Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-09
Important Military Achievement.

Longsircot S winter supplies, and prevented
hi, retreat from East Tennessee lie has
cut the railroad on Roanoke, east of Chris
tiansburg destroyed immense rebel sup
plies and placed thcuator, in arms under
Longstrcct upon short lntions, Give it to
them east and west, and bring ont the big
gun to tell the news of their defeat, of their
nakcdncss, hunger and wautl
los lY, Poc,uoNrAs CouNrY, NA,l .
December ~, rig Beverly, ~
GtacIW HJHetk; | have the honor to- report that
eat the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at SALEM
on the 10th, and have arrived safely at this place
with my command
At Salem three dcpots were destroyed, containing
1000 barrels Of Aour 10000 bushels of wheat
100000 bushels of shcod corn, 10000 bushels of
oats 1000 MwcNor meat, several cords of leather,
LOCO sucl- Of salt 81 hoNc, or clothing 20 bales of
cotton, large amount Of harness shoes and saddles
equipments, oil and tar and various other stores and
100 wagons The telegraph wire was cut and burn-
cd for half n mile.
The water sluton, turn-tabln and three cars Nero
burned, and the track torn mp and the rails heated
and destroyed ~ much as possible in six hours
Five bridges and several cIlvprts were DESTROYED
over an cNt'nt Of fifteen milc, large quantity OF
bridge timber, repairing material &c. Ny march
was retarded occasionally by the tempest in the
mountains and the icy roads ] was Obliged to swim
my command drawing my artillery with ropes
across the frozen cragn, and creeks seven times in
twenty y-iour hours. On my return found six seps-
rate commands under Generals Early Jones, l'its
Lec, slmhodon, jackson, Eohols and McCousin
were arranged in line extending from StauntoA TO
Newport upon all the available roads TO provent
my return.
! captured dispatch from Gen. Jones 70 General
ElrlV u nm his h.,sifi,u I,.l
Clifton Forge, marched from the front of Jones
10 that of Jackson at night His outposts were
pressed in at gallop the SthNa mounted Infantry
Two bridges across jackson River were saved al
though iaggots had been piled ready to ignite, Ny
column about four miles long, hastcned across re
glrdcss of the enemy until all but my ambulanccs
aud few wagons and one regiment had passed
when strong effort was made to take the first bridge
in which they did not succeed. The cambuhnces and
some sick men orc lost and by the darkness and die
GcuItos the last regiment was detained upon the op,
postr side until morning, When II was asccrtained
that the enemy seemed determined to maintain his
position up the clils which overlooked the bridges
caused the bridges which wcre long and high to
ha destroyed and the enemy immediately changed
position To the flank and rear of the detachment
which WAS cut of. -a
scnt orders to the detachment to destroy the rom.
naut and TO dosHuy our wagons and como to mo
across the river or over The mounan. They swain
the river with the loss Of four men, who were druwn-
cl, and joined me.
In the meantime the forces of the enemy were
concentrating upon me ut Calaghcny, over every
available road but one which was deemed inpracti-
cdlr bat by which crossed over the tops of tho
Allcghcnc' with my command with the exception
ot four cassons which were DESTROYED, in order to
increase the teams Of the pieces. My loss is six men
killed, one officer aud four men wounded, and four
officers and ninety men missing
We captured about 200 prisoners, mlt retained but
four officers and eighty men on account of inability
10 walk. We took, also, about 80 horses and lived
entirely upon very poor country, and the officers
md men have suffered cold hunger and fatigue with
lortitudc. The command has insrchpd
climbed, Sid and swami 3I3 miles since the 9th inst
LSigncll w. W. AvERILt, Brig. Gen.