1862 October 27 Morrisville 7 A.M.

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]

             Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
             Morrisville Oct 27. 7 a.m.
To
General R. B. Marcy
      chief of staff
My command stopped in front
of this place last night on the
Purcellville road--My advance
was two & a half miles farther
on & a scouting party preceded
as far as Purcellville, but
did not meet or hear of any
rebels in that vicinity-
         Day before yesterday a
foraging party of one regiment of
infantry one of cavalry & a section
of artillery came within two miles
of this place & took away a train
of forage & grain from the farm of
a Gen. Wright a noted secessionist
      In this valley, up as far
as Middleburg, there is an abun=
dance of hay & forage--the
foraging party day before yesterday
went out by Snickersville
                            Gap

[page 2]
Theres. a good many Union people
in this county (Loudon) & some
organization of them would be ad=
vantageous to protect themselves from
rebel guerrillas,as well as rascals
of our own who are prowling over
the country---besides it would enable
them to restrain their secesh
neighbors, who appear to be very
violent at times--
         Have found an excellent
map of Loudon county by Yardley
Taylor, it has the name of every
man's residence in the county &
all the roads properly marked--
     It would be well to have
this map photographed, if you
have not one equally as good--
    last night was very hard
on my men & horses---I shall
proceed to Purcellville today-
scout in that vicinity--
await further orders--It
Snickersville with a force & has
proclaimed martial law--A
union man told me, the rebel army at
Winchester was in a miserable

[dispatch ends abruptly at this point]

MSS 495