The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-05-12
A YANKEE RAID.

n 4ANh1SE RAID
During the fight at and near Fredeficksbhrg, 4
cavalry force of the enemy, estimated to number
S 900 men, was busy making raids on the lines Of
communication between Richmond and Freder-
icksburg and the surrounding country. The
following, from the Richmond Enquirer, gives an
accurate account of what little they accomplished
From all we can gather, three engines have
been partially destroyed the rails torn up at seve-
raj points on the liues creating delay Of trans
portation of possibly two or three days. We learn
from gentleman who was captured by them at
Ashland, and whose horse was taken, that no
damage was done to the cars, except, perhaps, to
the engine. Their main object was avowed to be
the destruction of the Central Railroad bridge
over the Chickahomiay, which they accomplished.
Another party passed through Louisa county
towards Columbia, on the canal, aud being follow
ed by Gen. W. Fl. f. Lee, were overtaken and
dispersed with the loss of thirty prisoners and six
killed The destruction or injury of the canal
was prevented by Gen. Lee, who was unable to
follow them upon their retreat from the blown and
faded condition of his horses.
We have further intelligence of the raid on 9TH
er points, which may be summed up as follows:
~ The enemy about five hundred strong, Cavalry,
entered Ashland about half-past four o'clock, on
Sunday afternoon, and piled up numbsr of logs
on the railroad track, to obstruct the passage of
the down train, which soon appeared. AS it came
UP, they took possession of it, set fire to the en-
CINE ard several Of the cars, after robbing mail
cars of about peck of miscellaneous letters
(none of any Importance and detaching portion
of the train containing about two hundred sick
and wounded Confederates, part OF whom escap-
ed, the rest were paroled.
They tore up some twenty five feet of the track
at Ashland Stat ion and performed similar 'feat"
some half mile below besides breaking into
small wooden culvert, which latter was the prin-
cipal damage done on the road. The engine of
the material train which they also captured, they
ran off the track, but did not injure it. Their
last achievement was the burning of Mrs. Cren-
shaws barn, in the vicinity. The whole amount
of damage will be repaired in day.
From Ashland they proceeded to Atlee's on the
Central railroad, which they reached yesterday
morning. where they tore up portion of the track,
and came down to the Chickahominy and destroy
ed the bridge An old locomotive, which was
captured from the enemy last year, was sent up
with several persons on board to ascertain DANA
ges, and reached Atlees just in time to be taken,
the passengers escaping by taking to the woods.
The engine was set agoing by the Yankees, and
ran into the Chickahomipy at the bridge, which
they had caved in. The damage done here was
very slight the bridge being small concern, and
he rest of the damage hardly worth mentioning
Another party, acting in concert with these,
visited Hanover Court House and burned the de-
pots, doing no other injury worthy of note.
They then proceeded down the North bank of
he Chckahsmny, directing their course towards
Williamsburg.
On their way to Williamsburg detachment of
hem was met at Tunstall's by four companies of
cavalry belonging to the 48th Va. Reg't who sue
,eeding in killing and wounding some Is or 20 of
he marauders.
The Enquirer, of the 9th, has the following
particulars:
We heard nothing reliable on yesterday relat-
ng to the operations of the raid Makers after their
defeat and retreat at Tunstall's Station, the
Yorkriver road, on Monday. During yesterday
and Monday, squads captured at various places,
in all some twenty-five, we're brought
a.. From them, it is ascertaned that the
strength of the body Of cavalry who left Louisa G.
H., on Saturday, and visited Ashland, Hanover,
Atee's, and other places, consisted of one COM
olete Illinois reg iment and part of another, num-
oering in all about ighteen hundred men. The
damage they accomplished was very slight On
yesterday, the Fredericksburg road was repaired
md train passed over it to our army. On the
Central road, the principal damage is to the Chick
ahomny bridge and the tressel-work at Hanover c.
AA'j "
The buildings burned were small structures, and
will be replaced with little cost and but slight
eral delay. The only real inconvenience is &C.
,asioned by the want of facilities for the tran spor
ation of the wounded in the recent battle. AS
many of the enemy's wounded have fallen into
our hands, this inconvenience will be shared by
them. The telegraph wires were working again
between Richmond and Fredericksburg at ear
y hour, and in the evening the Central line was
Ill right between the city and Beaver Dam station
RICHMOND, May Ga packet boat arrived
his morning from LyncRburg. The passengers
report very little damage done to the canal by the
Yankees. Several farm bridges the canal
we're destroyed and one lock gate damaged.
Two trains with wounded soldiers arrived this
morning on the Fredericksburg Road. Direct
with the army has been again
established.
BRUTAL TREATMENT OF CONFED-
ERATE PRISONERS.
The exchanged officers and privates, several
hundred in number, who arrived in Petersburg
IN Monday night by flag of truce boat from Old