, 1862-06-06
Tb1 GtibUHG.
FROM FARNsxvAHTfa,S IkEEI-
mENT.
Extract from letter Of IN officer In Farms
Tprt1's 8th III. cavalry. dnta1.

WoHls 8th Ill. cavalry, dated:
MEcHAH1csBuRG, BANKS or r1tEl
Cu1chAnoN1ST, w.. May u, 1s62
For several days past our regiment has been
encampe1 on the east side Of the Chickahom-
my River. The "riyer" consists Of 8 stag
nant, slug gish stream, less than q rod wide,
running through the centre of sinking
swamp, difficult for casalry Or artillery to
cross. On the opposite side at no great dis
tance the eremy is posted. Every sign be-
tokens big battle TO be soon fought. Be-
fore this reaches you am confident the
telegraph will bring you the news Of an en-
gagement and victory, as We can't afford to
be defeated and don't intend to be If we could.
Whenever this army is led at the rebels it
will demonstrate its superiority over them.
The latest duty ofauy magnitude assigned to
our regiment was to destroy the bridge Of the
Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad that
croEses the Chckahomiuy six miles northwest
Of our encampment. Porter's division had
been sent north in the direction Of Hanover
Court House, and the rebels fearing June
tion with Mcdowell, dispatched 4 strong
column up the Fredericksburg railroad to op-
Pose Porter. The work assigned our regi-
Ient was to make sudden dash and destroy
the before mentioned brid ge and thereby in
pede the communication of the rebel col
nmn with the main body. After being
duly provided with erowbars, sledgcs, axes,
g., the first battalion of our regiment, I'M
DIR Lieut. Col, Gamble, mounted horse aud
s1afted abont four p. N. for the bridge. the
rsiH pouring down in torrents, TettinG Us to
1e skin. " hen We had proceeded to within
mile and half Of the crossing, we'came on
Tie rebel pickcte, and chased them on tina
keen gallop to woods within mile OF the
bridge, where We found q rebel regiment of
iii1a.ltry, some cavalry, aud two pieces Of ar
tilIery, Whirh opened briskly upon us. Here
vas q tough jcb for one battalion Of cavalry,
numbering not more than 800 men. How
ever, Lieut. Col Gamble concluded to try
little Yankee trick Oh them. Hating us and
retiring behind some small elevations Of
ground, he commenced making great show
OF numbers, and acted as though be Was re-
cci7ing heavy reinforcements. He dismount-
ward as infantry skirmishers. They opened
a brisk fire at long range. Another
dismounted company Was sent to the
right to outfank the enemy MtBtakipg these
demonstrations as evidences ofa large force Of
Infantry the rebels beat q hasty retreat through
we took after them. The skirmishers mount
ed and followed us The rebels broke and
scattered through the woods, every man for
himself, jumping into the riSer and getting
acIoss as tast as the mud would let them.
Our men soon reached the bridge and wentto
york. In few minutes it was in flames.
vas amused at the vim and readiness with
which our boys could turn their hands from
fighting to burning bridge and ripping up
railroad track. Notwithstanding the chilling
rain storm, the deep mud, hungry and jaded
condition Of the men, not a word Of COM
plaint was uttered, but every one seemed de-
sirous Of doing more than his share OF the
work. We made pretty thorough job Of 1t.
The rails were flung into the mud-bottomed
creek, the bridge VIC burnt to ashes, several
cu1yerts were destroyed, aud then ne leisurely
returned to camp through the darkness, rain
and mud, not having lost man
When We reached the bridge in the pursuit,
sent ahead With part Of the company to act as
sklrmishers, and letp the rebs moving. Sec
iDg dozen rebel cavalry at some distance
ahead, he ordered six Of his troopers into line,
ard poured I well aimed volley after them at
distsnce OF a quarter Of mile, when 10 !!
three tumbled from their horses. Their com-
1anl0ns picked them up and tried to carry
their bodies of, but one was dead, and
tumb mbled off again, and was left. Hynes pur-
sued SO fast that they had not time to take
him along. From letter found In his pocket,
his name was seen to be Henry Vass, and be-
longed to the black horse cavalry: He resided
on the Shenandoah valley. The letter stated
that Gen. Jackson was going to whip aud cap
ture Banks, pource on him unawares, and
destroy Ills division, and rid the valley Of the
Yankees: There is a rumor in camp to-day,
that jackson has routed Banks, and driven
hin; into Maryland on the keen jump!
On the return Of our battalion, Gen.
stoneman returned thanks and said it was
one Of the best days work accomplished
since the army left Yorktown. The bows were
nightly pleased with the compliment. We
hope to be in Richmond in few days from
where will dcte my next letter. There ara
10 Union men In this country except the
blacks. The whites are as venomous as COP
per heads. but the slaves are our warm friends
ard do tor us all they are allowed. am very
sorry to cay that they are not permitted to as.
si$t us much. Our army is under pro-slavery
influences Of the NEST 1abid kind. This is the
more odious when it is known that nins-tenth,
, Of the rank and file and th1ee-fourtlas Of the
reglmental officers are anti-slayery to the
backbone. If the army were allowed to have
their way they would make short work Of the
peculiar institution in *old Virginia i
We are getting sick and Disguised with this
sentimental tenderness to cut throat barha
1ians, who will never be won back to the unio1
| by such tOm-fonlerr