Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-29
THE RAILROAD RAID IN MISSISSIPPI.

The Western army correspondent Of the Mobile Re-
gister gives an account Of the destruction of vast
amount Of railroad stock at Grenada Miss, by the enc
n.y. gathered from an eyewitness 1t appears that the
Yankee force consisted of two columns from Cornth,
one from Memphis La Grange and still an Their from
Yazoo City This force Suddenly precpitated upon
the line Of the Mississippi Central Railroad The writer
Gays:
The column from Memphis encountered Chalmers
command in the vicinity of Pamela, probably on Sun
day OF Monday and owing TO its oVerpowerng strength
il reported 10 have defeated that body, anu, is sur
missed cspsIred Gen. Chalmers himself Tits accom-
ullshed our Orces driven back through Grenada
to wards Canton, and junction formed at the former
point with the Yankees from iaZoo, when tile desttuc
oa of the valuable property commenced, and the OBJ
let of the various expeditions fully accomplished.
Fhe damage nh cted cannot easily be estimated or It's
immense value even yGguely guessed at
There had been accumulated at Canton, for safety
aud from abandonment of roads, the rolling stock and
machinery of five important railroads, viz: The Mem
phis and Charleston Mississippi and Tennessee, New
Orleans ana Jackson Jackson and Vicksburg, and Mis-
sissppi Central. The correspondent thus describes
what became oil 1t:
When Gen. Johnston about to moye from Can
ton for the greater security of this uabe property
vain hope seems to have been INDUCED in that the
my were unIsale Of its existence suaton, or care
less Of its importance our interests. L. is difficult TO
conceive how such great oversight could have blinded
the Confederate military autaOriues In addition 10 the
| machinery, there were no less than forty locomotives
and several hundred cars, passenger and freight,
amounting in value 10 millions OF dollars, property
invaluable and impossible be replaced until the end
of the war; when it can lend assistance in the one
great object we ell have at hearOur liberty and indie
| peudence. The enemy appears TO have been more
| fully aware OF its Importance to cur interests
| than our own authorities. The forces from iour
points we're 10 concentrate at this Mecca Of railroad in
terests charged destroy every vesge OF their utility,
regardless If risks incurred or advantages Otherwise
lost II three columns met by dissser, fourth
was lef for the great accomplishment. 1t is Diff
cult to look these stern facts in the without feel
Ing OF bitterness and sckeuing lamenaH)n for such
irIeplrable losses-rather sacrifices.
When he witness of the SAD scenc left the work oil
destruction still going on aud the flames were leap
ing Oh in the air from stoIehouscs grcaning beneath
the weight Of Government stores. Fifteen miles from
the scene the bloodred light OF he conf graion still
cleaned in the sorrowlul eyes Of to observers
despatch from O1e0n1, Miss, uated August 2lst
says
The raid ON the Mississippi Central Railroad has ter
minated the enemy having accomplished his object IN
the destruction OF the rolling stock Of the Memphis aud
Char eIton Mississippi and Tennessee, New 0eans and
Jackson, aud Mississippi Ientcal Roads ,camulaed al
Grenada for security.
The enemy have gone back satisfied