The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-28
THE NORTHWESTERN EXPEDITION.

We have already published pretty general
accounts Of the expeditions of Gems. Jonss
and Imbnden in Northwestern Virginia We
have before Us detailed account, written by
. soldier of the lo Va. cavalry. From the
same source We published letter shor, time
ago, which brought the operations of Gen,
Joness brigade up to Bridgeport, in Hsrri son
county. In the letter before us the writer
eaya
From Bridgeport cur brigade went to Phil.
liPi, from there to Buckhanuon, and from thsre
to Weston, where junction was formsd with
the forces under Gen Imboden, who bhd ad
vaneed upon the town Of Beverly. by the road
from Stannton. After day or two at Weston
9eu jones' brigade parted company with
Gen' lmoolen, and marched from Weston to
wards Parkersburg. Proceeding some ten or
twelve mites, the ll.h. 10 b and Witaher' bat
taliop, under command of Col. Harmsp, parted
with the remainder OF the brigade, turned to
tie right, and proceeded in the direction Of
West uaion, in DoddrldEe county, on North
western Va. railroad. On approaching the
town 1t " as f 'uDd the place was held by re-
g,ment Of infantry, 500 strong, who were
strongly posted on y very commanding hill
Col. II. threw out his eharp pshooters to attract
the enemy while he ssnt two equadrons to tho
rear or right of the town for the purpose of
destroying the two railroad bridges, which
wa ,as otjsct of ths expedition TO West
taion. The 7asS' saeoeedei admirably, ED
whilst the eeiisrpsnootsrs were So rmi ahing wish
tbs enemy, the Il ime from ths bornins bridges
could be distinctly seen Our objecI having
been attained, the troops were witsirawn from
tGe front OF the town, and encampsd for the
night several miles distant TIE ,.ea, day the
forces under Col Harman vi.ised Ritchie coun.
ty. Before reaching Harrisylle, the couaiy
seat, about SO militia fell into our hands. They
had been Called out by Gov. P,erpoin., and u
number Of them were armed with new Enfield
rifles. a: H9rrisyiile q number of "Home
Gnards' and ~ or Is of the 10Th Va pf.ntry
were captured. Tie contents of the Posi- O.
tice we're seized and some valuable in Information
obtained.
In the meantime Gen Jones had struck tho
railroad at Cairo and Destroyed two bridges
The tunnel, No. IS, which had some COO
cords Of wood in the archiug, was destroyed
completely.
Ws rejoined Gen Jones near Richie II :,
aGd from thence we proce esced 10 "Oi, T. VIZ"
or "Rath5one C!ty,' in Wut county Since
the comm ncemeu. OF hostiii!ies between the
two sections, Writ county has been constantly
Government has had the Oil wells under their
control, AID when we reached the wells we
found an immense quantity of oil, belonging
to ncie Sam Canal or oil boa.s were
strung along the Little Ksnaw ha river for
distance of two miles, whilst at least 100, ,0G0
barrels were lying along the banks of tue
stream d around the different wells. The
work of destruction was commenced at IL
O'Clock in the day, and the condagratiOn con-
tinued until after daylight tie next morning.
The number of barrels destroy ed was esi.
mated at not less than ACC, goo, which you will
percsive is an immense ioss to the enemy.
The return march was now commenced, and
tue counties of Calhoun, Gilmsr, Braxton,
&c, passel through, but nothing worthy of
note occurred. Iu these counties the peop!s
are almost a unit in the oauss Of the South, AID
long for the day Of deliveranoe to arrive
Large numbers Of horses aud cattle were
brought out from the disoyal counties.
l was particular to note tie condition and
sentiment In some of tie Counties through
which we passed, and my conclusion Is this
A large majority of the people of Marion
county are strongly southern in their feeling;
Harrison Is loyal 70 great degree; Barbour,
some good feeling; Upshur, very unsound
Lewis, majority sound, but large minority
very rampant in their d,s!oyalty Doddridge,
a hot oe 4 of tanatlelsm ana oisloyalL, Rtohle,
not much, ii any better. Ia Mvnouga id aqd
Preston there is very little 'soathsrn feeling.