Va., Aug. ----.

_To Colonel A. J. Alexander, Chief of Staff of Cavalry Corps_:

COLONEL: In compliance with a letter just received from the
headquarters of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac,
directing me to give the facts connected with the fight at
Falling Waters, I have the honor to state that, at three
A. M. of the fourteenth ultimo, I learned that the enemy's
pickets were retiring in my front. Having been previously
ordered to attack at seven A. M., I was ready to move at
once.

At daylight I had reached the crest of hills occupied by the
enemy an hour before, and, a few minutes before six, General
Custer drove the rearguard of the enemy into the river at
Williamsport. Learning from citizens that a portion of the
enemy had retreated in the direction of Falling Waters, I at
once moved rapidly for that point, and came up with this
rearguard of the enemy at seven-thirty A. M., at a point two
miles distant from Falling Waters. We pressed on, driving
them before us, capturing many prisoners and one gun. When
within a mile and a half of Falling Waters, the enemy was
found in large force, drawn up in line of battle on the crest
of a hill, commanding the road on which I was advancing. His
left was protected by earthworks, and his right extended to
the woods on our left.

The enemy was, when first seen, in two lines of battle, with
arms stacked within less than one thousand yards of the
large force. A second piece of artillery, with its support,
consisting of infantry, was captured while attempting to get
into position. The gun was taken to the rear. A portion of
the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, seeing only that portion of the
enemy behind the earthworks, charged. This charge was led by
Major Webber, and was the most gallant ever made. At a trot
he passed up the hill, received the fire from the whole
line, and the next moment rode through and over the
earthworks, and passed to the right, sabring the Rebels
along the entire line, and returned with a loss of thirty
killed, wounded, and missing, including the gallant Major
Webber, killed.

I directed General Custer to send forward one regiment as
skirmishers. They were repulsed before support could be sent
them, and driven back