Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF REBEL SUPPLIES
OFFICIAL FROM GEN. AvERILL.

We have been favored with the following copy
OF an official despatch from Gen. Averil, received
yesterday at the General Headquarters of the
Army in this city. 1t will be seen that il was
not without reason that the enemy entertained, as
has been manifested from time to time in our in
tellgence from Richmond, apprehensions of serious
disaster to them from the recent movements of his
command He has inflicted upon them blow
which In their present straitened condition as re-
CARDS supplies will be very severely felt
Edray, Poeahonias County, (Va December 81.
va Bst1ty. December 20 1903
d. w HALLEcK, GeBeralin Chef.
have the honor to report that cut the virginia and
Tennessee railroad at Salem the 10th instant and have
arrived safely at this point with my command consisting
of the Second, Third and Eighth Virginia mounted ntan
try Fourteenth Pennsyvan Dobsons battalion of cayal
ry, and EwiDg's battery.
At Salem three depo.s we're destroyed containing 600
barrels OF four 600 bushrs of wheat 100 600 busbea
Of sheed corn so 900 bushels of oat 900 barrels of
meat several cords of leather 900 sacks of salt 81 boxes
OF clothing 20 bales of cotton, large of harness.
shoes aud saddles, equipments TOOLS tar and various
other stores and 100 The Telegraph wire was
out, coed and burned for half mile The water STA
ton turn-tabe and three burned and track
torn up aud the rails heated DESTROYED as much as
possible in six hours Five bridges and several culverts
We're destroyed over extent OF fifteen miles large
quantity Of bridge timber and repairing materials were
also destroyed.
MY march was retarded occasionally by the tempest in
the mountains and by the roads. was obliged to swim
my command and drag my artillery with ropes acrcs
Braggs Greek seven times in twenty four hours
On my return found Xix separate commands. under
Generals Early Jones' Fz Lee Imboden jar kson EchoIs
and McCouston, arranged line extending from lam
ton TO Newport upon all the available roads, to
me- captured despatch from Gen. Jones to General
Early giving me the position and that of Jackson at C
ton Forge and CovingoD which he selected to carry
marched from the front of Jones to that Of Jackson
during thsngh His outposts pressed il at gallon
by the 9TH Virginia mounted infantry and the two bridges
across Jacksons river saved although aggo,s had been
piled ready to ignite. My column four miles long hasten
across, regardless Of the enemy until all but nv em-
ouiances aud few wagons and one regiment had
paeseu when strong effort was made to retake th. first
bdg-, which not succeed Tho am balances and soma
sick men were lost md, by the darkness and difficulties
the last regiment de aimed the opposite SIDE un,
morning when it ascertained that the enemy sesa
determined tp maintain his pos ton up the cliffs which
overlooked the bridge caused the bridges which were
long and high to De destroyed and the enemy immediately
changed his position to the flank au rear Of the detach
mebt which WAS cut off sent orders to the remnants
to destroy our wagons and across the river
and over the mountains. They the river with the
Lss Of only four men drowned. and Joined me-
In the mean time forces were concentrating npon me-
at Calaghans over every available old but one which
was deemed impraccable, but by which crossed over
the top OF the Alleghanes with my command with the
exception of four caissons which destroyed ia order
to increase the teams of tie pieces
My loss Ia six mrn drowned, officer and four man
wounded, and four officers and ninety en- missine We
captured about two hundred prisoners but have re-
tanned only four officers and eighty men on account Of
their inability to walk We took also one hundred
and fifty horses
My men and horses have subssted entirely upon yerv
poor country and the officers men have suffered cold
| and hunger and fatigue with remarkable fortitude
My command has marched, climbed, sid and swan
three hundred and fifty miles since the 9Th instant
w w. AVERILL, Brig. General