Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-05-08
THE FEDERAL CAVALRY RAIDS.


during the previous night, made descent upon
Louisa Courthouse, and forthwith proceeded to tear
away on the railroad track. Not being provided
sufficiently well with implements of destruction for
the especial PURPOSE their progress being necessa-
ri!y rapid was fruitful of but little substantial DAM
age. Proceeding down the track, they broke it up
in several places well they could, and at three
o'clock in the afternoon reached Fredericks Hall,
twelve miles from the Court House They thence |
made dash for Ashland, on the Fredericksburg
Road, and captured our ambulance train, on its
way to Richmond OF this exploit the Examiner
says:
Gas the train neared the hotel at Ashland a
couple of shots were fired at the engine, which was
at once stopped. The Yankees were the 18th Hi.
nois regiment five hundred strong, and commanded
by Col. Davis, who said he was originally from
King George county, Va, and claimed kin with
President Davis. By order of the Colonel the en-.
CINE was uncoupled and burnt All the sick and
wounded and passengers were then paroled. No
interference was made with private property. Just
as the train was first hailed by the Yankee cavalry
several persons who were in the back car, among
them a bearer of dispatches from General Lee,
jumped off and succeeded in escaping aud are sup
posed to have made their way to our forces ~ the
South Anna, or to Hanover Junction.
The Yankee horses were first rate and IN good
Immediately taken into the houses Of the residents
of Ashland and the vicinity and attended by the
ladies. The only property destroyed by the raid
makers the engine Of the ambulance train, an
old engine lying at Ashland, and some two hundred
yards of the railroad track.
The Dispatch says:
From Ashland they proceeded to Hungary Sta
tion nine miles from Richmond, and passed the
night in that vicinity. Here they destroyed some
railroad property. 1t is believed however, that
the connection through by this route will be very
speedily established.
Yesterday morning they made their appearance
on the Brook Turnpike, leading into Richmond,
and commenced a series Of depredaiions on private
property though their chief object seemed to be to
steal horses, to replace their own, which had be-
come much jaded They took four horses and SIX
negroes from NJ. John Stewart and some from
others in the neghborhood. Col John B. Young,
Commonwealth Attorney for Henrco county, was
visited by \ strong detSchment surprising him
while busiy employed in the preparation of legal
document for Judge Gregory. They took from him
three horses, but disturbed nothing else.
1t appears that the expedition divided into de-
tached parties for wehear Of them at various places
about the same time. We have been assured that
less than 800 were engaged in the raid upon Ash
land while those who reconnoitered their camps at
different points express the opinion that the entire
command was from 800 to 1000 strong. At all
events, it would have been no very difficult task to
have captured considerable portion of the gang
after their first appearance the Central road on
Saturday. They seem to have expected this but
the golden opportunity neglected and the
thieves went on their way almost unmolested,
though it is reported that Two of them we're shot
yesterday morning by Wrenns cavalry. We OBJ
serve, also that three Others who had struggled
from their command, were captured and brought to
Richmond.
At Hanover Court House they destroyed a consil-
cradle quantity Of government stores, train Of
&. 1t L..Il n.
ton, on the Central railroad they cut the telegraph
wires, and probably inflicted some damage upon the
road
They proceeded on Yesterday morning to the IA
nous Meadow Bridges, on the Chickahominy, 10.
cahty which their army evacuated in great haste on
"a former OCCASION The Chickahominy is here
crossed by the Central railroad and it happened
that about the time Of their visit yesterday, the To-
connective Augusta" with Conductor Phillips and
Engineer CrOne, was approaching the spot
cOnnOitering expedition. The Yankees bad the To-
comOtivc nearly surrounded before they dlscoy
cred, but the conductor and engineer succeeded in
etfecting their escape through the swamp Two
negroes remained with the locomotive, but after
wards escaped and got back to the city. The YAM
KEGS set fire to the bridge, which is inconsidera
BILE structure, and as it burnt the engine was pre-
ciptatcd into the water.
The Yankees burnt at Ashland two locomotives
and tenders and some cars. They tore up mile or
two Of road destroyed all the bridges from Ashland
TO within five miles Of Richmond, and cut the tele
graph. They injured no private property
They got mail, and among other matter got a
letter from a correspondent Of the Dispatch an
nouncing Jacksons successful manosuvre, and the
capture Of 5000 Yankees in the Wilderness. This
information did not likely prolong their soiourn in
the Sashes.
The Examiner, in summing up the damage VIC
have sustained from the enemys cavalry, says:
The amount Of damage and property destroyed by
the Yankee cavalry, that we have certain informa
ton Of is ridlculously slight considering the dis
lance they have traversed TO effect it that which
we have from time to time heard of is much more
considerable. We have heard that they tore I'D
miles OF track about Louisa Court House. burnt all
the buildings at Hanover Co%rI House. and the Gen.
trei raIlroaG bridge and the South Anna bridges
0esldes doing lncalculabe mischief nearer this city
But IRON several gentlemen who left Hanover Court
Rouse after lie departure of the enemy, we learn
thSt the only buildings burnt there were those be-
5nsing to the railroad. From detailed account of
their proceedings gather that the mischief done
by them was the burning of those buildings tearing
up piece of trestle work. stealing a number Of
broken down Confederate horses and mules and
drinking up all of the whskey in BrilTs tavern.
Our iniormants think that but for Brilrs whiskey
they would not have fired any of the houses They
sent squad up to burn the, bridge over the South
Anna, who being fired on by four watchmen at the
bridge rereated in haste and could not be prevailed
upon to return. We may here remark that our in
tormants states that the whole party, except when
drunk, were under continual apprehension Of being
surprised and captured, statement corroborated
by all persons who have come In contact with any
Of them during the raid. The damage done the
Chickahoniny bridge is merely nominal and can be
repaired in few hours. On the Fredericksburg
road they have torn up few rails, burnt an old
shed at Hungary and singed the woodwork of four
culverts That's ALL In their course they have sto-
len good many horses and negroes, perhaps two
hundred horses and twenty five or thirty negroes
The Dispatch says: at is presumed that the
whole expedition re united yesterday, and is now
far On the way towards the Yankee lines. That
their intention was to have extended their opera.
tons further there is little doubt Indeed, we hear
that hey attempted to strike the York River rail.
road at Tunstalrs yesterday afternoon, but were
met and driven back by portion of Wise's brigade.