Cavalry, 4 taken prisoners; Sixth Regiment West Virginia Cavalry, 18 men and 1 officer - Lieutenant Medera.

The Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, were left on the picket post. I have not received a list of men missing in that detachment.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HUNTER,

Major Sixth Regiment West Virginia Cav., Commanding Department.

Captain WILL RUMSEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[First indorsement.]

HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Martinsburg, April 10, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded, with inclosed Special Orders, Numbers 23, and orders to Major Hunter, which will explain the matter fully.

I request that Major H. W. Hunter be dishonorably dismissed the service.

WM. W. AVERELL,

Brigadier-General.

[Second indorsement.]

HDQRS. CAVALRY, DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Cumberland, April 14, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to department headquarters.

The inclosed report of Captain Martindale, being made up from what he heard other people say and not from what he actually knew, does not seem sufficient to warrant the dishonorable dismissal of Major Hunter. It is recommended that charges be preferred, and he (Major Hunter) be brought before general court-martial for trial.

JUL. STAHEL,

Major-General, Chief of Cavalry.

[Third indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Cumberland, Md., April 20, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army.

Brigadier-General Averell has been instructed to cause charges to be preferred against Major Hunter, preparatory to his trial by general court-martial. *

F. SIGEL,

Major-General.

[Inclosure Numbers 1.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. CAV. DIV., DEPT. OF W. VA., Numbers 23.
Martinsburg, W. Va., April 10, 1864.

On the 7th instant 107 men of the Sixth and Seventh West Virginia Cavalry and 44 men of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, in all 151 men, were sent out under the command of Major Hunter, Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, to capture or destroy two companies of rebels, which were prowling about our lines and supposed to be about 100 strong.

After a short scout the force under Major Hunter came upon the rebels in the town of Winchester, on the 8th instant, feeding their horses and in promising condition to be surprised. The rebels, how-

---------------

*Major Hunter was discharged upon expiration of service, August 18, 1864.

---------------