Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-25
DIspatch from Gen, Averill to Gem
ualleaR

RDRAY. PooAHoNrAs County, Va, Dec.
81. Uia BEVERLY. 22-T0 Gen. HGtteck:--
7 Il have the honor to report that cut " 3
Virginia and Tennessee Railr 'ad at Sa-
lem. ON the 10th, and have arrived safely
at this point with my command. AtSalem
three depOts were destroyed, containing
9, 600 barrels of -four, 10000 bushels OF
wheat, 100, 900 bushels of shelled corn,
50. 600 bushels of oats, 1000 barrels of
meat. several cords otileather, 100 sacks OF
salt. 81 boxes of clothing, and 90 bales OF
cotton. large amount of harness, shoes,
leouipments, tools aud various other stores
and 100 wagons. The telegraph wire was
cut, coiled and burned, for half mile
The water station, tarn, table and three
ears burned, the track torn up, and the
rail heated and destroyed as much as pos
sible; in six hours four bridges and sew
lerRl cuIverts were destroyed over an exc
tent of Fifteen miles, and large quantity
of bridge timber and repairing materials
were also destroyed. My march was re-
tarded occasionally by the tempest IN the
mountains and the icy roads. Twas obliged
Ito swim my command, and draw my iartti-
lery with ropes, across OFegg's Greek, seven
| times In twenty. four hours. On'my re
\ treat found six separate commands under
| Gems. Early, Jones, Fitsell, Imboden, Jack.
| son Holse and McOoustin, arranged in a
line extending from Staanton to Newport,
| upon all the available roads to prevent my
return
l. captured dispatch from Gen. Jones to
Gen Early, giving me his position and that
of Jackson at Clifton Forge. / marched
4 from the front of Jones to that of Jackson
at night. His outposts were pressed In al
1 a pailop by the Virginia mounted infantry,
land two bridges across jackson, river were
ilsayed, although the fagg6ts had been piled
aud ready to ignite. My column about
four miles long, hastened acrosa, regard.
less of the enemy until all but my ambu.
Ilances, few wagons and one regiment bad
lipassed when strong effort was made tC
retake the first bridge, in which they die
mot succeed. The ambulances and sons
sick men were lost, aud by the darkness.
and difficulties in crossing the last regi
ment was detained upon the opposite side
of the river until this morning. When
Iascertained that the enemy had determined
to maintain their position in the cliffs,
caused the bridges, which were long nnG
high, to be destroyed, and the eaamy i'm.
1 mediately changed his position to the flank
and rear of the detachment, which was cut
off. sent an order to the remnant 10 de
stroy the wagons and come to me across thu
river, or over the mountain. They swan
the river with the loss of four men, who
were drowned, and Joined me.
Ia the meantime force of the enemy
were concentrating upon me at every avail,
| able road. but one which was deemed i'm.
practicable, but by which 1 crossed over
the top of the Allegheny with my COM
mand, With the exception of four Caissons
which were destroyed to increase the
! teams of the pieces. My loss Is elk men
drowned, and four Officers and ninetv man
! missing, We captured 200 prisoners, but
relieved all but four officers aud eighty
meu, on account of their inability to walk.
We took about $50 horses, were the en-
tire time upon very poor country, and
the officers aud men have suffered cold
hunger and fatigue with remarkable fortt.
tude. My command has marched, climbed
slid and swan 800 miles since the 9Th inst.
W, W. AyERlLL, Brig. Gen.