Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-06-05
From the Richmond Dispatch.
The Northwestern Expedition,


We have already published pretty gener
al accounts of the expeditions Of Gems.
Jones and Imboden in Northwestern Vir-
GINA. We have before us a detailed &C.
count, written by a soldier of the 18th Va
cavalry From the same source we pub.
lished letter short time ago, which
brought the operations Of Gen Jones's
brigade upto Bridgeport, in Harrison coun-
ty. In the letter before US the writer
says:
From Bridgeport our brigade vent to
Phillip from there to Buckhaunor, aud
from there to Weston, where a Junction was
formed with the forces under Gen 1mboden,
who had advanced upon the town of Bever-
ly. by the road fIom Stauuton After a
day or two at Weston Gen Jones's brigade
parted company with Gen. Imboden, aud
marched from Weston towards Parkersburg
Proceeding some ten or twelve miles. the
18th, 18th and Wiher's battalion, under
command Of COL Harman, parted with the
remainder of the brigade. turned to the
right, end proceeded in the directiun o!
West Union, in Doddridge county, on
Northwestern Va railroad On approach
ing the town it was found the ,lsce was
held BY a regiment Of infantry, 500 strong,
who were strongly posted on very COM
handing hill. Col II threw out his
sharpshooters to attract the enemy while
be sent two squadrons to the rear or righr
of the town for the purpose Of destroying
the two railroad bridges. which was the OBJ
ject of the expedition to West Union The
ruse succeeded admirably, and whilst the
sharpshooters were diminishing with tho
enemy, the fame from the burning bridges
could be distinctly seen. Our object hav-
ing been attained, the troops were with
drawn from the front of the town, and en-.
camped for the night several miles distant
The next day the forces under Col Har-
man visited Richie county Before reach :
ing Harrisvile, the county seat, about so
militia fell into our haEds. They had
been called out by Gov. Pierpont, and a
number of them were armed with new En-
field riAos At Harrisville number of
Home Guards" and IL or Is of the 10th
Va infantry, were captured The con
tents of the Post Office we're seized, and
some valuable information obtained
In the meantime Gen Jones had struck
the railroad a. Cairo and destroyed two
bridges. TIE tsRQel, No. IS, which hac
some cofds wood in the arching,
was 6npIeA|y.
6n 1o6es near Richie c.
LQoe toceeded to "Oil
ib91e Ity," in Writ
ections, Writ
when ne i ID ID . found au i'm
nense g bging to Uncle
s. 4l}S is were strung
along f3e lsIf "a river for dis
teuc& ina 1lst at least 100 900
barrels efe bEg the banks Of the
stream ahdaf0l che different wells The
work Of destruction was commenced at II
o'clock in the day. and the conaagration
continued until after daylight the next
morning. The number fbar. els destroyed
was estimated at not less than 400, 900.
which you will perceive is an immense loss
to the enemy.
The return march was now commenced,
and the counties of Calhoun. timer, Brax
ton, &c passed through, but nothing wor-
thy of note occurred Iu these counties
the people are almost unit in the cause Of
the Souh, and long for the day Of deliver
aDce to arrive Large numbers Of horses
aud cattle we're brought out from the DIS
loyal count,cs
| was particular to note the condition
aud sentiment 10 some of the counties
through which we passed, and my conclu-
sion is this: A large majority Of the peo-
pie Of Marion county are strongly South
ern in their feeling; Harrison is loyal to
great degree; Barbour some good feeling;
Upshur, very upsound; Lewis, majority
sound, but large minority very rampant
IN their disloyalty; Doddridge, hot-bed
of fanaticism and disoyalty; Ritchio, not
much, ifany, better In Monopgalia and
Preston there is very little Southern feel
ing.