Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-12-22
THE NEWS.

The Lynchburg Republican of the 10
INST d, YES the most detailed account yet
received of the late raid of the enemy
non Salem on the Virginia and Ten
ap p Rail. road. Tire force was sup
nosed hy the best Informed persons in
he Mace to re about $500 and assaid
10 be under tn immediate command OF
Zen Ayerill. They reached Salem on
W ednesday the 10th inst. shout 10 IN
tbe morninr an, i remained until about 5
h the evening. In the interim they
burned the depot. commissary ant. quar-
ermaster's buildings and destroyed two
of the Railroad bridges; one across Ma
sons Geek and one over Roanoke riv
err. at distances from tie town equal
to one and half, and six miles. ~
likewise burned the Salem M ~
bv Mr.. Pitzer, and ar :.ns - o~ ans'l
quantities 81 aorn or;s ions
&c, taken from :, ne proprieto ) Of one
SIS - ~ ,und in the place and vicin-
ny ANY along the line of march Of the
= es'o' ny are said. almost without excep-
ON, to have been taken of.
Some Is negroes were also abducted
of which number, 6 belonged to the un-
profitable class of free negroes. One
man only, Thomas Chapman, whilst
watching their movements at some dis
lance from the town was discovered
and refusing to surrender was killed
with the exception OF three of Col Mum
ford's I'd Va. Carly, who were absent
from duty on furlough, mo prisoners were
captured.
Such raids into the richest and most
populous portion Of our Valley show
the necessity ola thorough organization
of home guard, or an equivalent re
serve corps, to defend our border coun-
ties against the ingress OF the enemy.
Judging from the appearance and char
acter of the men who constitute the
Home guard Of old Augusta, we are
inclined to believe that such an organ
ization under proper restrictions, and
with efficient leadersmight be made a.
valuable for the most energetic service,
especially if moved in conjunction with
the veterans who belong to the regular
service, otherwise they might forget
that sometimes the best strategy is to
run, and that
"He who fights aud runs away
Lives to fight another day.
But testing aside, such organizations
would bo composed of reliable men, and
where they were unable to withstand til !,
numbers of tie enemy, might at least
hod him in check lorg enough to gain
time. The chief advantage which Of
fensive warfare has over defensive is
| that Of taking the iniative in any con-
templated movements, whereby oppos-
linz generals are reduced to the necesi-
| ty of losing time in order to discover
the real intentions of the enemy. This
disadvantage however diminisles as the
enemy is drawn farther from his base of
operations and our means of commu-
nication and conveying intelligence are
rendered more available.
P. s.. Since writing the above we
have later information that the enemy
had retreated, and has encamped
Thursday night at Craig's Creek, some
twenty miles dis ant from Salem. Re
ports are also current that Col. Jack
son had captured 300 of the enemy, and
has other portions of the command cut
off, so that it will be difficult tor them
to make their escape.
There has been no material change in
the status of affairs upon the Rapi-
dan. Our Il oops are said to be bust
| lily engaged in constructing their Win
ter quarters, made we suppose according
to the various architectural tastes of the
builders, the elements of cons truction
however, being limited to mud, poles,
and barrel chimney.
The enemy it is said to be similarly
engaged. 1t is possible therefore tl.at
the operations OF the opposing armies
will be either wholly or in a great meas
lure suspended during the coming win
ter months. AS to the condition of oui
troops we append the following from a
communication of the correspondent OF
| the Rich. Dispatch. He says:
"Frequent inquiries are made as to
how the army is fed. In response /
would say that the army receives an a.
bundance Of good -four and beef for
days, and bacon for the other two days
of each week. Occasionally there are
issues of sweet and Irish potatoes. The
army has also been receiving new sup
plies of clothing and some shoes. The
troops are well fed, and in the main
we'll clad, the only much-needed article
to the soldiers comfort being blankets.
The lack of them could readily be sup
plemented if the people only possessed
q 1.-THE of the patriotism they exhibited
in the outset of this war.
The army ofTennessee. - Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston is expected to take com.
mand of the army of Tennessee this
week. Maj. Gen. Hindman will as
sumo the command of his old division.
Sherman's corps is reported to be fall
ing back from, Knoxville to Chattanooga
having passed through Cleveland on The
10th inst.
From East Tennessee we have the
gratifying intelligence of a brilliant vic
tory by Gen. Longstreet over the enc
my driving him back in the direction
of Knoxville. A telegrom from Bristo