, 1863-05-14

about In the primitive style, from mouth 10
mouth. Before this raid they believed that
beings, and were stricken with terror when
tntiT approach was heralded Ut Six churches
Eetn in one day, In only one had there be- n
religious services held in six months. One
Lnlf uf the dwe cling houses are uuvccupiru,
and fast going to decay.
ARE TILE REBELS Euonr OF PROVISIONS?
The fear Of famine was everywhere express
Eed; the Government EciZes upon everything
that can 60 to suetain the army, leaving tnose
who sic not in the army to shift as best they
can. Many have provisions concealed to
avoid the searching eyes Of the Government
agents. Through the agency Of negroes,
large qunntiti.s Of provisions thus hid away
were brought to light for the benefit of Union
soldiers. The farmers fold is regularly Gull
ed Of oil marketable sheep, swing and bceves,
and what il left behind Is not fit for the butch.
er's stall. The larder Of the 1arEest planters
contains little else than bacon and corn mcal.
The wheat crop, now coming forward, is i'm
mense-in fact little else has been put in the
ground. The rich valleys Of tho James and
Rapidan Rivers are vast wheat-fields-more,
III fact, thln can be gathered, unless the army
is turned to this work. The negroes are not
numerous enough for the task, even were they
not in fair way Of being 80 thoroughly de-
moralized as to refuse to work unless paid in
tgreenbacks."
The negroes everywhere have an fdea-how
It got into their headE they cannot exactly
tell, but it is there-that the Yankee troops
were their friends, Notwithstanding the con-
trary assertion Of their masters, who from in
fancy they hare hcen taught to obey. They
everywhere crowded upon our columns and
begged to be permitted to 20 along, and not
uDfrequently brought one or more horses
with them as sort Of bribe. They pointed
out where valuable horses were concealed,
gave info1 nation as to the movement Of Con-
federate troops, and at several places set up
all night to bake corn cakes for the Yankees,
and for which they asked 10 remuneration.
Of our soldiers that they gave vent to their
feelings in prayer, thanking Jesus feryently
for sending us.
WASHINGTON. May II, 1863.
The following was received at headquarters
to-day:
YORKTOWN, Va. May 5, 1868.
Major General F. ". Hallcck, comuandes.in
GESEKAI-1 haTe tie honor to report that
by direction Of Major General Stonemau, I
left Louisa Court House on the morning o1
the Cd inst, with one regiment {the Htsris
Light Cavalry Of my brigade), reached Hun,
gary, on the Fredericksburg railroad, at day
light On the morning Of the 4tl, destroyed the
deyot, telegraph wires and railroad for several
miles; passed over to the Brook Turnpike
drove in the rebel piekets down the pike,
across the brook; charged q battery and
city Of Richmond; captured Lieut.. Brown, 4.
D. c. to Gen. Ninder, and eleven men within
| the Notifications; passed down to the left to
| the Meadow Bridge on the Chickahominy
| which I burned; ran 4 train Of cars into til.
| river; retired to 1Ianoyertown on the PENN
enla Crossed .nd destroyed the ferry Just il
! time to check the advance Of pursuing cay
| airy force; burned q train ofthirty wagons
| loaded with bacon; captured thirteen priso
| uers, and encamped for the night five mile;
| from the river. resumed my march at 1 a. III
! Of the 5th, surprised q force Of 800 cayalEy al
Ayletts; captured, two officers and thirty
three men, burned ff;y-six wagons and thu
depot, containing upward Of x, 600 barrels o
curn and wheat, Quantities Of clothing and
| commiEsary stores, and safely crossed th,
Mattapony and destroyed the ferry again, jus
in time to escape the advance Of the reoe
cavalry pursuit.
| Late il the evening destroyed 4 third wag
On train and depot, few miles west Of Tap
] paLannock, on the Rappahannock, and from
| that point made forced march Of twent,
miles, being closely followed by q super1o
force OF cavalry. supposed to be q portion q
Stuart's, from the fact that we captured pris
oners from the 1st, :th and 10th Virginia cav
airy. At sundown I discovered q force OF cav
airy drawn up in line Of battle above KIN!
and Queen Court House. Their strength VA
unknown, but ut once advanced to the nj
tack, only, however, to discover that the
were friends-a portion Of the l3!h 1llinoi
cavalry, who had become separated from tn
command Of Lieut.. Col. Davis Of the sam
regiment, At 10 4. m. on the 7th, l fnuu
safety and rest under our brnre old fag witt
in our lines at Gloucester Point.
| This raid and march about the entire rebl
army-n march OF nearly 200 milcs-has bee
made in less than five days, with 4 loss Of on
officer and thirty seven men, having capture
end paroled over 500 men.
Il I take great pleasure in bringing
your notice tho officers Of my stat
Captain ?. Owen Jones. Capt. Arlnstron!
Capt. Melvin, DR.. Hackley and Liauteua'
. Estis, especially the latter, who Tolunteere
to carry i dispatch to Major General uooke
He failed in the attempt, but with his esco
Of ten men he captured and paroled one nc
, jor, two Captains, q Lieutenant, and 6f.ee
men. He was afterwards himself capture
with his escort, and was afterwards Te-ca
turcd by our own forces. He arrived th
: morning.
: I cannot praise too highly the bravery, fl
titude and untiring energy displayed throug
, out the march by 1t. Col. Davis and the oi
GERS and men Of the Harris Light Cayalr
. | not one Of whom but was willing to lose L
: liberty or his life if he could but aid in, Il
, great battle now going on, and win for lii
, self the appreciation Of his chiefs.
, Respectfully submitted,
: J. kILPATn1CK,
Col Comd' 6, 1st Brig, Sd Dir. Cav,