Thursday, November 8, 2012

1862 November 9 Cowins Cross roads 10 A.M.

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred  Pleasonton]

Hd. Qrs. Cav: Division
Corbber's Corbins X roads
one mile beyond Amissville
 Nov 9. 10.  a.m.
To Maj: Gen Parke
    Chief of Staff
General--
                        Your dispatch
of 11 P.M. is rec'd---& its
instructions attended to--
My dispositions are, as follows,
one squadron at Barbee's
cross roads, one squadron
at Gaines cross roads, which
is at the crossing of the
Amissville Little Washington
pike with the Chester Gap
& Culpepper pike ---one
squadron at Newby's cross
roads, one squadron on
the road leading from
this place to Culpepper
which with the three

[page 2]
regiments of infantry at
Jefferson will cover this front.
       Last night one of my
squadrons, 8th New York, pushed
as far as Flint Hill, paroled
a number of wounded
rebels & recaptured two of
my men taken wounded
at Barbees, the other day--
Saw no enemy in that
vicinity--Gen. Hampton sent
for my men &  questioned them
very closely--but obtained nothing
from them--one of them, a very
intelligent man, says Gen. Hampton
& his officers appeared very much
puzzled to know where our
forces were & asked him
where Gen. McClellan &
Burnsides were--some of
the officers thought they were
back, but Gen. Hampton

[page 3]
thought they must be in the
valley--He heard Gen. Hampton
give an order to stop some infantry
that was going through Chester
Gap on the mountains--
      Yesterday, a man from
one of the Texas regiments at
Culpepper came in & gave himself
up, he had shot a man &
the rebels were about to hang
him--He left Culpepper three
days ago-The rebels passed
thro' Chester Gap to Culpepper
& Jackson was to cross
the mountains twenty-five
miles below that point-
    Thinks D.H. Hill as well
as Longstreet is at Culpepper-
  there were large quantities of
corn at Culpepper--saw
about five hundred barrels
in one pile--General Lee

[page 4]
was at Culpepper three days
ago--There was a camp
rumor at Culpepper that Lee
was tolling us down the valley
& that Jackson was to push
through the mountains below
& take in flank & use us
up--A squadron of
the 6th Cavalry, pushed towards
Culpepper from here last
night to three miles inside
of the enemies lines &
captured a captain of the
4th Virginia regiment of
cavalry & a picket of five
soldiers--also a four
horse wagon & team out
for forage--this was
ten miles from Culpepper
      The rebels acknowledge
themselves badly whipped

   [page 5]
at Barbees, & would not
believe it, when told we
had no infantry--
   the 5th Cavalry (Averells
brigade) lost in wounded
yesterday three men--commis=
sioned officer & five privates
& 1st Lieut R. P. Ashe seriously
wounded--Lieut Ashe showed
great daring, but the results
of his charge did not com=
pensate for his loss---
   I forgot to mention my com=
mand capture a number of
beef cattle from the enemy
yesterday, & had fresh beef
last night as far as it went--
  I send this by Lieut. Tucker
the officer going to Gainesville
for supplies--
              Present my kind

  [page 6]
thanks to the Major General
Commanding for his con=
gratulations to my com-
mand--
 I am, General very resptfully
   Your Obt. Serv't
         A. Pleasonton
          Brig: General
            Comdg: Division\

MSS 945
              

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