New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-02
The Most Successful F:uid Of the Wnr.
Correspondence Of Tho y. y Tribune
uEaDQuiETERs CAVALRY tOsPs, I
uy INN NAV 20 1893. J

I Correspondence o. Tho " J.. tribune
Hg.DQuAETERs CIv.LRI CosP,,
| AArY TIM POTOsAC, May 20, 1897
| The 6th Illinois Cavalry has just returned from
the nlog, successul raid yet made by any one resi-
ment, having been foraging promiscuourly in the
enemy's country for the eleven days just past. Tho
regiment lef. camp the l7th instant with 800 men
| all told, and four days ratOns for the purpose Of
whiting that ,ecton Of debatable ground lying be-
tween the Rsppahsnnoek and Potomac Rivere below
Fredericksburg. This region has been the refuge Of
guerrillas and smugglers during the past Winter
the former having caused our cavalry pickets no
| little annoyance in one way and another. 1t was
for the purpose Of inhicting summary punishment
upon these citizen marsuders that the 9Th Illinois
paid them visit, and there is no doub, but what
they made most lasting impression. After reaching
King George CourHouse, Col. Clendenin divided
his command into three columns, each taking pub
lie turnpike road and marching the entire length Of
" the Neck" until they arrived at the junction OF
the two rivers, capturing and destroying Rebel
property without limit. Every nook along the
banks Of tho two rivers was explored for smuggers
boats and goods, which, when found, were destroyed
One hundred sloops, yawls, ierIy-boass ETC., were
burned with all their contents consisting Oh SAT-,
oil whisky leather, stationery, woOicards, percub-
sion CAPS boots, shoes, clothing, and many other
art Giles of especial value 10 the Rebels. About
20 900 pounds of bacon and large quantity OF Hour
were ai,o DESTROYED. At Leeds Ferry II WAS ascer-
taiued that the fery-boat used for smuegling pur-
no.es was on the sonthern bank Of the Rappahan,
mock and it was especially desirable that 1t should
h, destroyed Accordingly few OF the
illinois men were dressed in Rebel unit
form, and, escortng q few Of their companions
AZ IJnion prlsOners succeeded In enticng the DOat
across whereupon they mado prisoners the guard
and DESTROYED the boat. On returning, the negroes
belonging on the plantations along the line OF narcn
ioined the emancipating column coming ID IN squaus
Of from five to twenty, until there were hnaily acca
INFLATED $40 men. women and children OF the contra
band persuasion They brought with them al tneIr
persohal property, horses, mules, carts, c'olmpg,
&c. sod. donbtless, some which did not iegitmatcy
belong to them, but which they had eohuSca.eu
from Rebel masters under the Sequeslratloh act'
II was found that there still many good ana ioy
ctzens in this section Of the country VINO Iehdered
most valuable assistance 10 our troops. ,...-
Not the least important result Of TINS eAPeoi.ioh
was the accumulation Of five hundred horses anu
mules, no much needed in our service. lbcne am
mas are, with few exceptions, far superior 10 tnose
purchased by our Government for cavalry ser'iVc
After few days Test, the 9th llliuols WIN 10 'io
best mounted regiment in the service. ~ may po
mentioned here that the most serviceabe horses 'ne
cavalry have bad during the past year have Dsen
those captured from the enemy. One company Una.
i know Of bas out Of fifty horses, thiry-hve which
Were formerly IN The Confederate SERVICE ana 'p's