The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-03-24
OPERATIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE
CAVALRY IN VIRGINIA.

OPERATIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE
CAVALRY IN VIRGINIA.
A Fredericksburg correspondent gives the fol-
lowing general order Of Gen. Lee, the Commander
/ n-Chief of the Army of the Potomac:
"Tbe Geperal Commanding announces to the
army the series of successes of the cavalry of
| Northern Virginia during the winter months, in
spte of the obstacles of almost sim passable roads
limited forage and inclement weather.
| l. About the first December, Gen. Hampton,
with detachment of his brigade, crossed the
! Upper Rappahannock, surprised two squadrons of
Federal cavalry, captured several commissioned
| officers, and about one hundred men, with their
horses arms, colors and accoutrements, without
! loss on his part
! 2. On the fourth of December, under the d.
rection Of Col. Beae and Maj. Waller, with a
detachment Of sixty dsmounted men, of the
Ninth Virginia Cavalry, Gen. VIM. f. Lees
Brigade crossed the Rappahannock below Port
Royal, in skifs,. attacked the enemy's cavalry
pickets, captured forty-nine including several
commissioned officers, with horses arms, &C., and
f! recrossed the river without loss
| On the 11th December, Gen. Hampton crossed
| the Rappahannock, with detachment Of his
I brigade, cut the enemy's communications at Dunn
tfries, entered the town few hours before Seiges
corps, then advancing on Fredericksburg, cap
men, and returned safely to his camp. On the
10th December, he again crossed the river with
small force proceeded 10 Occoquon, surprised the
pickets between that place and Dumfries, captured
fifty wagons, bringing many Of them across the
Occoquon in ferry boat and beating back a
brigade Of cavalry sent to their rescue. He
reached the Rappahannock with thirty wagons
| and $50 prisoners.
4. On the 25th December, General Stuart,
wifi 1ot, oh Of
and W. f. Lees brigades, under the command OF
| their officers, respectively, made force recon-
nossance in the of the enemys lines, attacked
him at Dumfries, capturing men and wagons, at
that place, advanced towards Alexandria, drove his
cavalry with considerable loss across the Deco
guon, captured his camp on that stream, burned
the Accotink bridge on the Orange and Alexan-
dria Railroad, then passing north of Fairfax
Court House, returned to Culpeper with more
than two hundred prisoners and twenty five
wagons, with loss on his part Of six men wound
ed, and Captain Bullock, most gallant officer,
killed
s. On February sixteenth, Captains Mcneil
and Stamp, of General Imboden's cavalry, with
twenty three men, attacked near Romney supply
train of twenty wagons, guarded by about
one hundred and fifty cavalry and infantry, routed
the guard, captured seventy-two prisoners, and
one hundred and six horses, with equipments
camp with his captives without the loss of man
This is the third feat of the same character in
which Captain Mcneil has displayed skill and
daring.
6. Gen VIZ Lee, with section of his artil-
lery, under Lieutenant Ford, on twenty fifth Feb
ruary, attacked two Of the enemys gun-boats at
Tappahannock, and drove them down the river.
damaging them, but suffering no loss on his part
I. General Fitzhugh Lee, with detachment
Of 400 Of his crosse the swollen uaterS
of the Rappahannock the 25th February,
reconnoitered the enemy's lines to within few
miles of Falmouth, broke through his outposts,
! fell upon his camps, killed and wounded many,
took one hundred and fifty prisoners, including
five commissioned and ten non commissioned
officers, and re-crossed the river with the loss of
only fourteen killed, wounded and missing.
8: On goth February, Brig Gen. w. E. Jones,
with small force, attacked two regiments of
| cavalry, in the Shenandoah Valley, routed them
and took 200 prisoners, with horses, arms &C.; with
the loss on his part Of only two killed and two
wounded.
9. Major White, of General Jones' command,
| crossed the Potomac in boat, attacked several
parties of the enemy's cavalry near Poosyille,
Maryland, and besides those he killed and wound
ed took II prisoners, with horses, arms, and some
| wagons, with slight loss to himself. Captain Ran
doph of the Black Horse Cavalry, has made
many bold reconnaissance in Fauquier, taking
more than 200 prisoners, and several hundred
stand of arms. Lieutenant Mosby, with his de-
| tachment, has done much to harrass the enemy,
attacking him boldly on several occasions, and
| capturing many prisoners. A detachment of
seventeen men, of Hampton's Brigade under the
brave Sergeant Michael, attacked and routed
body of forty five Federals, near Wolf Run Shoals
killing and wounding several, and bringing off
fifteen prisoners, with the loss on our part of
Sergeant Sparks, of the I'd South Carolina regi
ment who few days before, with two of his COM
! rades, attacked in >Brentsvile six of the enemy
sent to take him, killed three and captured the
rest
In announcing these achievements, the Com
handing General takes special pleasure in advert
ing to the promptness of the officers in striking
successful blow whenever the opportunity offered,
and the endurance and gallantry with which the
men have always supported their commanders.
These deeds give assurance of vigilance, forti-
tude and activity, and of the performance of still
more brilliant actions in the coming campaign.
ROBERT L. LEE, General.
PARTICULARS IN GUATEMALA.
letter from Guatemala gives an interesting
description of an earthquake which occurred there
on the 10Th of December last. The quaking and
trembling of the earth commenced about seven