Leesburg to attack and disperse these people. Let the commanding officer communicate with Major Andrews, commanding on Upper Potomac, by way of Edwards Ferry. Report action.

By command of Major-General Augur:

J. H. TAYLOR,

Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
January 27, 1865.

MY DEAR MERRITT: I would like very much to break up the four companies of rebel cavalry picketing across the valley from Edenburg to North Mountain. I can furnish good guides, who know every road and path. Come and see me about it to-day.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
January 27, 1865.

Major-General SHERIDAN,

Commanding Middle Military Division:

Full report of Beverly affair was sent you two days ago, together with recommendations in the case.* General Kelley's scouts, sent out from New Creek, report that Gilmor has been sent to Moorefield, to take command of McNeill's and Woodson's force, together with other detachments, in all amounting to 300 or 400 men. Surgeon Cracraft, Nineteenth Virginia Cavalry (rebel), in a letter to his wife, states that Jackson's brigade expects to winter near Staunton, either in Bath or Pocahontas County. A rebel deserter just in reports a part of Jackson's force already at Warm Springs, in Bath County, with one company at Green Bank, on Greenbrier River, in Pocahontas County.

GEORGE CROOK,

Major-General.

CLARKSBURG, W. VA., January 27, 1865.

Bvt. Major General B. F. KELLEY,

Cumberland, Md.:

The following just received by telegraph from Beverly:

A refugee just arrived from Highland County. He reports Colonel Arnett, with Twentieth Virginia (rebel) Cavalry, at Crab Botton on Monday, and General Rosser at Warm Springs, and that it is generally understood in Highland and adjoining counties that Rosser is to make a raid through West Virginia soon as the weather gets suitable.

J. JOLLS,

Operator.

N. WILKINSON,

Colonel, Commanding, &c.

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*See Part I, p. 447.

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