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This first report is from Maj. Gen Philip H Sheridan, U.S. Army commanding Middle
Military Division.
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Winchester, Va., February 21, 1865-9:45 AM
A party of from fifty to sixty rebel cavalry surprised General Crook's pickets at Cumberland
at 3 o'clock this morning, entered the city and captured Generals crook and Kelly, and carried them off. I ordered the cavalry
at New creek to Moorefield, and sent from here to same place, via Wardensville, but have but little hopes of recapture, asw
the party is going very rapidly. I think the party belongs to McNiell's band.
P.H. Sheridan
Major-General
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to: Maj. Gen. H.W. Halleck
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Reports of Maj. Robert P. Kennedy, Assistant Adjutant General, U.S. Army
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Cumberland, Md., Feruary 21, 1865-6 a.m.
The party that surprised and captured the pickets, and carried off Major-Generals Crook
and Kelly and others, seem to have been about 100 picked men from Rosser's command. They remained only about ten injury. I
have sent all the cavalry I have (about fifty) after them. I have ordered all the cavalry from New Creek after them. I will
send a regiment of infantry to New Creek about 7 o'clock, to replace the cavalry sent out from there. Cannot parties be sent
out from the valley to intercept them! The rebels told a story of Rosser's brigade being out of town some miles, on the New
Creek road. This I do not credit. I will send any further information.
Respectfully,
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Robert P. Kennedy
Major and Assitant Adjutant-General.
to: Major General Sheridan, Winchester, Va.
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Cumberland, Md., February 21, 1865 6.30 a.m. :
Captain Botsword has just returned and reports them to be about sixty in number, and that
they are going direct to Romney, via Springfield; they are riding very fast.
: Robt. P. Kennedy
Major and Assistant Adutant-General.
to: Major-General Sheridan, Winchester, Va.
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Cumberland, Md., February 21, 1865 7.10 a.m.
Major Troxel left from New Creek for Romney with 150 men. I hope they may be able to head
them off. The party undoubtedly went through Springfield and to Romney.
Robt. P. Kennedy,
Major and Assitant Adjutant-General.
to: Major-General Sheridan, Winchester, Va.
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Cumberland, Md., February 21, 1865 (recieved 9.30 a.m.)
This morning about three o'clock, a party of rebel horsemen came up on the New Creek road
into town; went directly to the headquarters of Generals Crook and Kelly, sending a couple of men to each place to over power
the headquarters guard, when they went directly to the room of General Crook, and, without disturbing anybody else in the
house, ordered him to dress and took him downstairs and placed him on a horse ready saddled and waiting. The same was done
to General Kelly: Captain Melvin, assistant adjutant to General Kelly, was also taken. While this was being done, a few of
them, without creating any disturbance opened one or two stores, but they without waiting to take anything. It was done so
quietly that others of us who were sleeping in adjoining rooms to General Crook, were not disturbed. The alarm was given within
ten minutes by a darky watchman at the hotel, who escaped from them, and within an hour we had a party of fifty cavalry after
them. They tore up the telagraph lines, and it required almost an hour to get them in working order. As soon as New Creek
could be called, I ordered a force to be sent to Romney, and it started out without any unnecessary delay. A second force
has gone from New Creek to Moorefield, and a regiment of infantry has gone to New Creek to supply the place of the cavalry.
They rode good horses, and left at a very rapid rate, evidently fearful of being overtaken. They did not remain in Cumberland
more then tem minutes. From all information I am inclined to believe that, instaed of Rosser, it is McNiell's company. Most
of the men of that company are from this place. I will telegraph you fully any further information.
Robt. P. Kennedy,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
to: Major-General Sheridan.
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This report is from a capt. Henry C Inwood, he was stationed at Stephenson's Depot,
and his report is dated just a week before the arrival of the 196th to the Depot.
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Report of Captain Henry C. Inwood, One Hundred and Sixty Fifth New York Infantry, of operations
March 29.
Office Provost-Marshal, U.S. Troops,
Middle Military Division,
Stephen's Station, March 29, (1865)
Colonel: I have the honor to report that at 4.30 p.m. the 28th instant, I recieved instructions
from the General commanding to take the headquarters cavalry escort and go along the Martinsburg pike few miles, and try to
overtake and capture some guerillas who had reported as commiting depredations upon the Union citizens.
After proceeding about two miles from our pickets, upon inquiry, I learned they had stopped
at the yellow house (Mr. Clendenning occupant), had entered, found them very poor, had taken some food, and passed on toward
Bunker Hill; they also stopped at Mrs. Payne's house and took some food. She afterward missed one of her horses, but does
not think the rebels took it (Mrs. Payne is a rebel sympathizer). They stopped at nearly all the houses and took overcoats,
blankets, and food. They stopped all passengers on the road, and robbed them of all thier money and valuables; among them
were mr J. Jackson and Mr. Light. Some citezens coming from the direction of Martinsburg, they robbed and turned back. On
arriving at Bunker Hill the guerillas entered the house and store of the postmaster, took all his money from him, and the
mail; also some leather and other articles from the store. They obtained food from the citizens and robbed Mr. Rickers' mill
for thier horses; they took a horse from one of the citizens at Bunker Hill, and horse equipment from travellers on the road.
The question of loyalty was not spoken of by any of the guerillas; plunder seems to be the object of thier raid. At Bunker
Hill I learned that there was twenty six of them, commanded by Lieutenant Russell; they passed as Mosby's men and part of
Rosser's command of 500, agregate distributed through Clarke and Jefferson Counties in bands not exceeding fifty each.
Judging that Smithfield was thier rendezvous, we pushed on, but on arriving there found
that they had taken the Charleston road at 4.30 p.m.; they had made a stay of one hour at Smithfield and nearly that at bunker
Hill. Finding that there was no probability of overtaking them,and having but a small force (twenty eight men), I ordered
the return to camp, taking back roads and coming in by way of Brucetown, arriving in camp at 12.00 p.m., having traveled a
distance of twenty five miles.
The citizens are very much frightened, and several able-bodied men had run away on thier
approach, supposing them to be a conscripting party. This information I recieved from a lady in Smithfield, whose husband
had started that afternoon to Maryland to avoid them. The young man, David Light, they took with them. I could learn nothing
of him in Smithfield. He had not been brought there by the rebels.
The citizens believe he was conscripted and taken in another direction.
I could not trace them from Bunker Hill.
I am, colonel, respectively, your obediant servant, Captain,
Provost Marshal.
to: Lieut. Col. D.S. Walker
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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