, 1863-05-11

a6th Of June, 1862, Gen. A. 2, Hill begun the
great battle Of Richmond.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock ycster.
day morning, Major John T. Wrenn, with
about eighty men Of his cavalry battalion,
who on SUNDAY started to Hanover Junction,
returned to this city by the Mechanicsyille
turnpike. From one Of the men We learned
the adventures Of the company during their
lrief absence from the city. On their way to
The Junction, when three miles on this side
OF Ashland, they met on the mountain road
considerable body of Yankee cavalry. Major
Mrenn at once drew up his men in line OF bat
tle, but the enemy showing no disposition to
4 ekirmish 1t long range ensued!,
were fred on each side. One
Yankee was seen to fall from the saddle. No
ono was struck on our side. Major WFcnn,
finding the cnclny's force superior 10 his own,
the night, Gen: Pryor rode out from the city
alone, and Joined Major Wrenn. The men re-
manned in the saddle all night, falling back
slowly, and watching the enemy. Ats o'clock
this morning, the retreating party came ia
sight of the Brooke bridge, on the Brooke
turnpike, three miles from the city, when, to
their surprise, they found it occupied by de-
tachment Of several hundred Yankees. See
ing his retreat in that direction cut of. and
The Yankees pressing on his rear, Major
Wrenn wheeled his column to the left, and
made across the country for the Meadow
Bridges, which, on nearing, he discovered to
be also In the possession Of the enemy. With
out loEs OF time, he bore still further cast,
and by dint OF urging his jaded horses to their
utmost, was enabled to reach and cross in
safety the Mechanicsyi11e bridge, from which
point access to the city was unobstructed
Gen. Pryor and Major Wrenn at once repaired
to the camp Of the battalion Mt the old faiz
grounds, and set about collecting fresh horses
with which to resume the field.
Between one and two o'clock D. m, John
L. Phillips and James Crone, the telegraph
operator and engineer, who had started out
In the morning to repair the wires on the
Central Railroad, returned to this city on foot,
They give the following account of their ex-
pedition They left the city at seven o'clock
! NJ, with an engine and tender, having with
them two negro 1lremcn. They proceeded as
far as Peake'd, eighteen miles from Richmond,
without 6eelng any signs Of the enemy. At
this place they were met By section master
Of the road, who informed them that the
Yankees were at Hanover Court House,
where they had staid all night. Upon the re-
ceipt Of this information they Immediately
reversed the engine and started to return.
On nearing the bridge over the ChickahominJ
the engineer discovered the Yankees
employed In burning that structure. Lcay-
ing the free negroes to shift for them
sclTee, Crone, and Phillips lcaped from the
engine and plunged into the dense under
growth Of Chicknhominy swamp. The Yam
kees pursued them short distance, and gave
up the chase. They then made the negroes
put full head of steam on the engine, and
run It into the stream over the broken span
Of the bridge. Having done all the damage
they conveniently could to the bridge and
his hat and silver watch, and, leaving behind
them couple Of horses that were too much
jaded to keep up with their hasty movements,
took up their departure il IN ca5terly direc-
tion. The negroes jumped upon the horses
and rode into town.
The nearest approach to this city ever made
By hostile Yankee was accomplished on yes
the capital Of the Coufederacy twelve months
ago, and "On to Richmond was the watch
word Of his numberless 1egions, five miles was
the least distance ever between him end the
object Of his hopes and ambition. But on
yesterday morning, ut o'clock, three hun
dred Yankee cavalry visited the farm Of
Mr. John B. Young, on The Brooke turn
pike, two miles from the corporate limits.
Their stay, It is true, was brief, but they Gu
joycd one Of the finest views Of the spires and
houEetops Of the city, md were rewarded by
the acquisition Of three fine horses, which
they stole from Mr. Young. One Of the horses
they took from buggy standing before the
~0OuI. LIE LIEU 5All!ulllUl u1E. 1OuHI QA1 Of
the proximity Of an enemy, three blue coats
ga11oped mp to his house from the rear and be-
Gan to put q halter on his buggy horse. lie
stepped out Of the house and asked the man
what he was doing. The fellow replied that
he was about to take that horse By storders
from headquarters" Then the truth that the
individual before him was live Yankee, for
the first time flashed across his mind. He at
once concluded that Gen. Lee must have been
defeated, and that Hooker Was marching OH
Richmond. Having secured the horses, the
Yankees rcjoincd the main body, who we're
drawn up in line on the pike In front Of the
house. Tho Yankees were in much terror,
evidently expecting every moment to be
pounced upon by the rebel forces. The first
explanation Mr.. Young received Of this sud-
den apparition Of Yankees upon his peaceful
premises was from regiment ot our troops
sent in pursuit Of the enemy.
Gen. Winder, attended by one of his aids,
vas ont on the Brooke pike yesterday morning
making . reconnaissance, when he narrowly
escaped capture by the Yankee frccbooters.
He saw approaching him q body Of cavalry;
installing them for Wrenn's battalion, he was
on the point Of riding up to them, when his
aid discovered their nationality. The General
and his aid galloped on leisurely, soon leaving
the jaded cattle Of the Yankees out of sight.
This vas the same party who visited Mr.
Yonng'E firm. 4 Heutennnt, James Brown,
w..o had been on q visit to Mr.. Palcskcs, q
few miles up the pike, had n short time before
been arrested and paroled by them after being
robbed Of his horse.