The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-05-23

asssal Sssssnaas 1aa
AN accounts Of Geseral Stosemass n.
ceet raid into Vifginia, whicG exieaded
Over period of nine days, aeree II repsse
ssnting that it NJ uoquestionaSly one of
the most brilliant and successful chapters Of
the war. A detailcd history Of the move
ment has not yet appeared in any Of the
public prints, and that which We print
below is not only graphic in description,
but ie correct in al its particulars.
On the 18th ultimo, General Stoueman,
with . portion Of his cavalry command,
moved up the left bank Of the Rappahan.
mock, with the intention Of piercing the
euemy's lines At the most fayovable oppor.
tusity, then, If possible. cut his line Of
communication, and destroy pablic property
wherever found. On the 18th; the frss Of
. series of rain storms commenced, causing
the river to become 90 swollen ~ to render
crossing imprncticable until the 2Sth ult,
and even then pontoon bridge was used.
Thus the weather detained the expedition
for fifteen days In the meantime the fords
At different points were tested, foraging
parties we're sent across the river, and sev.
oral skirmishes took place without any
important results. On Wednesday, the
29th ult., the whole force was sgain put in
motion and crossed the river at Kelley's
Ford without opposition. Gen. Averill
Immediately moved his division to the Or
auge and Alexandris railroad, where two
regiments Of the enemy we're met, and q
skirmish took place, terminating by the
enemy retiring towards Gordonville. In
this encounter only two Of our men were
wounded. @ @ srb of Gs1
Gen. Stonemau moved the main body Of
his command across Fleshmsn's river, and
encamped for the night in an open field,
during heavy rain storm. At this point
the enemy made d1sh upon our pickets,
but did not alarm the camp. Thursday
morning early, Gen. Buford crossed the
Rapidan, two miles below the Racoon
Ford { Morton's ford }, and advancing mp
the opposite bank, caused force of sixteen
hundred rebel infantry, with one piece Of
artillery, to leave in great haste from Racoon
ford, where soon after Gen. Gregg crossed
With his division. Here lieutenant and
thirteen priyates of rebel artillery comps
ny were captured. Near this point an army
bcef.contractor was overhauled, and $685..
600 in Confederate bonds taken from him.
A rebel engineer, with wagon load Of
material, was also captured on the road.
The whole force encamped at night one
mile from the river. Friday morning,
heard cannonading on the right, which
proved to be Gen. Averill's command hsv.
ing little fight with the enemy at Rapidan
Station, on the Orange aud Alexandra
railroad. This was the last Gen. Stoneman
heard of Gen. Averill. Next day, got close
upon the heels of large rebel force at
Orange Springs, Who. to escape. abandoned
wagons, provisions, &c. captured lieu
tenant of Jsckson's staff, returning from
leave of absence. At night camped At
Greenwood, just outside Of Louisa Court
House. The town was surrounded, and
Col. Fitzpatrick took possession of the place
at 6 o'clock, A. N. May I'd, without oppo-
siticn, capturing few rebel soldiers. The
citizens were astounded to find the place 10
possession of the Yankees, and overjoyed
when they became convinced that the Yam
KEGS were really civilized human beings,
and that they had not come to murder men,
women and children in cold blood, as was
firmly believed, and supplied the troops
freely with victuals and drink.
The track of the Virginia Central Rail-
roak, connecting Gordonssille aud Rich
mond, was destroyed at different points for
ten miles, two trains of cars burnt, telegraph
wires cut and destroyed, and some commits
sary stores were also appropriated. During
ths.night, detachment Of the 1st Maine
Cavalry, doing picket duty Eve miles up the
Gordonsv;Ile : road, was attacked, and had
two men killed. The enemy disappeared
the moment brigade advanced, after firing
few shots. Oo the afternoon of the I'd,
the command moved on through Yanceville
to Thompson's Four Corners. From this
point detachments we're sent ont in different
directions. One party destroyed portion
Of the railroad between Gordonsville and
Charlottesville; another, consisting Of four
hundred men, under Col. Wyndham, pro-
ceeded to Columbia, on the James river,
where the Lynchburg and Richmond canal
crosses the river. An unsuccessful attempt
Vas made to destroy the aqueduet. 80
Five locks were destroyed, the banks Of
the canal dug awey at different points !;
three canal boats, loaded With materials for
the rebel army, and Eve bridges we're burn
ed. A large quantity Of commiasary stores,
medicines, &c., were also destroyed, and
several hundred horses we're captured. A