, 1863-12-24
GEN. AFEKIR4L'S EXPEDI-
TlON.


EpRA1, PocAnoHTAs Co., Ia, Dec. et,}
VIA BEYKlIT, Dec =. 1867.
General ualleck:
lhavc the honor 10 report tfhat cut the ylr-
giuia and Tennessee Railroad at Salem the
10th, and have arrived safely at this point
with my command at Salem three depots
were destroyed, containing 1000 barrels OF
-four, 10, 600 bushels Of wheat, 100, 900 bush:
els Of shelled corn, 5000 bushels of oats,
1900 barrels Of meat, several cords Of leath-
er, LOCO eacks Of salt, 81 boxes Of clothing,
20 balcs Of cotton, large amount Of harness,
shoes, and saddle equipments, tools, oil, tar,
and various other stores, and 1N wagons.
The telegraph wire vas cut, coiled and burn
I'D for half mile. The water station, turn
table, and three ca18 were burned, and the
truck tom up, and the rails heated and de-
stroycd, as much rs possible in eix hours.
Five bridges and several culycrts were des~
troycd TO over an extent Of fifteen miles. 4
large quantity of bridge timber and repairing
materials were also destroyed. Ny march
was retarded occasionly BY the tempest In
the mountaIus and the icy roads. was
obliged to swim my command and draw my
artillery with ropes across Crogg's Greek
seven times in twcnty-four hours. On my
return, I found SIX separate commands under
Generals Early, Jones, Fitz Lee, Imboden,
Jackson and McArstin, arranged In u line
extending from 6taunton to Newport upon
I'll tic available roads, to prevent my return
] captured dispatch from General Jones
to General Early, giving me his position and
from The front Of Jones to that Of jackson at
night His outpost6 were pressed IN at q gal
1op by the 9Th Virginin mounted infantry, and
TWO bridges across Jackson River were savcd,
although fagots had been piled ready to ig-
mite My column, about fonr 1nfles long, ,bast-
ened ACROSS regasdlssa q t9s s,,. enemy, unM NY
one regiment had passed: when strong
effort was made 10 fIfakc the first
bridge, in which they did not succeed.
The alnbulances and some sick men were
lost, and by the darkness and difficulties, the
side until morning when it was asccrtained
that *the enemy seemed determined
TO maintain It's position up the cliffs
which overlooked the bridges ] caused the
bridges, which were long and high, to be de-
s1royed, md tue enemy 1lnrncdiatcly changed
his position to flank aud rear Of the detach-
mcnt which Was cut Of. sent orders to the
remnant to destroy our wagons and come
across the river or over the mountain. They
swan the river, with the loss Of four men,
who were drowned, and Joined me. In the
meantime, tic forces Of the enemy concen-
very available road, but one which was
deemed impracticablc, but by, which I
crossed over the top o. the Allee;lanies with
nsy command, with the exception Of four
caissons, which we're destroyed In order to
increase the teams for pieces
Ny loss iB six men drowned and fo2r men
wounded, and four officers and ninety
1ncn missing. We captured also about
100 prisoners, but retained but four
officer: and eighty men, on account Of their
inability 10 walk. We took also l50 horses.
We were entirely upon very poor country,
:.1id the officers and men have suffered cold,
hunger aud fatigue, with remarkable forti-
1udI. lily command has marched. climbed,
Lid and swan $50 miles since 6th inst.
isisncd.] ". II. AyEEi11, Brig. Gen.