Daily national Republican., 1863-05-02
THE RAID IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.
Destruction OF Railroad Bridges, &C.

DestruetIon Of Railroad Bridges, &C.
The intelligence from the linz Of the Balt-
more and Ohio Railroad received up to last
evening. was, that Gen. Mulligan had so dis
posed of his troops that 1t was thought the
whole road might now be considered as amply
protected, though much damage had been done
at various points.
The Rebel cavalry which made three attacks
on sunday and Monday last on RowlcsburE,
retired after their rcpulsC to MorgantOwn, in
tho direction of the Pennsylvania line. They
reached there on Tuesday morning, and spent
that day and part Of Wednesday in plundering
the people of both horses and goods. Those
who sympathized with them were exempt from
plunder, and In some cases horses taken were
returned to disloyal persons.
The object of the visit to Morgantown was
to cross over the Cheat river and make raid
on Uniontown, Pa. There was, however,
food in the Cheat river, rendering Its fording
an impossibility, and consequently they were
compelled to abandon that part of the eNpcdi-
ton.
On Wednesday they retired from Morgan
town, striking across the country to Fairmont,
on the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad, where
they are reported to have committed extensive
depredations. The Union troops here did not
exceed three hundred infantry, and the rebels
| being about one thousand strong, mounted,
with artillery, no defence was made. They en-
| tered and took possession Of Fairmont, which
! is quite a large town, on Wednesday night, and
| Immediately commenced their depredltious on
| the property Of loyal citizens, most of whom
had fed on hearing Of their approach. large
number Of horses, shoes, and clothing were ap-
propriatCd.
| At Farmont and the vicinity, extensive
damage was done to the property of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad. The great Monon-
! gahela bridge, one Of the fucst structures on
the road, is reported to have been destroyed,
together with five other small bridges In the
vicinity. The piers are. however. all standing
and trestlc-works will he Immediately thrown
over them, so that the business OF the road may
be renewed.
The enemy hearing Of the approach Of troops
from the direction Of Wheeling, are supposed
to have left Fairmont on Thursday. Yesterday
morning a rebel cavalry force from the dircc-
ton Of Farmoul were advancing on Clarks-
burg ON the Parkersbur- road, doubtless with
the Intention Of destroying the bridges Of that
company and laundering the Inhabitants. y
rebel infantry force was also reported AZ moving
on Clurksburg from the opposite direction. The
whole rebel force, cavalry and infantry. is said
to be about three thousand, and they have with
them most experienced guides.
General Mulligan has been joined by General
KCnlUy, and is moving on the enemy in con-
siderable force.
The latest intelligence from beyond Grafton,
received last evening, was that one of the rail-
FOau agents uhu gone up ~ I dlIHlOut anu lNWHN
that the gucrrllas had left in the morning with
their plundcr. lie found the structure Of the
Monougahulu bridge entirely broken down and
in the water, though the piers were all stand
ing.
From Grafton, where Gen. Mulligan has his
headquarters intelligence was received that the
rebel force which had spent the day on Thurs
day at FairmOut, were approaching Bridge
port on the Parkcrsburg road, which Is sixteen
miles from Grafton. On hearing this, General
Kcnly, with his Maryland brigade, was lmmc'
: diatcly dispatched to Bridgeport, and doubtless
reached there last evening, going the greater
part of the distance by railroad.
Bridgeport Is siX.milcs this side OiClarksburg
where We have a considerable iOrCCundcr Gen
Roberts, and hopes were entertained that III,
enemy would be surrounded. The Marylant
troops lucl in high spirits, and Gen. kcnly wa
n proud of the opportunity given him TO agalI
n meet the enemy.
- The entire main stem Of the Baltimore AM
y, Ohio Railroad was believed last night to b
=" clear of the enemy. The bridge over til
y, Youghloghany had been reconstructed, ant
y trains were running from Baltimore to Grafton
=, a distance of three hundred miles from Batl
/, more, and eighty miles from Wheeling. Be
, vond Grafton 1t will probably require four o
4, 1--we days TO reconstruct the smaller bridges
i, forces of workmen with bridge timbcrs havin!
/ already moved in that direction. pontool
4 will be laid over the Monongahela until tina
n bridge can be constructed, SO that passenger
a can be exchanged from the trains on either sid
l. in the course of a few days.