The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-02
-
Ls11<yAL N1AsT.r1EkxS.

Pic CairkesoMiay Bridge :. On Monday lazt NJ
the arrival If tic Train from kichmcnd at point
on the York E;ver Railroad 'ab1ut nine miles from
town, where the rsrsatinS enemy had ~ IRE to
aisa completely burned MP train Of cars, Aiexna
der Dudley, Egsi, President Of the rond, accompa-
ned by tho Sup siusep,cu, Mr. Jobu Mcfarland.
and Captain r. @. Cogalan, OF the Va. Ordnance
took hand car and started tn tie direction Of the
White Itsyse. On arriving within quarter Of q
mile Of the ireslle bridge which spans the Chicka
hon,ay, they otssrycd locomotive on the iraek at
the Far end Ut ths bridge The engine WINS envcl
oped In saekc aad 4 being impossible to determine
being armed entered the woods aud came up close
10 The cngt,n. To their amusement they found
that the bridge was sn fire. naad also that two plat
form cars attached 10 the engine were In full
blaxa. Getting upon tho bridge they found that
th-rc was Imminent danger Of thu locomotive fall
ing through aud the whole bridge being destroyed
Fortunately they found in the swamp some Yam
kce camp kettles and attaching one OF these to u
long ror they snccccJ.d In lifting water from the
swamp, and after three bouEs inccssant labor they
completely extingnlsh,d the fire. They then ex-
amined tie extent Of the damage TO the bridge, and
found that on the White House side 20 feet span of
the trestts work and four iive loaded with
ammunition had been blown TO pieces
The locomotive was headed towards Richmond
In front OF IL two fats the throttle open,
md II was plain that the train started for the
hriagr with slow match attached SO as to ex-
piodc on the bridge, and thus destroy bridge and
all; fortunately, however The tender got partially
disodgcd and thus checked the engine until tine
steam gave out The scene in the swanps beneath
battles all descriptions the wheels and aXleS aud
heavy tiubcrs OF the cars were blown far Oh either
side Of the bridge. Cannon shot, shell, cartridges
and cemni:ssara. stores strewn about In every
direction, and the stores Of various kinds. where
they had fallen ia heaps, were rapidly burning.
Mr.. Dudley returned 10. Richmond Tor aid to OK
tricate the engine, and tho other two gentlemen,
having cs0ssct! The swamp, achcd Duv;.is, u YGn-
kec camp near Mr.. huvai's residence. Here W.
found large nuIa5cr OF tents standing, and piled
around were boxes Of axes, sliorcis, spades, and
scythe blades, together with anviis, vices. aad all
sorts of implements for snithy, as well carpen
teF s tools Smith FORCES had been sct up and
ovens constructed, and nH the arrangements iudi
Gated great industry and energy the part of the
occupants. The Yankees did great damage on MIR.
D4sais Premises; they semi his negroes to cut
down his oats. and gave him due bill payable al
The White House, which he presented in due course
but was only laughed at for his pains. They gG:ted
and desecratod a church in the neighborhood, and
conducted themselves in 4 most arrogant manner.
The Yankees evidently retreatcd III hot haste
along the raroat The woods and road ali tte
way are almost literally covered with arms,
announcements, clothing, and commiSsariu stores,
flung abau; in the greatest confusion.
The engine saved by the ahove mentioned gen
tle,acn is worth from $4,000 to sI5HO and is OF
Yankee make. The importance OF the lreBerva-
ton OF the bridge cannot be over estimated. Onc
hour later and the engine would have gore trough;
and hal not tho parties arrived On the ground the
whole structure would have been almost entirely
destroyed during the night.
The bI ilge will soon be repaired, and Mr.. Dudley
aud Mr. Mcfarland have already cleared tic track
OF obstruction, that the ambulance train Row
go out to the bridge.
1t is n singular fact, that Mr. Dudley, many
months ago, prelic led that the York River railroad
would b. u temptation to the Yankees to come to
Richmond by WY Of York river, and that the
swamp would be TO many of them their grave.