, and the only protection for them was the company of infantry which the rebels captured. As soon as the news of the rebel force being at Patterson's Creek was received at this place, one company of the Ringgold Cavalry, Captain Myers, was dispatched to that point, and arrived at the North Branch bridge in time to put out the fire. Neither of the bridges-mere trestle work-were totally destroyed, Captain Myers immediately after putting out the fire, pushed on after the enemy. This is all the loss any portion of my brigade sustained, and the partial destruction of the two above-mentioned bridges being all the injury done to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. A scouting party from this place captured during the last raid 1 rebel captain. This is all the loss I know the rebels sustaining. As to whose fault it was that the injury occurred, whether the fault was with the large force that lay some 18 miles in front, near the junction of the Burlington and Patterson's Creek roads, or with the mere detachments of a small company of infantry at the two bridges, I am not prepared to say. I am, Lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel Commanding First Brigade. Head Quarters of West Virginia, Cumberland, Md., April 12, 1864. Special Orders, No. 74. Col. J. M. Campbell, 54th Pa. Vols., is relieved from duty with his regiment and assigned to duty as commander and Provost Marshal of the City of Cumberland. Col. Campbell will perform the duties incumbent on the senior officer at a station so far as the transaction of business connected with the several depots-the providing of quarters and camps for troops, &c., is concerned, and is charged with the preservation of order and discipline in the city. He will also make such arrangements as are necessary for the defense of the Vol. II-9 City and to this end will locate the troops according to instructions, which he will from time to time receive from these headquarters. Reports, returns and other official communications from regiments or other organizations in or about this City will be sent, however, as heretofore to Brigade Head Quarters. By order of Maj. Gen. F. SIGEL, T. MELVIN, Assistant Adjutant General. On April 23, 1864, Maj. Gen. Sigel relieved Col. J. M. Campbell and Lieut. W. H. Rose, 54th Pa. Vols., from these duties in order that they might rejoin their regiment then under orders to move. The regiment, excepting that portion on the railroad east of Cumberland, took its departure on the B. & O. R. R. Sunday morning, April 24. The other companies followed as soon as practicable. Headquarters Military Commander, General Orders No. 1. 1. In pursuance to special orders, No. 74, dated Headquarters Department of West Virginia, April 12, 1864, I hereby assume military command of this city and vicinity. 3. First Lieutenant and Adjutant W. H. Rose, Fiftyfourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, having been ordered to report, is hereby assigned to duty as adjutant at their headquarters. J. M. CAMPBELL, Colonel and Military Commander. Special Orders No. 65. 1. Col. J. M. Campbell, 54th Pennsylvania Volunteers, having reported at these headquarters after the completion of the duties to which he was assigned by Special Orders No. 88, current series, War Department, will resume command of the First Brigade, Second Division, relieving Colonel McCaslin, Fifteenth West Virginia, who will resume command of his regiment. By order of Maj. General F. SIGEL, T. MELVIN, A. A. General. Water Station, April 11, 1864, 12 m. Lieut. W. H. Rose, Acting Assistant Adjutant General: Two men wounded-Wesby and Roney, Company K. Patrol was attacked at Michael's Gap, 21⁄2 miles above mouth of Cacapon, by about 30 men, 20 minutes before express passed from the west. Pickets from Paw Paw were driven in at 11 o'clock by about 20 men, as reported by pickets. Everything Captain. quiet this morning; but 1 rebel seen since daylight. Doctor E. D. YUTZY, Major. NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA. Gen. Franz Sigel, commanding the Army of the Shenandoah Valley, marched from Martinsburg, West Virginia, on May 9 with about 6500 men and 28 guns, under orders from Gen. Grant to hold the enemy in check in the valley while the Army of the Potomac operated against Gen. Lee's army on the east side of the Blue Ridge. On the 14th Col. Augustus Moor with the advance cavalry reached New Market late in the evening. He had a brisk skirmish on his arrival and twice during the night demonstrations were made which he repulsed. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, the former vice-president of the United States, was commanding the Confederate troops, and had about 5,000 men with eight guns. At daylight on the 15th he formed his line two miles south of New Market. Col. Moor had 300 cavalry and about 2,000 infantry with two guns, which had been placed in an advanced position by Gen. Julius Stahl, who was in command during the forenoon, with instructions to hold the position until Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel could bring up his forces and make his dispositions. The four companies and part of another from Johnstown, engaged in this battle were: John P. Suter.... A..... Thomas H. Lapsley. D. Gen. Jos. Thoburn.. Gen. J. C. Sullivan. Same. Same. Same. Same. Gen. Sigel's line was on rising ground and extended across the Winchester pike. Gen. Thoburn's brigade, which included the 54th regiment, which had arrived the previous evening, constituted the main line along which were the batteries. The cavalry was located in the rear and on the left flank, as was the Second Brigade which occupied the extreme left of the line of battle. Col. Campbell's regiment was on the west side of the pike with its left resting on the highway. The 62d Virginia and the Lexington cadets were opposite the 54th regiment. General Imboden's cavalry with a six gun battery were on the extreme right of line of the enemy's forces. An artillery duel preceded the battle. Breckinridge made the attack during a heavy rain which continued through the fight. Sigel's first position was just north of New Market where his left flank was overlapped by the enemy. Breckinridge forced it back until Thoburn made a charge from his right which checked the advance for a while. Sigel's artillery were using shell and canister with good effect, but his entire line was driven back and Breckinridge established his line across the pike in the town of New Market. In the second position Imboden discovered a little knoll on Sigel's left whereon he planted his battery and had a perfect enfilading fire on the Union line, especially on the Fifty-Fourth regiment at a very short range, which forced Sigel to retreat. He made a stand at Rude's Hill three miles in the rear but Breckinridge followed and attacked. Sigel re-crossed the Shenandoah river, burned the bridge and fell back to Cedar Creek, arriving there on the morning of the 17th. Gen. Sigel lost 120 men killed; 560 wounded and 240 missing, making a total of 920, and Gen. Breckinridge lost 405 in all. The revised figures of the troops engaged are, Sigel 5,150 with 22 guns. This does not include the 28th Ohio and the 116th Ohio, which did not participate in the battle. Breckinridge had about 5,000 men. Among the wounded were Lieut. Col. John P. Linton; Capt. Graham was shot through the head, the bullet entering his eye, and Capt. Bonacker was shot through the body. Both were left on the field and reported dead, but they survived for many years. The latter now resides in Florida. Capt. E. J. Geissinger, of Company H, and Capt. Newhard, of Company K, were killed, also, Lieutenant Kilpatrick. The Cadet Corps from the Virginia Military Institute, numbering 225, was under the command of Col. Ship, one of the professors. It was composed of students from sixteen to eighteen years of age, and of whom eight were killed and fortysix wounded. Gen. Breckinridge had expected Sigel to make the attack early in the morning, but when he did not, the former then determined to do so himself saying to Imboden, "We can attack and whip them here and I'll do it." Gen. Imboden, in referring to the value of their victory at New Market, says: "If Sigel had beaten Breckinridge there, Gen. Lee could not have spared the men to check his progress, as he did that of Hunter, a month later, without exposing Richmond to immediate, and * |