Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-28
AvERILL's OFFICIAL aIroRT.
EDRAr, PocAHOsris coUsrY. Va, I
Dec. 81, via BKvERLY, Dec. ~. !

r AVERILL OFFICIAL hIrokf.
EDRAr, PocAHoSrAs CoUxrY, VA,,
Dec. 81, via BKvERLY, Dec. ~.
n. W. Hailsek, GsBsral-in. chief:
Ihave the honor to report that cut the Virginia and
Tennessee railroad ct Salem on the 18Th ns and have
arrived slfey this point with my command, consist
ing of the I'd, 81, and Sta Virginia mounted infantry
I4th Pennsylvania Dobsons battalion Of cavalry, and
EWings battery. At Salem, three depots were destroy
ed containing 900 barres Of -four, 10000 bushels OF
wheat 100 600 bushels of sheled corn, $4,000 bus es
of oats 600 barrels OF meat several cords Of leather
900 sacks Of SALT 81 boxes Of clOthing 30 bales Of
cotton large amount Of harness, shoes. and sedd es
equipments to L. OIL tar aud various her stores, and
/ one hundred wagons. The telegraph w.re was cut,
coied and burnei for half mile. Tho waer-satioD,
turn table and three cars were burned and the track
torn up aud the rails heated and destroyed as much as
possible in six hours Five bridges and several cul-
verts were DESTROYED extent Of fifteen N les
large quantity Of bridge timber and repairing materials
were alsl destroyed. 1..- 80 ~ 3
Nv mar,h was retarded occasionally by the tempest
In the mounta rs and the roads. obliged to swim
my command and dag my artillery With ropes across
Cagg's Creek times in tweuty-four hours. On
nv return found six sfprate commands, under Tens
Early Jones' FllE Lse ImbodeD, Jackson, Echos and
hcCourtip arranged in a line extending from Stanton
| TO Newport upon all The available roads to pre-
vent my return. captured dispatch from General
Jones TO General kary giving me the position lard that
of Jackson at Clifton Forge and Coyington which be
was selected to carry. marched from tue from. OF
Jones to taat o. Jackson DUNG the night HIS ouposss
were pressed in gallop by the s.h Virginia mounted
infantry and the two bdgesacros Jackson river saved
Although iaggots had been piled ready to gOite, my
column four miles long, ened across, regardsI Of
the enemy, until all but my ambulancss and few wag-
ons and one regiment had passed, when strong ef)rt
was made reake the 6rs bridge, which did not suo-
coed The ambullnces al some sick men wei lost,
and by the darkness and difficulties the last regiment
was detained the opposite side until morning, when
it was ascerained that the enemy seemed deerm ned
to maintain his position up the tlhs which overlooked
the bridges which were long and high TO be destroyed
and the enemy Immediately changed his position TO the
flank and Iear of the detae hment which cut of.
sent oEdss the remnants 10 destroy ous wagons and
come to me across the river and over the ountans-
They swan the river with the loss Of only Jour men
drO Wned and joined me. In the meantime forces were
c5nceotating upon me at Calaghans, every avaa
aole load bus one which was deemed impraccable, but
By which ossed the top OF the Aeghanies with
my command with the exception OF Jour cassons, which
we're DESTROYED in order increase the team OF the
pieces NV loss is six men drowned, oSe officer and
four men wounded and one oficSr and ninety men
missing. We captured about 200 isoneEs, but have
retained but Tour eff ers and eighty men, account OF
their inability 10 walk.
We took also took about $50 horses. Ny men and
horses subssted entirely upon very or country, and
the officers and have suffered GELD and hunger and
fat que, with remarkable fortitude.
Ny command has marched, climbed. slid, aud swan
three hundaed ami Fifty miles sIca the Ssh inst.
w. W. AvERILL, Brig. Gen.
CAPTURE OF THI sHEsAPEAKE-ExcTEMESr At HALL
FAX.
1t appears that the steamer Chesapeake has been cap
turcd, and turned over to the authorities at HEfax.
The prisoners we're rescued by the citizens. Six Yam
kee vessels of the harbor. despatch dated
Halifax, the 18Th, says;
At ore o'clock this afternoon the steamer Chesapeake
and the prisoners board of her delivered TO The
Gov. rnment. Upon the arrival of the boat at the
Queens wharf the excitement became intense; the
prisoners Immediately seized by boats crew In
the sip and huIr cd off By or iWd In attendance.
Upon the Government officers moving to IS, the
prisoners under warrant they seized and held by
pc form theF duty. Toe crowd finally succeeded in
&c ting pa tes off In a small boat which forthwith
moved down the bay. The affair causes the greatest
excitement throughout the city. What course the au
thofes vii pursue in this matter IL s impossible to
siy TIE pirates are al now at liber v, scat cred
q roughout the Province. Toe Federal gunboatJ are
preparing to eavs
Some will their departure tonight and probably
al vii. leave before Monday.
The folio wing is the statement Of First Engineer
johnson, of the steamer Chesapeake:
After we let s. John, tie first port we entered was
Shebourne, where we arrived on Thursday night. We
here took in ten tons Of coal and sons wood The next
morning left for Llhaye river seeing steamer of
the mouth of the river, concealed vess as best
we could a1d ascended the river on Friday night We
.id to az this point Until Tuesday night d!scnarging
part of our cargo for which we received one thousaad
dollA,s We sold the sugar for three cents pound,
hour three dollars per barr and other articles pro-
portionate prices We lefG the river at o'clock p.
81, layirg TO at its mou all night and loading
schooner with goods VIC lad not disposed Of. Ga
the mig Of "Wednesday gs steamed for st. harys
Bay.
ABOUT ninety m les eas Of Halifax, at about o'clock
the following morning, We stesmr. VS. imme-
ately concealed vessel BY hugging the sbo When
the steamer disappeared we started agair We arrived
Off Samb0 without meeting any lusthes trouble, aud
wsre boar,ed by pilot named Flynn, who took the
vessel into Sambro river. 4f
Cap Locke noW satisfying himself that there were
no. Goals enough on btard 10 complete the voyage
concluded to an4hor the vessel, and he did at two
o'clock in the afternoon. la the meantime he sared
for Halifax procure Goals and engineers for the
sell He told me Jshnsor) thst As seoa as be obtained
new tgneers he intended 10 release me, and told
him that would not on any account remain with the
vessel any longer Ths Captain returned about two
o'clock on the ollOwing morning, haveg been success
A scho. ner came up with him about six o'clock on
ths same morning. The pilot, Mr.. Flynn, informed
the Captain that the Federal gunboats we're entering
the harbo and the Captain satisfying himself that the
statement was correct ordered Johnson to scutte
tn, vessel replied that would not do IT, The Cap.
tain then hastily secured whai pulde he could aud be
and bis Officers and portion Of the crew, took to the
boats as the Us snd Anna appeared in sight.
THE MUfrsY AT FORT JACKSON.
dispatch from New Orleans says, great excitement
prevailed there by the report Of The negro mutny at
Fort Jackson the 9th, account of which has been
also received from Confederate The dispatch
gives Ebe following as the facts
The negroes tad taken offence Of their officers
in command and s~Ore Vengeance Trying TO get pos
session Of his person. they encountered opposition
than they anticipated aud fred some shots at random
into the air but they intended TO crene mutny
or shei blood No person was injured
Tue whole affar did not last half hour. The OIL
GERS easily quoted the men, and ttey have not since
made aay demonstrations. aa n
THE YAsKEn CONGRESS. ta ~
10 The House, on the 28d resolution submitted
hY Mr. Ancnna instrnctnx the Qnnanilfce lidlarz