Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-24
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
Full Particulars Of the Brilliant
Raid Of Gen. Foster into
North Carolina,
THE REBELS ADMIT THAT 1T WAS
MOST DAMAGING TO THEM,
BRIDGES BURNED, TRAINS CAPTURED
RAILROAD CONNECTIONS BROKEN UP,
AND AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF
AMMUNITION AND STORES
DESTROYED
GENERAL FOSTERS FORCE REMAINS AT
TARBOROCGH

FORTRESS MONROE, VA, July 23.-The fol-
lowing is from the Petersburg Express of July
Esd:
"Frem passengers who reached here yester-
day morning on the train from Weldon, we
gather a few particulars from the raid on
Rocky Mount, N. c., briefly referred to by us
in yesterdays Express The gang numbered
between 400 and 600, and came up from WASH
ington, N. G. This is the route supposed to
have been taken for Rocky Mount, though
about the same distance from Plymouth as
Washington. Thesroads from the latter point
are much the best.
Either road would bring them to Tarbo-
rough, q fiourishing little town in Edgecombe
county, about IS miles from Rocky Mount,
and where, until recently, the Government
has had immense supplies of bacon, corn, &c
The raiders reached Rocky Mount about IL
O'Clock, meeting with no resistance The small
squad of fifteen or twenty men guarding the
fridge over Tar river near Rocky Mount, of
course did not risk an engagement with such
odds, but, we presume, retired in good order
They Immediately proceeded to burn the de-
pot, destroy the water tank, and commit other
acts of vandalism in the vicinity. They also
burnt about 5000 bales of cotton, belonging
chiefly to private Individuals which had &C
cumulated at Rocky Mount; and squad re-
paired to the large cotton factory near by,
owned by VIM s. Battle, where they applied
the torch, and that spacious building, with all
its valuable machinery. was speedily reduced
to ashes. This is really serious loss to all
that portion of the State, as well as Southside
Virginia. A very large quantity of cotton
yarns made at this factory were purchased by
ethe people OF Eastern Carolina and Southside
Virginia, who, since the war, have been largely
engaged in manufacturing clothing for home
consumption.
The regular mail train tor Wilmington passed
just thirty minutes before the arrival of the
raiders, and thus made q narrow escape from
capture. The train on the Tarborough branch
OF the Wilmington road was not SO fortunate.
1. was captured by the raiders, and two ear
loads OF ammunition and over 900 pounds Of
bacon were destroyed
They also attempted to destroy the cars and
locomotive. We understand they only parti.
ally succeeded in this latter part Of their un
dertahng.
The train from Weldon, which reached here
yesterday Afternoon, brought no intelligence
later than the above.
Travel and Geographic communication be-
tween Weldon and Wilmington are now inter-
rupted and we can find no one who is able to
inform US when it will be resumed military
force sufficiently large to prevent a repetition
Of the destruction effected Monday is now at
hand on the road, but unfortunately they are
just in time to be too late The damage has
been done.
LATER.
We learn by telegraph from Weldon that the
bridge destroyed by the raiders spanned Tar
river but short distance from Rocky Mount.
twas most substantial structure, some three
hundred yards in length.
The track for distance of mile or two was
torn up, and other damage effected which it
will require week or more to repair.
Travel, it is thought, will be suspended for
six or eight days. 1t is understood that the
raiders have only fallen back to Marlborough,
distant from Rocky Mount about eighteen
miles.
II allow ed to remain at Marlborough it will
De time thrown away to repair the Wilmington
and Weldon Railroad, for Yankee cavalry will
be enable to reach it in two hours time, when.
ever they feel so disposed and so destroy the
tr that it will be useless. We hope, how.
ever, that Gen. Robert Ransom, who is now in
that direction, will quickly clean the invaders
out from Tarberough."