The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-16

heavy line of soldiers exposed to the muir
derous fire of the rebel infantry, without
having the conviction forced upon him that
for all this exhibition of national wrath,
some one must pay with his life and blood.
The enemy suffered terribly, so did we.
Our loss viii reach $50 killed and fully 300
wounded. We lost no prisoners.
The Great Cavalry Expedition.
The following account of Gen. Stonemans
expedition comes from one who accompa-
MED it.
Gen. Stoneman, with 200 picked men
and a light battery of six pieces, composed
of q section selected from three batteries
with especial reference to securing the best
horses and men, started on the raid which
has now become famous. sass
On the 18th of April, owing to heavy |
rains and various other circumstances, he
did not cross the Rappahannock until ten
DAYS or q fortnight atterward. AT the time |
of his crossing Gen. Averlll started with
column along the end of the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad, with the intention OF
F, driving Lee and Hampton, who were IN
| that vicinity, to Culpepper and Gordons-
vile, thus clearing the way for Gen. Stone
mans body of cavalry, who were to ac-
complish the real objects of the expedition.
| Gen. StoneInan crossed the Rappahan-
| mock at two places below where Gen. Aver
! i'll crossed. and advanced on the Shepherds
burg road. Sending out a party to recon-
hotter towards Shepherdsburg, they came
upon the rear picketS of the enemy, who
were in force between Stevensburg and the
railroad. with Gen. Averill in front, the ma
ture of Gen. Stoneman's expedition did
not allow Of his remaining there to fight,
as 10 seek a battle would prevent the ac-
| compishnent Of his designs; he therefore
moved on to Raccoon Ford upon the ad-
vance. Reaching this place, they found 1t
defended by infantry and artillery. A de-
to.h thprnfnrp spnf to cross the
Rappahannock, at a point some distance
' below Raccoon Ford, and then to attack
the enemy in the flank and rear. This was
successfully accomplished, and the main
body crossed safely at Raccoon Ford. The
, command then proceeded down the direct
! road to Louisa Court House, sending out
: parties along every lntersectlng road to
destroy bridges andtelegraph wires, and to
: obtain forage and provisions.
The bridges over unfordable streams, on
> the direct road, were left to be guarded by
detachncnts in case they were required as
line Of retreat. Reaching Louisa Court
! House, on the line Of the Virginia Central
= Railroad. expeditions were sent out along
! the road in either direction to destroy the
road. telegraphs, burn the water tanks, de-
= pots and railroad ties. The expedition to-
5 ward Gordonsville encountered a force OF
the enemy, who, by this time, had been
! driven from Gordonsville by Averill, who
u did not. however, effect junction with
Stoneman, as directed, The enemy were
: in such force that reinforcements were sent
. out, and the rebels were driven beyond
. GordonsVille.
7 The destruction of the road was, compile
IL ted, and party proceeded to tear, up. the
railroad between GordOnsvilie and Char
= lottesville. Parties were also sent out from
y Louisa Court House to destroy the bridge
o over the North Anna river. The com
u mand then proceeded through Sanceyvllle
a and rendeZyoused at thompson cross
70 roads.
II From there three expeditions were ther
~ then out--one along the South Anna river
Is to destroy the briggs across this uniordablt
IL stream; another to destroy the Frederlcks
le burg and Richmond railroad from Ash
u, land down; also the railroad from Rich
ie mond to Hanover Court House, to get a:
~ near Richmond as possible, and, if praeti
Y cable to cross over to Pamunky river, des
~ troying such bridges as it We're practicabl'
y to destroy, and then proceed the pen
y, insula to West Point: the third eXpedltlol
n was to strike the James river at Columbia
III break the locks Of the canal, and destro.
81 the bridges as far down the river as Nigh
g be- This expedition was to cross SINAI
le force over the James, at Cartersvllle, an'
le pass down and destroy the railroad brldg
re on the Richmond and Lynchburg road
=. over the Approximations river.
aV This expedition was not so successful a
the others. Too much time being eXpend
ne ed in an attempt to destroy stone brdg
10 over which the acqueducts passed. IN
su other expeditions were perfertly successor
as as tearing up the bridges on the Pamunk
, ~ and Mattapony river, ana nave stilc
AZ reached West Point.
III Gathering the balance OF his forcetogetf
er at Thompson's Cross Roads, Stonenla
ho prepared to return. BY this time Stuar
IA Lee and Hampton We're in pursuit 81 On
ne audacious party The forces OF the latte
80 two were driven in the direction OF .h "a
y, Ilottesville, and Stuart was drawn Oh III u
,es direction Of Guiney's station by an appai
US ent diversion OF our forces in that directiof
81 Having thus separated Stuarts CON
re- mand, Gen. Stoneman started on MS rs
eu turn between the two bodies, along u
~ a. the same route that he went OUT. II
ile scouting parties encountered the enemy
re- infantry pickets on the read to SpotsylN;
- MIA Court House, but the command SUI
nj, ceedea in safely recrossing the Raplda
ng and Rappahannock rivers, swimming the la
aro ter. 70 tsHHisa ,to'..f
e. ,Fhe feat of getting the artillery. acro'
oat the latter stream, the horses sWhH}iliii
ort and drawing the guns, IS certainly "ortn
of notice. only one man was iost
WI drowning. ,..:
vi The success of the whole expedition
ms mainly due to the deception practlced upe
md the inhabitants. H
,an The force was everywhere magazine
nd and, by scattering IN shlait Par.,e; cor
~ mand into different expeditions. IN
on were enabled to supply themselves WI
md forage and provisions, and thus live s up
ay. the country through which they pa ass g
nd Their pack-mules were sent back the u
ny, nv dav out. and officers and men only earn
Re- what they could upon their horses:
,n, " For two days and three nights they ne .e
are er built fires. In many places they camp
ho nc though intending to remain, giving
h Ge that they were merely the advance guard
o a the main army.
g with Geographic. communication :. 9
stroyed and railroads sefr the nba
nv; tamts we're paroled and sent to Rlchm9r
o.ats The The, officers captured were detained
was prisoners; among these was Major Jon
did ston, of Gen. stuart's stat. - g.,
nn- f,iad with hams. What of this was !
us ). Is, needed a,e was destroyed. Twelve hundr
,o on hoosheads of tobacco were elso captur'
Oh. H..