The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-12-24
Great Exploit OfsSen. AverIIl.
ELRoY, %PoCAHoNTAs Co, VA,
VIA BEVERLY, Dec, 81 Z

ILhOA NahO1l w. fA.sl
VIA BEVERLY, Dec. 81
To Mqjor General HuLleck::
have the honor to report that | cut the
Virginia & Tennessee R. r. at Salem on the
10th, and have arrived safely at this point
with my command. At Salem 3 depots were
destroyed containing 1000 bbls of flour TO-
900 bus wheat, 100, 900 bus shelled corn,
so, 900 bus oats, 200, 900 bbls meat, several
cords of leather, 1000 sacks salt, 81 boxes
of clothing, 20 bales c~ottor, a large amount
harness, spurs, saddles and equipments, tar
100 wagons, and various other stores.
The telegraph wire was cut, coiled and
burned for a half q mile, the water station,
turn table and three cars were burned, and
the track torn up and the rails heated and de-
stroyed as much as possible. In six hours
five bridges and several c~ulverts were de-
stroyed over an extent of fifteen miles. A
large quantity of bridge timber and repair
ing materials were also destroyed.
My march was retarded occasionally by
a tempest in the mountains and the icy roads,
was obliged to swim my command and draw
my artillery with ropes across the creeks sew
eral times in twenty-four hours.
On my return | found six seperate COM
mands under Gems. Early, Jones, Fitz Hugh
Lee, Imboden, jackson, Rhodes and McCouster,
arranged in a line extending from Staunton
to Newport, upon. all the available roads, to
prevent my return.
l captured a dispatch from Jones to General
Early, giving me his position and that of Jack
son at Clifton Forge. marched from the front
of Jones to that of Jackson at night. His out
posts were pressed in at a gallop by the 8th
Virginia mounted infantry, and two bridges
across j Jackson River were saved altho' the fag-
gots had been piled ready to ignite. My col
aboutfourm miles, fastened across regard
less of the enemy, until all but my ambulances
a few wagons and one regiment had passed,
when a strong effort was made to retake the
first bridge, in which they did not succeed
The ambulances and ONE Of the sick men were
lost, and by the darkness and difficulties the
last regiment asdetained on the opposite side
until morning, when it was ascertained that
the enemy seemed determined 10 maintain his
position up the cliffs which overlooked the
bridges.
caused the bridges, which were long and
high, to be destroyed, and the enemy immedi-
ateIy changed position to the flank and rear Of
the detachment which was cut off. Isent OF
dersto the remnant to destroy our wagons and
come to me, across the river or over the noun
tains. They swan the river with the loss Of
four men who were drowed, and Joined me.
In the mean time the forces of the encmy con-
centrated on me at Cullahogan over every
available road but one, which was deemed
impracticable, by which we crossed over the
AlIeghanies with the whole command, with
the exception of four ~casSions which were de-
stroyed in order to increase the teams
of the pieces, My loss is 6smen drowned and
/ officer and 4 men wounded and four officers
and Omen missing. We captured 200 prisoners
but retained four officers and so men. On
account of inability to walk we took also $50
horses. Entirely upon a very, poor country
the officers and men have suffered cold, hun
ger and fatigue with remarkable fortitude.-
My command has marched, climbed, slid, and
swan 355 miles since the 9Th inst.
(Signed) w. w. AvERILL, Brig. Gen.