OCTOBER 31, 1863.---Affair near Weaverville, Va.

Report of Private William A. Bolick, First South Carolina Cavalry,
with commendation of General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army.

[NOVEMBER--, 1863.]

Saturday morning, October 31, at sunrise, Private Isaac Curtis,
of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry Regiment, and myself passed the
enemy's pickets, stationed at a mill near Weaverville, entering the
enemy's camp, passing their pickets after daylight, whistling so as
not to cause suspicion. We were disguised in Yankee overcoats.

Going to the house of Mrs. Weaver, in Weaverville, we saw a
sentinel in the front yard. We passed him without his noticing us
in rear of the house. We discovered three Yankee tents. Riding
around to these tents we dismounted and proceeded to capture 6
Yankees who were asleep in them, and 6 horses, which we made them
saddle and mount, and then rode back in the same direction,
whistling as we passed the pickets. These men were a cattle guard, and
were well armed.

We brought out 3 pistols, 1 carbine, and 1 saber. We were unable
to bring off the cattle for the want of men enough to drive them.
One of the Yankees escaped after we had passed the pickets of the
enemy. The other 5 were delivered at Richards' Ford.

General Meade's headquarters were near Weaverville--in less than
800 yards. The capture was made about sunrise in the morning.

Respectfully submitted.

WM. A. BOLICK,
Private, Company K, First South Carolina Cavalry.

[Inclosure.]

GUERRILLAS IN OUR REAR.

The guerrillas continue bold and active in the rear of our army.
They appear to have organized into small squads for the business
of attacking solitary travelers and small parties of our men at a
disadvantage. On Wednesday, Lieutenant Sage, of the Sixth
Pennsylvania Cavalry, quartermaster of General Merritt's cavalry
brigade, was shot dead by them while on his way from Morrisville to
Warrenton Junction to get forage. An orderly with him escaped
unhurt. The same day General Merritt was fired at several times
by guerrillas, who seemed persistently seeking his life. He escaped
unhurt.

These rebel marauders are numerous along the Warrenton pike
and between that and the railroad, and daily shoot and capture men
almost in sight of headquarters. A day or two ago 5 men, belonging
to Buford's division, while guarding cattle within a mile or two of
the army headquarters, were captured by them. Lieutenant Hedges,
of the Second New York Cavalry, acting commissary of General
Kilpatrick's division, was also fired at, near Catlett's Station, and
badly wounded.

[Indorsements.]

NOVEMBER 13, 1863.

Respectfully forwarded.

The 5 prisoners alluded to were delivered to me while on picket,
and confessed that they were captured by Bolick and Curtis within
rifle shot of General Meade's headquarters. The inclosed extract
from Northern paper confirms the same.

J. L. BLACK,
Colonel First South Carolina Cavalry.

HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
November 17, 1863.

Respectfully forwarded; and attention called to this act of
gallantry, which is only one of many which are almost daily performed
by our daring scouts, as is shown in part by the inclosed extract
from newspaper.

J. E. B. STUART,
Major-General.

-----

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
November 20, 1863.
Maj. Gen. J. E. B. STUART,
Commanding Cavalry Corps:

GENERAL: The report of the capture of 6 Federal soldiers, with
their horses and arms, at Weaverville, near General Meade's headquarters,
on October 31, by Privates William A. Bolick, of the First
South Carolina Cavalry, and Isaac Curtis, of the Ninth Virginia
Cavalry, has been received. They deserve great credit for the
daring and skill with which the capture was effected. The report
will be forwarded to the Department as an evidence of their merit.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,
General.

Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLI.] AFFAIR NEAR NEW BERNE, N. C. PAGE 496-48
[Series I. Vol. 29. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 48.]