The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-24

EDRAY, PocAHoNTAs Co., Va, Dec. 81.
To MAJ Gen. Haileck
have the honor to report that cut the Vir-
ginia and Tennessee railroad at Salem on the
10th inst, and have arrived safely at this point
with my command, consisting of the I'd and Sd
Virginia mounted infantry, 18th Pennsylvania,
Dobinsons battalion of cavalry, and Ewing
battery. AT Salem depots were burned, con-
tanning 20 900 barrels of -four, 10000 bushels
of wheat, 100, 900 bushels of shelled corn, 50,-
900 bushels of oats, 1000 barrels of meat, sew
eral cords of leather, 1000 sacks of SALT 81
boxes of clothing, 20 bales of cotton, and vari
GUS other stores. The telegraph wire was cut,
and the railroad torn up and destroyed as much
as possible in six hours. Five bridges and
seven culverts were destroyed.
MY march was retarded occasionally by the
tempest in the mountains and icy roads. [ was
obliged to swim my command and drag my ar
tllery with ropes across Croy's creek seven
times in 33 hours. On my return found six
separate commands, under Early, Jones, Fitz
Lee, jackson, Eshols and McCoetin, arranged
in line of battle from Stanton to Newport to
preve1t my return. captured dispatch from
Jones to Early giving me their position.
marched from the front Of Jones, to that of
Jackson in the night. His outposts were pressed
across jackson were saved. My column, abOnt
four miles long, FASTENED across, regardless of
the enemy, till all but my ambulances, a few
wagons, and one regiment, were passed, when a
strong efortiwas made to retake the first bridge,
in which they did not succeed. The ambulance
and some six men were lost, and by the darkness
the last regiment was detained on the opposite
side till morning.
When it was ascertained that the enemy
seemed determined to maintain his post upon
the cliff which overlooked the bridge. | caused
the bridges, which are long and high, to be des-
troyed, AMI the enemy Immediately changed
his position to flank the detachment, which
was cut off. sent OF ders to destroy our wag-
ons and come to me across the river or over the
mountains. They swan the river with the loss
Of only four men and joined me.
In the meau time the forces of the enemy
were concentrating on me, at points on every
available road but one, which was deemed i'm
practicable, but on which | crossed over the top
OF the Alleghanies with my command, with the
exception OF two casons, which were destroyed
to give more horse power to the pieces.
My loss is Six men drowned, one officer and
four men wounded, and four officers and ninety
men missing.
We captured about 200 prisoners, but have
retained but officers and 20 men, on account Of
their inability to walk. We took also about
$50 horses. My horses subsisted entirely on q
very poor country, and the officers and men have
suffered cold, hunger rnd fatigue with remark
able fortitude. My command has marched
climbed and swan 1856 miles since tue 9Th inst
(Signed) W. W. AvERrLL, Brig. Gen.
BALTIMORE, Dec. %. The regular Fortres
Monroe letter to the Associated Press of Mon
days and Tuesdays date, contains no reference
to tie receipt of Richmond papers of the 10th
or the telegram purporting to come fron
Charleston, that the Ironsdes had got entangle
in the distractions, and that two monitors wer
damaged. There is, therefore, no doubt tina
the dispatch in question was hoax, and az th