The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-05-20
Stonemap's Grand Rounds.

NeHerhl otoneulan, VINO conducted the
cavaEy raid against the rail roads ia Vr
ginia. has certainly distinguished himself,
and must command the admiration which
honorable and high minded antagonists
must always accord to such instances.
Why he was permitted TO take such n
round with comparatively little molestation,
and to take off so many Of his men safely,
is n question demanding attention and in.
Quiry. That our readers may understand
the nature and extent Of this movement, We
give the following summary from the Rich.
mond Enquirer
The Yankee forces lately engaged in
raids upon the rail roads, were composed Of
twenty eight regiments, all under Gen.
Stoneman, a force Of at least 10000 men
Tho detachment ofso large n body Of
troops upon such nm expedition, while u
battle like that just fought in Spotsylvania
wns in actual delivery, will remain one Of
the inexplicable msn9uvres of Yankee
strategy. Fifteen thousand cavalry is q
most formidable force, and, judiciously used
on the battle field, might have caused us ir'
reparable loss. But Hooker has seen fit TO
expend this formidable force, not upon the
battlefield, but upon the undefended rail.
From all We can gather, three engines
have been partially destroyed, the rails torn
up at several points on the lines, creating q
delay Of transportation of possibly two or
three days The exact am ount Of the injury
done 10 the rail roads has not been ascer.
tsined, and the rumors and reports are so
conflicting and contradictory that it i. folly
to repeat them. We learn from a gentle.
man who was captured by them at Ash.
land, and whose horse was taken, that no
damage was done TO cars, except, perhaps,
to the engine that the force was expecting
to be captured; that Col. Davis, commsn.
ding the force, so expressed himself tina,
hungry, dispirted and jaded, many Of the
men expressed openly a desire to be cap.
tured.
Another party under Col. Windhnm pass.
ed through Louiss county towards Colum.
bia, on the canal, and being followed by
Gen. w. II. +. Lee, were overtaken and
dispersed with loss OF thirty prisoners and
six killed. The destruction or injury Of
the canal was prevented by Gen Lee, who
was unable TO follow them upon their re.
treat from the blown and jaded condition
of his horses.
X,
(cavalryO entered Ashland about half past
four o'clock, on Sunday afternoon, and pi cd
up Number Of logs on the rail road track,
10 obstruct the passage Of the down train,
which soon after appeared. As it came up,
they took possession Of it, set FIRE to the
engine and several Of the cars, after robbing
mail cars Of about a peck Of miscellaneous
letters, (noEe Of any importanceD aud de.
taching portion Of the train containing
about two hundred sick and wounded Con.
federates, part Of whom escaped the rest
were paroled
They tore up some twenty five feet of
the track At Ashland Station, and performed
q similar feat some half . mile be-
low. besides breaking into o small wooden
culverI
The whole amount Of damage will be 70.
paired by to-day.
From Ashland they proceeded to AtIee's,
on the central railroad, which they reached
yesterday morning, where they tore up a
portion Of the track, and came down to the
hickahominy and destroyed the bridge
The damage done here was very slight the
bridge being a small concern, and the rest
OF the damage hardly worth mentioning.
Another partv yisjtsd Hsnovar Tnr,t