Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-05-21
Correspondence Of the n. 7. Times.
HEADe'Rs SrorEMAR's CAVALRY I
CoRPs. Friday, May 8. {

Correspondence of the N. 7. Times.
vas HEApo'Rs SroxEMAN's CAVALRY I
CoERs. Friday. May 8. :
Thursday morning (April 3o) th
whole command was aroused fror
slumber before daylight; after littl
shaking and wringing, Boots and sad
die" was whispered to the differen
commanders, and we were soon upol
the road.
Being well within the enemy's lines
great caution vas sxeTciseds proceed
ing few miles through piece o
woods 10 parallel columns, alarge oPer
space Of rolling ground was reached
when q halt was made in the woods
and the whole district was parolled fol
an enemy These precautionary PLAN
we're carried out during the whole ex
pedition. The exercise of caution wa,
particularly necessary. because can
nonadiug could be heard on the right
supposed to be,in Gen. Averill's COM
mand. The advance of General Bu-
ford's column arrived near Minot's
Ford, on the Rapidan, at I o'clock, P.
NJ. Lieutenant Penn Gaskell, Abide
Camp, with a squadron of the Fifth
Cavalry, crossed, and dsshing up the
river, caused some 900 rebel infantry,
assembled to protect the crossing at
Raccoon Ford, two miles sbove-to
leave 10 great haste. They succeeded
in escaping with a piece of artillery
which they had intended TO use upon
the head Of Gen. Gregg's column
Lieut.. Penn Gaskell followed the flying
fugitives for five miles, on the road to-
ward Orange Court House, Capturing
q Lieutenant and nine men, mostly ar
tillerymen, and General Gregg crossed
the River at Raccoon Ford without diff
fculty. At night the whole force en-
camped on hill commanding the ford,
with orders TO be in the saddle at e
A. NJ.
Friday, May LIST, another cold, wet
night. was passed in the open air, and
all pretended to enjoy it hugely, and
the men were standing to horse at the
hour indicated, hut The march was not
commenced ill after daylight guide
was wanted. Major Falls of General
Gregg's Staff, foraged to supply the de-
fciency, and soon after caused much
amusement by dashing along the line at
the head Of the column with reli
able contraband astride his horse be-
hind. At Orange Spring, Lieutenant
on Jackson's Staff, named Mount, was
captured while returning from Fauquier
county, where he had been on a short
leave of absence. He alleges he was
captured only when his horse became
unmanageable. The approach to Orange
Spring was very quiet, and SO close
upon a column of rebel cavalry that
they were forced to throw away seve-
raj wagon-loads Of provisions, and
abandon their jaded horses and accou.
terments.
A few stragglers were captured.--
Among the captures was a rebel en-
giDeer and team filed with the imple-
ments employed in his department.
At 2 O'Clock P M. scouts reported that
several hundred OF the enemy's cavsl.
ry, with a train, were escaping by
side road on our right. Col. Wynd-
ham was sent in pursuit, and went to
the vicinity OF Madison, without over
hauling the force, however. There
was some struggling to-day, owing TO
the desire Of few OF the rear guard
to obtain peach brandy, which the in
habitants dealt out literally. with a
view, no doubt, to make captures.--i
The day and night being pleasant. the
command marched unil 81 O'Clock Sat.
urdsy morning. May 2. when halt
was made at Greenwood, one mile west
of Louisa Court House.
Here was reached the Central Vir-
ginia Railroad. Detachments were sent
up and down the road for miles, to de-
stroy the track, culverts and bridges.
and also to act as pickets to prevent
surprise. The work was well done.--
Just at dawn Col. Fitzpatrick charged
into Louisa Court House. The visit OF
the Yankees was entirely unexpected,
and the people were caught mapping,
Just as they had rolled over for a morn
ing snooze.
The possibility Of the invading troops
being Yankees was not dreamed OF un-
til several struggling rebel soldiers had
been arrested. They supposed it to
be Stewsrt's cavalry. When the scales
had fallen from their eyes with the ris.
ing Of the sun, the whole town was
panic stricken. Fully believing the VIII
lsipous falsehoods so industriously and
pertinaciously circulated by the JEFF.
Davis ldespotism at Richmond, as to
the treatment the people had every
where received at tine hands Of our
soldiers, they were much relieved when
assured that their lives would be spared,
and that private property would not be
interfered with, except IN such cases as
ali civilized nations consider le itimate
supplying the actual necessities of the
troops. After this assurance, the peo-
ple talked freely and unreservedly with
officers and men, A bfeakfsst-consist-
ing of corn. hog, hominy and rye cof.
fee--wss obtained at the hotel for So.
For shilling calico, $a so per ard was
asked at the stores; very poor whisky,
ss3 per gallon, and everything else
was proportionately high. 90 h2isf
To-day the people Of Louisa saw for
the first time Uncle Samuel's postal