WINCHESTER, VA., February 25, 1865.

Brigadier-General TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

A report of the operation you refer to in your telegram of yesterday will be forwarded by mail to-day. Most of the men captured have come in. This party was stampeded, and the whole affair badly managed. Numerous combats have taken place between the guerrillas and scouting parties from this command during the last two months, and usually with success. About 150 guerrillas have been captured or killed. I have not reported these affair. They are generally conducted after dark, and this was the order in the present case.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-General.

WINCHESTER, VA., February 25, 1865.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

Has any assignment been made to the Department of West Virginia? I supposed there would be, from a telegram I received from General Grant. I will be off from here myself on Monday. Can you give me any information? Stevenson is now in command, being senior officer in the department.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
February 25, 1865.

Major General C. C. AUGUR,

Commanding Department of Washington:

I have moved the cavalry in Loudoun County up here, and will move most of the cavalry from here up the Valley on next Monday. The above is confidential, and for your information.

P. H. SHERIDAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

(Copy to General Halleck).

HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
February 25, 1865.

Brevet Major-General MERRITT,

Acting Chief of Cavalry:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you have the First and Third Cavalry Divisions and one brigade of the Second Division in readiness to move at 6 a.m. on the morning of the 27th of February. Each man will be required to carry on his person seventy-five rounds of ammunition and five days' rations, and on his horse thirty pounds of short forage. You will also take with thirty wagons loaded with small-arm ammunition, one wagon for each division headquarters,