OCTOBER 1-2, 1862.--Reconnaissance from Harpers Ferry, W. Va., to Leesburg, Va.
Report of Brig. Gen. Nathan Kimball, U.S. Army.
HEADQUARTERS KIMBALL'S BRIGADE,
Harper's Ferry, Va., October 3, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your orders, I left camp early on the morning of the 1st instant, with my brigade, consisting of the Fourth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana, Seventh Virginia., Eighth Ohio, and One hundred and thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the Sixth U.S. Cavalry, with four 3-inch rifled pieces of horse artillery and Frank's battery of light 12-pounders, and, crossing the Shenandoah on the pontoon bridge at Harper's Ferry, marched, by an exceedingly rough and difficult road, along the southwest bank of the Potomac River, to Dutchman1s Creek, a mountain brook that empties into the Potomac at the easterly base of Short Mountain, about 5 miles from Harper's Ferry, and, taking the road that leads up the gorge through which this brook runs, passed into the Catoctin Valley, by the way of Lovettsville. A body of the enemy's cavalry, under the command of Captain White, had been marauding and pillaging in the village and in the country adjacent the day before, and a Mr. Stoneburner, a Union citizen and merchant, was robbed and obliged to flee for his life, they taking from his store not only articles of use to them, but everything they could carry away, destroying what they could not. I advanced along this road toward Waterlord as rapidly as possible, thoroughly examining the country on both sides, with both cavalry and infantry scouts, until, at the village of Waterford, the advance guard surprised and captured 6 of the enemy's pickets stationed at that place. The prisoners were sent to you immediately.
From information received at this village, I hoped to surprise a body oft he enemy's cavalry, which I was led to think might be at Leesburg, and, pushing on rapidly, reached the summit of the Catoctin Mountains, within 1 1/2 miles of Leesburg, at 8 o'clock in the evening, without meeting with any further signs of his scouts or pickets. I here learned that a body of 1,200 of the enemy's cavalry, with two guns, were encamped at Snicker's Gap, and that 2,000 had left Leesburg that day for Aldie. Posting three squadrons of cavalry and three guns on the summit of the mountain, the main body at the intersection of the Waterford road with the Leesburg and Winchester turnpike, and thoroughly picketing in every direction, I rested for the night, the men sleeping on their arms.
At early dawn, the advance entered Leesburg, and found no enemy there except a number of sick and convalescent, who were taken prisoners and paroled. A list of their names is hereto attached. At 9 o'clock the line of march was taken up, and, leaving Waterford on the right, I moved, on the road leading through Wheatland and Hillsborough into the valley between the Blue Ridge and Short Hills, to a point about 10 miles from Harper's Ferry, where I went into camp at 3 p.m. Along this road the enemy's pickets were posted in several places, but they fled toward the mountains on our approach. In consequence of information, brought in by my scouts early in the evening, relating to the roads leading toward and around the ground I occupied, and that contained in your dispatch, which reached me at 8.30 o'clock in the evening, I broke up camp and marched into Harper's Ferry that night, reaching the old camp-ground at 2 o'clock this morning, having marched 43 miles in the enemy's country in as many hours.
The Catoctin Valley, and the valley between the Blue Ridge and Short Mountains, in the vicinity of Hillsborough, contain an abundance of hay and large quantities of grain and cattle, and the inhabitants in the Catoctin Valley appear, generally, to be loyal.
I ascertained that a three of about 1,200 of the enemy's cavalry were encamped at the pass near Snickersville, and that, with the exception of occasionally a small squad in search of plunder and conscripts, there was no enemy in the vicinity of Leesburg or in the Valley of Catoctin. Information was received that the main body of the rebel army was at Bunker Hill, half-way between Martinsburg and Winchester, and that a large force was at Kernstown, 31/2 miles south of the latter place.
I desire to express to you my admiration of the soldierly conduct of both officers and men of the Sixth U.S. Cavalry, under the command of Captain Sanders, as well as that of Major Robertson, of the horse artillery, and Captain Frank, of the Second New York Artillery, as exhibited in the thorough and earnest performance of their arduous duties in an exceedingly rough and difficult country; and, although meeting no enemy, their bearing was such as to inspire me with confidence in their skill and bravery.
My old command fully sustained its reputation for fortitude and endurance. Many of them, in a most commendable spirit, left camp, for this march, who were not physically able to endure it, as the day was very hot, the country rough, and the march very fatiguing, and some of these fell out, from sheer exhaustion, and returned slowly to camp; but the motive that actuated them is an honor. General, I am proud of my brigade.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NATHAN KIMBALL,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Lieut. Col. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.