The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-26
NE EXPLOIT or srUART's CAVALRY,
dvoTHER FEDERAL ACCOUNT.

ANOTHER FEDERAL ACCOUNT.
Iettcr In the Philadclphia Prcss, dated White
Hcuse, June H. gives the fullest Yankee version
that we have yet seen Of the recent cavalry recon
noissance in the rear Of McClellans army. Afles
stating that the daring rebels crossed tue Pamuu
key from Prince William county TO Garlick's Land
ing." four miles above the White Hoase, where
they burned the vessels aud captured aud destroyed
other properly, the writer proceeds:
The precise knowledge which the rebels possess
OF the character Of the roads and situation Of the
country must have been Of great service 10 them
this occasion, and 30 adroitiy did they avail them
selves Of .his knowledge that before any one here
was aware OF the fact, they had proceeded tar up
the railroad AZ Tunstalls Statien, some i've miles
from this place.
About the time the rebels arrived at Tunstulls
Station one of the trims happened unfortunately,
to be on Its -way down to White House, and having
betn in the vicinity, and doubtless apprisetl Of it's
coming, they awaited on the brow of "a hill, through
which the road has been cut the approach Of
the train, As il approached, the rebels appeared
and hailed the engineer to stop the train. BY sort
Of intuition no suspected at once the character Of
the abrupt intruders, and refused to comply with
their demand. In an instant vOlley was poured
into the train ami its passengers, consisting chiefly
of laborers, civilians, and sick and wounded SOL
diers, made general effort to jump off. and, if pos
sibe. elue the deadly fire of the rebels on the hill
Sore succeeded Others, especially the sick and
wounded, were unable 10 get of, and took their
chance on the train.
The engineer, surprised and frightened, aud ig
norant to the number of rebels he might encoun
ter on the road resolving to run the train u crowd
ed on the highest pressure Of steam, and the train
almost few over the remainder OF the road to the
White House. Here the news Of what had occur
red spread like lightning ana the utmost fear panic
and CONSERVATION spread throughout the depart.
meuts stationed here. This entirely owing to
the fact that everybody was ignorant of tn. num-
bers aI force of the rebels and their fears at
magniied a few hundred cavalry into the entire
rebel army. which they alleged had left Rich
mond and come around to cut off Mcclellan In the
rear.
Another unfortunate circumstance here was the
very small number of effective troops at this place,
and, under hn impression OF Immediate attack. Col.
Ingalls, in command here, mustered whatever there
to stsr and, in addition armed all the labor
ers and civilians to be found. In connection with
few cavalry, these were formed in line Of battle.
to receive the rebels In the meantime the various
steamboats, schooneY u.s. &c, at this point prepared
to drop down the Pamunkey. The mail boat from
Fort Monroe had just arrived; the mails which she
had brought, together with those remaining in the
postothcc and other Government documents and
properly, were hurried on board and the boat pre-
pared to start. There was, Of course, an immense
panic among the suffers and Others engaged in the
mercantile profession, every one awaiting with
dread suspense the expected attack
But the rebels. whether unaware Of the advau
fage they would have obtained, or more probably
through fear of meeting our army in force at this
point, failed to make their appearance, but. in the
meantime, had proceeded to the Accomplishment mt of
business, which was doubtless more Immediately
connected with their mission. The country over
which the railroad runs il isinterspersed with various
creeks, small runs, and swamps, each of which il
spannej with bridges of various sizes aid styles OF
engineering skill.
One of these bridges, little this side Of TIM
stalls Station which spans small stream some
twenty feet above its level was especially selected
by the rebels for destruction, with Il view to the.
demolition OF any trains that might be coming or
going and for the purpose of cutting off communi-
cation for a time. at least, between Our arnly be-
fore Richmond and their supplies AT the w lite
Hc''Ie. They also tore up enc or two raNsRfOm
the track, but before they bad succeeded either
with :he bridge burning or tearing up the track
they were compelled to leave, by what means
have not been able to learn but presume by the
approach of regiment of the Pennsylvania re-
serve, the Bucktails,) which, upon information re.
ceivet, had been ordered TO proceed down the road
to White House. The Bucktais arrived Just in
time to put out the flames and save the bridge .
oil halt hour or even less, of delay would have
enabled the rebels to accomplish their purpose on
the bridge and track.
From the bridge the rebels proceeded through
the woods to the road which leads to Richmond
and which lies to the left Of the railroad. Here
they continued their internal business killing, plum
.dering. and destroying every person aud thing that
came In their way Two trains OF thirty
wagons each, on their way from White House to
tile army, la1en Win gram, were oFCftaken, cap
tured, aud destroyed by fire. The teamsters, es
Gaping safely, came running into camp greatly
trIghten ned, bavins lost everything in their flight
As The rebels crossed the Pamunkey at Garck'.
Landing, train OF wagons, in addition to other
Government property, was captured and immedi
ately destroyed. Several suffers on the xan road
as the Government teams lost their wagons and
stores, neglected to mention in its proper place
that the rebels also fired railroad containing
grain at Tunstalrs Station, which was completely
destroyed.
Your correspondent was coming down TIE rail
road i'll the train immediately following the one on
which the attack was made. and had very narrow
escape our train being saved by the appearance o
some of the fugitives, who had escaped the r-bel
bullets and the misbaps i'll jumping from the run
ming cars. Rreathless from running and fright
they called TO the engine, r, who stopped the train
and remainded on tn. road. the remainder Of the
night. 1t was now about II o'clock midnight, and
we were in very uncertain, and, for aught we
knew, critical position. The rebels were known
to be scattered oyer the country in different lirec
tions, but i'll what numbers we nor any other per.
son seemed to know anything about. 1t un
certain what minute they might appear upon the
brow of the hill which stopped, and
fire upon our train as they did on the one preced
ing us. Accordingly, a few persons started to bring
down the Fifty second Pennsy \ ania, Col. Dodge
which was known to be in the vicinity, to serve as
a guard of protection TO the train. The men had
generally retired to rest for the night but were
soon aroused, put under arms and marched down
the road to where the train had stopped.
After giving partial list of the casualties re
sulng from this wonderful raid of guerlilas, the
writer adds:
Early next morning after the occurrence regi.
ments of infantry We're thrown along both sides of
the railroad to act as guard while several compa-
MES Of cavalry were dispatched scouting expe.
ditions through the woods and surrounding coin-
try Every effort was made by our men, who were
enraged beyond measure, 70 capture the daring and
desperate rebels They have succeeded in capturing
six of the rebels among them are Capt. Garlick
whose father lives ut the landing where the rebels
crossed the river, and DIR. Harrison, a rampant
secesh, who lives near this place, and whose pro
perty has been constantly guarded by Union sol
diers since this place fell into our hands.