Depredations are being committed against Southern citizens in North Georgia by Confederate raiders!

2 pages, 6 1/2 x 8 1/2, in ink, written by Captain J.M. Carden, Commanding Scouts, to General Joseph Wheeler, Commanding Cavalry Corps.

Grahamville, Jany. 8th, 1865

General,

I have the honor to inform you that whilst upon duty collecting stragglers & deserters under orders from Brig. Genl. Reynolds, in North Georgia, I have found twelve men with authority from Gov. Joseph E. Brown to raise Regts., Battalions, or Companies, who are using this authority to enlist men from other regular commands, thus offering a premium for desertion. These parties followed Genl. Sherman’s line of march robbing citizens of horses, mules, knives, forks, spoons, ladies dresses, bed clothing, &c, &c, whilst doing so claiming to belong to Genl. Wheeler’s Cavalry. I captured a number of these parties with all the kinds of stolen property specified above & know them to belong to the parties raised by the men having authority from Gov. Brown as specified above. Their custom is to retreat to North Georgia with their stolen effects.

I am General Very Respy.,
Your obt. Svt.,
J.M. Carden
Capt. Comg. Scouts

To:
Maj. Genl. Jos. Wheeler
Comg. Cav. Corps

Docket:
Grahamville, Jany. 8th, 1865
J.M. Carden
Capt. Comg. Scout
Depredations in North Ga.

Very bold and neatly written. Superb Confederate scouting report that was sent to General "Fighting Joe" Wheeler informing him of depredations that were being committed against Georgia citizens by Confederate deserters who have followed the infamous march of Union General William T. Sherman and they are using General Wheeler's name to commit these crimes! Knowing of Wheeler's volatile personality it's a pretty safe assumption to say that the general was not pleased to learn of this news! This report was published in the book, "Campaigns of Wheeler and His Cavalry, 1862-1865," by W.C. Dodson. This rare Confederate document has been in a private collection for the last 25 years! Extremely desirable!