Doc. 43.-expedition to Greenbriar, Va.
Captain Gilmore's report.
sir: I herewith submit a report of my expedition into Greenbriar County.
On the ninth instant, proceeding agreeably to orders, I bivouacked three miles beyond Gauley River; on the morning I marched all day without interruption, but learned that Gen. Jenkins with two thousand five hundred men, in addition to Col. Dunn's force, occupied the country before me, stationed as follows: Col. Dunn's command between Lewisburgh and Frankfort; the Fourteenth regular Virginia cavalry at Williamsburgh; one regiment cavalry at Meadow Bluffs, pasturing horses, with a battalion of four hundred cavalry on the wilderness road as guard ; a small force at White Sulphur, and Gen. Jenkins with the remainder of his command on Muddy Creek, eight miles from Lewisburgh.
I, however, pushed forward until within three miles of Williamsburgh, where I came upon a wagon train belonging to General Jenkins's command.
They were encamped for the night, intending to load with wheat the following day. I surrounded and captured the whole, consisting of prisoners and property as follows : Nine prisoners, namely, J. L. Evans, captain and acting assistant commissary; Wm. L. Evans, wagonmaster; two wagoners, (enlisted men ;) three wagoners, (citizens ;) two negro wagoners, and two citizens who were pressed and interested with the grain.
The property taken was as follows: Seven wagons, twenty-three horses, four mules, and twenty-four set of harness.
After setting fire to and destroying the wagons and the grain, with the building it was stored in, I set out on my return, meeting Capt. Smith with his command on Cherry River, ten miles from Gauley River ford.
I arrived in this camp with the above prisoners and property at five o'clock P. M. on the eleventh instant.
I found the roads very bad, impassable for wagons.
Grain was very scarce; could procure but two feeds for my horse while I was gone.
The grain destroyed was about two hundrep and fifty-six bushels of wheat.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. Gilmore, Captain Commanding Kanawha Division.
P. S.--One of the citizens taken, Thomas C. McClintock, has heretofore taken the oath, and is the man who bought up the wheat.
G. W. G.