New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-24

MC RAID ON L0NGSTREETS
DETERMINATIONS.
Destruction Ct the Virginia and Ten
nessee Railroad.
GEN. kvERlLLs OFFICIAL REPORT.
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF SUPPLIES DESTROYED.
ONE OF TIE MOST EFFECTIVE RAIDS OF THE WAR.
htSudiuaIy Efforts by the Rebels to Capture
h
Extraordinary Efforts by The Rebels to Capture
Tho Command.
M E0gMLNDS PUT On THEIR TRACE
Gen. IAverin Fights Some, Gives Others
the Slip, and Reaches Salem
in Safety.
IUEtY, Pocshonias Co, ". Va, Dec. 81, }
via k,yeripx Dec ~ 1878 \

! have the honor 10 report that cut the IT.
8 nia and Tennessee Railroad az Salem on the 10th
met, and have arrived safely at this point with my
command, consisting Of the ID 30 and sih Virginia
Mounted Iriantry. 18th Pennsylvania, Dohson's Bat.
TALON Of Cavalry, and Ewings Battery, at Salem.
Three depo,s destroyed. containing 1900 bbls.
Uf fcur 10 600 bushels Of wheat 100000 bushels stced
corn, 4, Geo bushels oars 700 bb meat several cords
.foa;her loo sacks of salt 81 boxes clothing 20 bales
,f cotton large Of harness shoes and saddles
'quiEneus toOls ol tar anG VARIOUS other stores and
100 wagons
The telegraph wire was crt coilcd and burned for
hair ,aiic.
The wster-statior. turn.table and three ears were
burned end tie track torn UP and rails heated and de.
sIeEed much possible IN SIX hours Five bridges
end several euites we're DESTROYED over an extent Of
IsnNes.
A .aree quantity Of bridge timber and repairing ma.
ferisls were also dcsuo! d.
Ny march was retarded occasionally ly the tempest,
IN TIT mountains and ,Le icy roads.
was obliged 70 swim ny command. and drag my
artillery Will ropes CTogs Creek times in
p tours On my rcsurn found s, separate commands
hndor Gons. Taflv Jones Fitz Lee, Imboden hsou
Echols and MeColst!n arranged in line extending
from Stanton Newport upon all tie available roads
10 prevent my return. l captured dispatch from
sen. Jones 10 Cen Early. giving me the position and
that o! Jackson at Clifton Forge and Covipgton was
seiecte6 10 carry.
marched fiom The front of Jones 10 that OF Jackson
al night. BIS outPcsis pressed in at raop by
tbe 9Th Virginia mounted infantry, and The two bridges
Jae kson's River were saved although aegots
had been piled ready 10 ignite.
Ny column about four miles long fastened across
regardless OF the enemy, until al bu; ny smbulances
Il .rd are lad naaSe1 Who
strong effort was mace 10 Ictake he first bridge IN
which they do not succeed.
Tho sisbulshcts and some SICK me were lost and by
fie darkness and difficulties the last regiment was de-
tanned upon the opposite eide until morning When it
ascer;ained that the enemy seemed determined
maintain his position up The cliffs which overlooked the
bridges, caused the bridges. which were long and
high, 10 be destroyed and the enemy Immediately
changed bis position the flank and Of the det0ch
which cut off, sent orders 10 the remnants
"a destroy or wagons and across the river
the mountains.
They swan the river with the loss II only four men,
Nlo were drowned and joined me In the mean time
forces Of the enemy were concentrating upon me at
Cailag hans over every available road but one which
tecmed impraoticabe, but by which 1 crossed
The top Of the AsghaDies with Ly command with the
.1ceptain OF four cassons which were destroyed in
Cfder to increase tie teams OF the pieces.
Ny loss is s.I men drowned, officer and four
wounded and four officers and ninety missing
We captured abcnt 200 prisoners, but have retained
bui 40 officers and 60 men, account OF their inability
towais; We took also about 80 horses.
Ny Lorses have subsisted entirely upon very poor
country, and the officers end men have suffered cold
hunger and fatigue with remarkable fortitude. Ny
command has marched. climbed. slid and swan 35j
,oiles since the 9Th inst.
W. w. AvERLL. BrieadierGcneral.
CU,fBERLASD Va, Wednesday Dec. 80 1903.
Gen. Ayelin cut the Virginia and Tennessee Rail.
,osd &. saer on the 10th and did great damage to the
road The effect Longstreet will be severe in cut
ting Of lis communication with Richmond
Three depot were destroyed at Salem together with
fheir contents valued at 100000 We destroyed
200 Of the enemy's wagons.
Tie line Of telegraph along the railroad was cut and
destroyed for considerable distance being cooled and
burned up small train Of cars also suffered.
Much Of the track up and destroyed In the
usual manner Two bridges and several culyerts
destroyed, extending oyer area OF fifteen miles.
great deal Of injury was done 10 the enemy which
compelled to refrain from detailing owing to the
Iaieness Of the hour and the length to which it would
extend NY dispatch.
When Gen. Ayerill attempted 70 return. he found six
separate Rebel commands, under Gems. Early Jones
Itzhggh Lee. Imboden, jackson, Echos and McCan-
stin arranged On line 10 cut of his retreat. This
Rebel line extended from Stanton to Newport upon all
zoads which it possible to transport artillery
Finding himself Ia this situation, General Averill
brayely determined TO cut his way through the enemys
ranks at all hazards, and accomplished his plan by
night that both surprised and outwted the
Rebels. General Ayerl worked bis way entirely out
but not without meeting with serious opposition from
visor and ingenuity to pen forces up but entirely
failed in accomplishing their object
We have one officer and four men wounded, and
about four officers and nearly hundred missing.
Is quite probable that many Of those missing
WI fnrn mp again in the course Of o few days.
We took about 200 prisoners; but owing TO the |
eIne iocemency Of the weather. and the fact of their
,nsoihty 70 walk, We have not now over 100 Of the
prisoners let We also captured between $50 and 200
horses.
For seyer@ Gays Gen. Averips men were ont o. sub.
sence and hsH TO procure this from nyivate bouscs
and the .canty store supplies they found along The route
The command has suffered severely from The cold q,
slso fIom excessive fatigue.
Gen. AveriI has done brilliantly and his command
Deserves great praise for the spirited manner In which
We recent movements were executed. The expedition
va of both dangerous and difficult character; and
" Woupt manner in which It wasearried out acting
simultaneously with the other columns Of Gen Kellys
"ops. 10 worthy Of credit.
''en. AseSl left New.creek on The eth instant, aud
"~' seceaFlt SN ~ miles tqln lLsJ plass,