Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-15

LATEST FROM THE EAST TENNESSEE
EXPEDITION.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF ITS OPERATIONS
BRrpeKs DESTROYED AND RAILWAY
Tons UP-550 REBELS KILLED,
WouSpKp AND TAKEN PRISONERS
n Col. Carter has been heard from. His
ir,yeSition into East Tennessee proved
complete success. The following dis
latch to Gen. Wright, commanding the
Department of Ohio. from Gen. Gran
ler, gives the result. We learn in ad-
iition that the expedition was composed
kf detachments from the ed Michigan,
bth Pennsylvania and 7th Ohio Cavai-
Nv. II started on the 2lst ult.. under
brders from Major General Wright. and
reached its destination on the 29th ult.
Fhe rebels had been apprised. eighteen
hours in advances of the approach OF
IGen. Carter, but the strength Of the
Iforce ofthe latter was greatly exsgger-
ated. and there was panic in The rebel
camps. His force having been dimin-
ished by detsching men for guard and
scout duty, be did not have over four
hundred men when he attacked the
rebel camp of eight hundred; but he
whipped the enemy, who lost over
live hundred in killed, wounded and
prisoners. When Gen. Carter reached
IUnion bridge, he captured train oi
cars, in which were three rebel officers,
Colonel Love. Gen. Stephenson and an
4 dengineer. The locomotive and cars
tveye destrovaS-Tu Tue Watangee and
5ls:-- Undges, together with nine miles
ofthe road, were destroyed. The ma
ture of the country there is such that II
is impossible for either wagons or foot
passengers between the breaks. There
isa very rough road, however. twenty
FIVE miles in length, over which troops
may be marched, but wagons or artil-
lery cannot pass.
Another important fact is the alb
sence of timber in that country to re-
pair the road and bridges. 1t musI
either be hauled from North Carolina
or brought by rail from Virginia. 1t is
the opinion Of the officers that the road
cannot be repaired in less than two
months.
A large quantity Of salt. intended for
Brsgg's army, was destroyed, togeth-
er with other stores found there. Col.
Garter lost only ten men. The march
was a severe one upon men and horses.
The latter suffered even more than the
former. The Michigan regiment, how
ever. finding better animals among the
rebels than those they were riding,
made an exchange, and returned with
new horses.
A short time before the arrival OF
Gen. Carter in Tennessee, seventeen
hundred conscripts had been sent of
to the army from the mountains. These
came very near being rescued The
following is the dispatch to Major Gene
raj Wright:
LEXINGTON, Jan. 7, 1868.
To Mcjor- General Wright:
The cavalry force of 1000 men ]
sent to East Tennessee on the 91st ult,
by your order, under command of Brig.
Gen. Carter, to destroy the East Ten
nessee railroad bridges, have been
heard from. Gen. Garter has just dis
patched me from Manchester. Ky, on
his return stating that on the 3Oth ult.,
he entirely destroyed the Union and
Wantanga bridges, with ten miles oI
railroad.
Five hundred and fifty rebels were
killed, wounded and taken prisoners
Seven hundred stand OF arms, large
amount of -four, salt. and other rebeI
stores, were captured. Also. loco
motive and two cars were destroyed.
A brisk skirmish took place on the
Wantanga bridge, and another at Jones.
vile. We lost but ten men
The raid has been one Of the most
b azsrdous of the war, attended with
great hardships and privations, owing
TO the almost impracticable nature oI
the country in which it was made, and
the inelemency of the season. Gen
Carter's officers and men deserve the
thanks of the country.
G. GRANGER,
Major General.