On November 28, 1864, Confederate cavalry under the command of Major General Thomas L. Rosser executed a devastating and flawless raid on the vital Union supply depot at New Creek Station (present-day Keyser, West Virginia). The depot, anchored by the earthworks of Fort Kelley, was guarded by a Federal garrison commanded by Colonel George R. Latham.
To bypass the fort's defenses, Rosser employed a brilliant tactical deception: he ordered his vanguard, led by Colonel William H. Payne, to don captured blue Federal overcoats. As the Confederates approached the Union pickets on the Moorefield road, the guards mistook them for a returning Union patrol. The pickets allowed the riders to close the distance and were captured without firing a single warning shot.
With the alarm unsounded, Rosser's main column of roughly 2,000 cavalrymen charged into the fort and camp in broad daylight. Colonel Latham and his 160 armed defenders were caught completely by surprise. The garrison was immediately overpowered, resulting in a general panic and stampede. The Confederates captured the fort, 8 pieces of artillery, roughly 700 Union prisoners, and up to 1,500 horses and mules. They subsequently burned over 200 wagons, the railroad shops, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of quartermaster and commissary stores before retreating successfully.
The total lack of resistance infuriated the Union high command. Major General Philip H. Sheridan deemed the garrison's conduct a "disgrace to the service" and ordered Colonel Latham arrested and court-martialed. Conversely, the raid was celebrated by the Confederate high command, with General Robert E. Lee officially praising the expedition for its "great skill and boldness."
A scouting party of rebel cavalry, numbering about 2,000, under command of General Rosser, made a dash on New Creek Station yesterday, and captured the garrison, which made no resistance. The number of the garrison I do not exactly know, but I think it was not very large. Colonel Latham, Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, was in command. I have ordered General Crook to relieve Colonel Latham from the command of the post of New Creek, and to have him and all his officers sent to this point, to be tried or dismissed from the service. The conduct of this garrison is a disgrace to the service.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff.
General Rosser, with his command, numbering from 2,000 to 3,000, came down on New Creek yesterday, about 1 o'clock, completely surprising the garrison, taking the fort and artillery without the firing of a single gun. Major Potts, with about 150 men, of Sixth West Virginia, had been sent toward Moorefield to look after the same fellows. We have heard from Major Potts; he is falling back toward the railroad, with the loss of one officer and some fifteen men killed and wounded. I have ordered Colonel Latham into arrest and the officers and men of the garrison who escaped to be collected here.
GEORGE CROOK,
Brevet Major-General.
Major-General SHERIDAN.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the enemy, and the consequent disastrous results at this post, on the 28th ultimo:
For some time I had been receiving what I regarded as reliable information of a concentration of rebel troops at Moorefield. Their numbers were variously estimated at from 1,200 to 3,000... I had kept scouts out on all the roads as far as was deemed safe. On the morning of the 28th my scouts returned from the Moorefield road and reported having been as far as Burlington; that they could see or hear nothing of the enemy... On the 27th Major Potts, with 150 men of the Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, was sent on a scout to Moorefield.
At about 11.30 a.m. on the 28th the enemy, in a column of about 2,000, approached our pickets on the Moorefield road. The advance guard was dressed in Federal uniforms. The pickets, supposing them to be our own men, permitted them to approach so close that they were captured without firing a gun. The column then advanced rapidly on the road leading into the post, which is along the foot of the hill on which the fort is situated, and between the fort and the mountain.
The first intimation that I had of their approach was the firing of the pickets on the crossing of the creek, about 250 yards from the fort, the intervening ground being a smooth bottom. It was also the first intimation that any one in the fort or camp had. They dashed rapidly into the fort and camp. My tent was at the foot of the hill, between the fort and camp. On hearing the firing I stepped out, saw the whole rebel column, and knew what it was. I immediately started for the fort. The pickets on the creek crossing had been overpowered, and the advance of the rebel column was then within thirty yards of me, and commenced firing on me. They got possession of the fort and artillery, and having but 160 armed men in camp, they were almost immediately overpowered, as the whole rebel column, some 2,000 strong, dashed impetuously upon them.
The panic and stampede became in a few moments hopelessly general. I succeeded in rallying about 30 men, and with them fell back to the crossing of the creek on the Moorefield road, and held that position until the enemy retired. We had no artillery ammunition, except what was in the limber-boxes. Our loss in men and public property is very heavy, but I have not the means of estimating it.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. R. LATHAM,
Colonel Sixth West Virginia Cavalry.
Capt. WILLIAM P. KEEFER, Assistant Adjutant-General.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the detachment of the Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, under my command, since leaving this post on the 27th of November, 1864:
Pursuant to orders from Col. George R. Latham, commanding post, I left New Creek at 10.30 a.m. November 27, 1864, with 150 men of the Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, with orders to proceed to Moorefield, W. Va., and ascertain if any rebel forces were in that vicinity, and if so, their number and position... From information received from citizens I became satisfied that there was no large force of rebels in the vicinity, but that General Rosser, with his division, had left his camp near Mount Jackson, in the Shenandoah Valley, on the 26th, and was moving in the direction of Moorefield. I immediately determined to return to New Creek...
...I could distinctly hear the firing at New Creek, and knew that the post was attacked. Feeling satisfied that with my small force I could be of no assistance to the garrison, and that my retreat to New Creek was completely cut off, I determined to make my way to the railroad at Piedmont or some other point west of New Creek. I had proceeded but a short distance when I was overtaken by a brigade of rebel cavalry under command of Colonel Payne. I formed my men and resisted his advance, but was soon overpowered by superior numbers and compelled to retreat... My loss in the several engagements was 1 officer and 14 men killed, wounded, and missing.
I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of the officers and men of my command. They fought bravely against overwhelming numbers, and yielded only when longer resistance would have been madness.
P. J. POTTS,
Major Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, Comdg. Detachment.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that I arrived at Piedmont, W. Va., on the evening of the 27th of November, 1864, and took command of the post, by order of Brevet Major-General Crook...
On the morning of the 28th I received a telegram from Col. George R. Latham, commanding at New Creek, stating that the enemy was advancing on his post, and that he expected an attack. I immediately ordered Captain Fisher to get his men under arms, and to make every preparation for defense. At about 1 o'clock I heard artillery firing in the direction of New Creek, and at 2 p.m. received a telegram from the operator at that place stating that the fort had been captured and the garrison made prisoners...
At about 4 p.m. the main body of the enemy, under command of Major-General Rosser, made their appearance, and advanced rapidly upon our position. Seeing that it would be impossible to hold the place against so large a force, I ordered Captain Fisher to fall back with his company to the Maryland side of the river, and to take position on the hills commanding the town... The enemy advanced into the town, and immediately commenced the work of destruction. They burned the extensive machine-shops of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, the engine-houses, the round-house, and a large number of cars. They also burned the depot building, containing a large quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores, and the telegraph office.
W. C. STARR,
Colonel Ninth West Virginia Infantry.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my company in the affair at Piedmont, W. Va., on the 28th of November, 1864:
At about 2 p.m. on the 28th I was ordered by Col. W. C. Starr, commanding post, to get my company under arms, as the enemy had captured New Creek and were advancing on Piedmont. I immediately formed my men and took position on the road leading from New Creek. At about 3.30 p.m. the enemy's advance guard appeared, and a skirmish ensued... Soon after, the main body of the enemy appeared, and I was ordered by Colonel Starr to fall back to the Maryland side of the river, which I did in good order, and took position on the hills overlooking the town.
JOHN FISHER,
Captain, Sixth West Virginia Infantry.
Hon. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:
General Early reports that General Rosser, at the head of two brigades of cavalry, surprised and captured the fort at New Creek on the 28th instant. He took 8 pieces of artillery, 26 commissioned officers, and 400 or 500 enlisted men. He destroyed 200 wagons, the railroad bridge, and depot containing a large amount of stores. He also took a large number of horses and mules. His loss was very slight.
R. E. LEE.
(Same to the President)
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that upon receiving information that the enemy was rebuilding the bridge over the Shenandoah at... I immediately took steps to prevent it. But upon investigation I found that there was no truth in the report. But I found my command in motion and the weather very favorable, and I determined to make an expedition into Hampshire and Hardy Counties.
Consequently, I moved over the mountains and arrived at Moorefield on the 27th. There I learned that the enemy had sent a heavy scouting party out to intercept my march. I immediately sent Payne's brigade to attack and drive this party off, whilst I moved with the rest of my command down upon New Creek. Payne met the enemy and defeated him, capturing his camp-equipage, wagons, &c.
I proceeded to New Creek, and by dressing my advance in blue completely surprised the garrison, captured the fort and 8 pieces of artillery, 700 prisoners, and about 1,500 horses and mules, and destroyed a vast amount of quartermaster and commissary stores. The enemy had here over 200 wagons, which I burned, together with their contents. Also all the railroad property, shops, &c., at the place. I brought off all the artillery, the prisoners, and horses and mules, and was absent four days. My entire loss was 2 killed and 2 wounded. My officers and men behaved remarkably well.
I am, general, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOS. L. ROSSER,
Major-General, Commanding.
General J. A. EARLY.
[Indorsements.]
HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded. This expedition was conducted with great skill and boldness, and reflects great credit upon General Rosser and the officers and men of his command.
FITZ. LEE, Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT, December 7, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded. This was a very brilliant expedition, and was attended with very great success.
J. A. EARLY, Lieutenant-General.
HEADQUARTERS, December 10, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded. The results of this expedition reflect great credit upon General Rosser and his command.
R. E. LEE, General.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report the operations of my brigade in the recent expedition to New Creek:
On the morning of the 28th of November, in obedience to orders from Major-General Rosser, I moved with my brigade in the advance, on the road leading from Moorefield to New Creek. When within a few miles of the latter place, I encountered a body of the enemy's cavalry, which I attacked and routed, capturing their camp-equipage and a number of prisoners. I then pushed on toward New Creek, and upon approaching the pickets I directed a detachment of my men, who were clothed in Federal uniforms, to advance and capture them. This was done without firing a shot...
WILLIAM H. PAYNE,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.