Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-25
Successful Cavalry Raid in North Car
Olfna,

Fort MONROE, July 23.-The following is
from the Petersburg Express of July 23d -
"From passengers who reached here yeSter-
day morning on the train from Weldon, we
gather few particulars from the raid on
Rocky Mount, n. c., briefly referred to by us
in yesterdays Express. The gang numbered
between four and six hundred, and came up
from Washington, n. c. This is the route
supposed to have been taken for Rocky
Mount, though about the same distance from
Plymouth as Washington. The roads from
the latter point are much the best. Either
road would bring them to Marlborough, a flour
ishing little town in Edgecomb county, about
eighteen miles from Rocky Mount, and where
until recently, the confederate government has
had immense supplies of bacon, corn, &c.
The raiders reached Rocky Mount at about
twelve O'Clock, meeting with no resistance.
The small squad of 10 or 20 men guarding
the bridge over the Tar river, near Rocky
Mount, of course did not risk an engage
ment with such odds, but, we presume, re-
tired in good order. They (the federals) I'M
mediately proceeded to burn the depot, de.
struy the water tank and commit acts of
vandalism in this vicinity. They also burnt
about 5000 bales of cotton, belonging chiefly
to private individuals, which had accumulated
at Rocky Mount, and squad repaired to the
large cotton factory near by, owned by VIM.
S. Battle, where they applied the torch, and
that spacious building with all its valuable
machinery, was speedily reduced to ashes.
This is really serious loss to all that portion
of the state, as well as the south side of Vir-
GINA. Avery large quantity of cotton yarns
made at this factory were purchased by the
people OF eastern North Carolina and the
south side of Virginia, who since the war
ht,tr
clothing for home consumption.
''rhe regular mail train for Wilmington.
passed just thirty minutes before the arrival
of the raiders and thus made narrow escape
from capture. The train on the Scarborough
branch Of the Wilmington road was not so
fortunate. 1t was captured by the raiders,
and two car loads Of ammunition and over
$4,000 pounds of bacon were destroyed. They
also attempted to destroy the cars and loco
motive. We understand that they only part
ly succeeded. The train from Weldon hich
reached here yesterday afternoon, brought no
intelligence later than the above.
''Travel and telegraphc communication
between Weldon and Wilmington are now in
terrupted, and we can ind no one who is able
to inform us when it will be resumed. mil
itary force sufficiently large to prevent rep
clifton of the destruction effected on Monday,
10 liON DIT dllu VII lllC ludt bul ullOl
they are just in time to be too late. The
damage has been done.
''LArER.-We learn by telegraph from
Wilmington that the bridge destroyed by the
raiders spanned Tar river near Rocky Mount.
1t was most substantial structure some three
hundred yards long. The track Tor the dis
lance of mile or two was torn up, and other
damage was effected which it will require
week or more to repair. Travel it is thought
will be suspended six or eight days. 1t is un.
derstood that the raiders have only fallen
back to Marlborough, distant from Rocky
Mount about eighteen miles. If allowed to
remain at Marlborough it will be time thrown
away to repair the Wilmington and Weldon
railroad, for the Yankee cavalry will be able
to reach 1t in two hours time whenever they
feel so disposed, and SO destroy the track that
it will be useless. We hope, however, that
Gen. Robert Ransom, who is now in that d.
rection, will quickly clean the invaders out
from Tarborough."