“Headquarters middle military division,
“Woodstock, Va., Sept. 23, 1864

“Brevet major-general Averell

“Your report and report of signal-officer received.  I do not want you to let the enemy bluff you or your command, and I want you to distinctly understand this note.  I do not advise rashness, but I do desire resolution and actual fighting, with necessary casualties, before you retire.  There must now be no backing or filling by you without a superior force of the enemy actually engaging you.

“P.  H. Sheridan,
“Major-General Commanding.”

Some little time after this note went to Averell, word was brought me that he had already carried out the programme indicated when forwarding the report of the expected turning of his right, and that he had actually withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg.  I then decided to relieve him from the command of his division, which I did, ordering him to Wheeling, Colonel William H. Powell being assigned to succeed him.

The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military Division.  At the outset, General Grant, fearing discord on account of Averell’s ranking Torbert, authorized me to relieve the former officer, but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose, it could be allayed, or at least repressed, during the campaign against Early, since the different commands would often have to act separately.  After that, the dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth Corps and Torbert’s cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take place, I thought, and this would restore matters to their normal condition; but Averell’s dissatisfaction began to show itself immediately after his arrival at Martinsburg, on the 14th of August, and, except when he was conducting some independent expedition, had been manifested on all occasions since.  I therefore thought that the interest of the service would be subserved by removing one whose growing indifference might render the best-laid plans inoperative.

“Headquarters middle military division. 
“Harrisonburg, Va., Sept. 25, 1864 11:30 P. M. 
“Lieut-general grant, Comd’g, City Point, Va.

“I have relieved Averell from his command.  Instead of following the enemy when he was broken at Fisher’s Hill (so there was not a cavalry organization left), he went into camp and let me pursue the enemy for a distance of fifteen miles, with infantry, during the night.

“P.  H. Sheridan, Major-General.”