Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-18
TIE SLOVENIAN CAVALRY RAID.
Official Report OF Col. Davis. III Comman,
OF one Division OF the Forces,

OF one Division OF the Forces.
Col. Davis, of the 18th Illinois cavalry, who
was in command of a portion of Stoneman, $
cavalry force, has submitted the official report
of his operations 10 Gen. Rufus King, COM
manding at Yorktown.
On Sunday, May 3d. he received orders to
penetrate to the Fredericksburg railroad. and
if possible, TO the Virginia Central, and destroy
communications. He marched down the bank
OF the South Anna, through a region never be-
lore penetrated by our forces; and on the first
DAY burned one bridge and dispersed a party
OF mounted guerillas, and struck the first rail.
way line at Ashland, which village was taken
without difficulty.
halt dos en- rails, and piling quantity of boards
III some trestle- soath of the town, made
an immense fire, which soon consumed the en-
tire structure. While at this work, train of
cars approaching the town was captured and
brought in for inspection, and the train being
found fnii OF sick and wounded rebel soldiers,
the latter Were paroied and permitted to depart.
The report continues thus:
We left ashland at O'Clock p. IN. A few
miles from thetown, word was brought us
that train of eighteen wagons was camped in
with companies b and C to destroy them,
which he did.
We struck the Central railroad at Hanover
Station about p. m. Although wearied and
exhausted by our days labor, thought 1t best
to complete the duty assigned us, and break
all the enemy's communications before resting.
1t WOuiQ De Impossible 70 give a precise STATE.
ment of the damage here inflicted upon the
enemy; 1t must have been great. There were
more than hundred wagons burned, = thou
sand sacks OF -four and corn, a large quantity
ofclothing and horse equipments. The build
ings and cars were full of property collected
for the use OF the Southern army. All private
property we respected, and believe that none
whatever was damaged.
BY the light of the burning buildings we left
the station and marched for the Court House,
which had been previously occupied by Cap
nsa-A 4 n
placed pickets there, and taken captain and
four men prisoners. We passed through the
Court House and marched down to within
seven miles Of Richmond. where we biyoucked
ill a. n. the next day, when we marched for
Williamsburg. Mt Tunstal Station fnear the
White Hou and the Richmond and Yorktown
railroad) train OF cars, filled with infantry
and a battery OF three guns, was run out TO OPP
pose us. / thought it best TO make All effort TO
break through before the men could be got out
OF the cars, or the battery in position. there
fore brought up my two foremost squadr0ns
and ordered a charge, which was executed by
them-Captain Reanes, with companies ID and
T, taking the lead, and followed by Captain
Sheayes, wi companies II and l. This
charge was made most gallantly. The infantry
filled the embankment OF the railway and
poured upon us a severe fire, but my men
dashed up 70 the embellishments in splendid style,
and With car bines and pistols res ponded TO the
FIRE with eqnal effect. 1t was, however, impos.
sible 10 break through. There were formidable
rif1e-pits to the left OF the road. and the enemy
soon filled them, and we were forced to retire
with loss of two killed and several wounded
Failing to penetrate the enemy's lines al that
point. Col. Davis started for Gloucester Point
where he arrived on the eth INST. having trav-
eled over two hundred miles through section
OF country never before traversed bya Federal
force The total loss in the ex petition was three
commissioned officers and tnlrey three enlisted
men. They brought with them one hundred
muIes and seventy five horses, captured from
the enemy They captured in the course OF
their march much larger NUMBER, which they
could not bring in The amount OF properly
royed is estimated at over enc million OF
dollars.