Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
March 10, 1864

No. 1.Brig. Gen. Jeremiah C. Sullivan, U. S. Army.

No. 2.Col. Robert F. Taylor, First New York Veteran Cavalry, commanding brigade.

No. 3.Lieut. Col. John S. Mosby, Forty-third Virginia Cavalry Battalion, including operations to May 1.

HARPERS FERRY, W. VA., March 10, 1864.

In the pursuit of the rebels this morning I regret to announce to you the death of Major Sullivan, First New York Veteran Cavalry. He gallantly pursued the rebels, and although his force was greatly inferior, he drove them to Kabletown, where in a desperate charge he lost his life. My loss to-day will be 4 killed, 5 wounded, 4 prisoners. I am glad to be able to announce that the two officers in charge of pickets are prisoners. Written report will be sent by to-morrow's mail.

J. C. SULLIVAN,
Brigadier- General.

Brigadier-General KELLEY,
Cumberland.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,
Halltown, Va., March 11, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that our pickets were attacked between Charlestown, Va., and the river, at the crossing of the Keys' Ferry and Kabletown roads, yesterday morning at 6 o'clock, by what is supposed to be a portion of Mosby's command, numbering from 40 to 80 men. The force passed to the left of the vedette, on the Kabletown road, seen by them, but supposed to be a reserve from Charlestown, they being dressed in our uniform. The mistake was not discovered until the rebels had obtained a position and fired a volley into the reserve at less than 10 rods distant, completely surprising them. The loss at the reserve post is 1 killed and 4 wounded, and 2 lieutenants and 11 privates missing.

After the attack they retreated with great rapidity by the way of Kabletown, recrossing at Sampson's Ford, about 3 miles this side of Snickers Ferry, except small parties, which went to the right below Kabletown, crossing near and at Snickers Ferry. Major Sullivan, commanding picket, pursued the enemy with 9 men, overtaking them at Kabletown; found them concealed behind an old building, from which they fired a volley, killing Major Sullivan and 2 privates, and severely wounding Lieutenant Baker, all of the First [New York] Veteran Cavalry. The balance of the reserve, under Lieutenant Conway, numbering about 50 men, came up a few moments after, but failed to overtake the enemy. The firing was distinctly heard at this place, and the entire force ordered out. Lieutenant Wyckoff, with 15 men, got to the ford just as they had succeeded in crossing. Anticipating an attack, I sent Lieutenant Wyckoff to Charlestown on the evening of March 9, informing Major Sullivan of the probability of an attack, ordering him to strengthen his pickets and order them to keep on the alert, which I learn he did. I also informed him that I had 150 men in readiness to re-enforce him at any moment. I learn that there were a number of shots fired by the vedette [sic] at the post attacked between the hour of 3 and the time of the attack.

I forbear to express an opinion as to where the blame should attach until I can further investigate the matter.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

R. F. TAYLOR,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Capt. WILLIAM M. BOONE, Assistant Adjutant-General.

SEPTEMBER 11, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit, for the information of the commanding general, the following brief report of the operations of this command since the 1st day March last:

On March 10, with a detachment of about 40 men, I defeated a superior force of the enemy's cavalry near Greenwich, severely wounding 3, and capturing 9 prisoners, 10 horses, arms, & c. On the same day Lieut. A. E. Richards, with another detachment of about 30 men, surprised an outpost of the enemy near Charlestown, killed the major commanding and a lieutenant, several privates, and brought off 21 prisoners with their horses, arms, & c. In neither engagement did my command sustain any loss.

During the months of March and April but few opportunities were offered for making any successful attacks on the enemy, the continual annoyances to which they had been subjected during the winter causing them to exert great vigilance in guarding against surprises and interruptions of their communications. During most of these months I was myself engaged in scouting in the enemy's rear for Major-General Stuart and collecting information, which was regularly transmitted to his headquarters, concerning the movements, numbers, and distribution of the enemy's forces both east and west of the Blue Ridge. During this time my men were mostly employed in collecting forage from the country bordering on the Potomac.

About April 15 Captain Richards routed a marauding party of the enemy's cavalry at Waterford, killing and wounding 5 or 6, and bringing off 6 or 8 prisoners, 15 horses, arms, & c.

About April 25 I attacked an outpost near Hunters Mills, in Fairfax, capturing 5 prisoners and 18 horses. The prisoners and horses were sent back under charge of Lieutenant Hunter, while I went off on a scout in another direction. The enemy pursued and captured the lieutenant and 6 of the horses.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sour obedient servant,

JNO. S. MOSBY,
Lieutenant- Colonel, Commanding.

Lieutenant-Colonel TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant- General.

Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant and Inspector General, for the information of the Department.

Attention is invited to the activity and skill of Colonel Mosby, and the intelligence and courage of the officers and men of his command, as displayed in this report. With the loss of little more than 20 men, he has killed, wounded, and captured during the period embraced in the report about 1,200 of the enemy, and taken more than 1,600 horses and mules, 230 beef-cattle, and 85 wagons and ambulances, without counting many smaller operations. The services rendered by Colonel Mosby and his command in watching and reporting the enemy's movements have also been of great value. His operations have been highly creditable to himself and his command.

R. E. LEE, General.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: March 1864