Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-03-10
Kflpnsrirk,a Raid.
IFresn be n. V. Tribune, Ffiasy.i

~
The special dispatches which We received |
kilpatrick resohed Rich mond or NOT, he
has already done gresi deal Of damage in
The ensmys country We regard the an
noupcemsnt of Ms Safs arrival at Louisa
Court Housess suro proof that he had
opened road for himself 10 Richmond.
Whether he has found the Rebel Capitaltoo
strongly defended to be attacked by mounted
force, we shall probably know to-day. 1t is
dismally suggested that Longstrcet's force,
or some part Of 1t, has Just arrived at the
capital; and, Of course, their presence will
keep Fitzpatrick out. The authority for
the statement Is not given. , ~. 4,
The war in thu. East has witnessed no
bolder dash than this. The only effort to
be compared with 1t is the cavalry expedition
organised under Gen. Hooker, and led BY
Gen, Stoneman, in the, Chapcellorsyiile
campaign. That came to nought from over
caution and want Of enterprise in Gen.
Stoneman, though portion Of the force
under Fitzpatrick did good work. it has
been commonly supposed the whole ex-
pedition was success, but it was not in any
sense, or to any extent. Stoneman had
orders to cut Lees communications with
Richmond, especially BY destroying the
bridges on the Fredericksburg Railroad, and
otherwise damaging it, but the injury
actually done was SO slight that there was
not one day on which trains did not run,
carrying troops to Lee: l
The present expedition was well or
ganised, and, 90 far as We know, has been
we'll led. The force under Gen. Custar, OF
whose performances We printed an ACCOUNT
yesterday, went round the left fank OF Lee
| ~ .ks~ ~k~l~ ~ss~,rksnvx 0h ItH
operations to give Kilpstrick fair start IN
bis circuit about the other wing. Penetrating
within three miles OF Charlottesville, Gen.
Custnr had the satisfaction Of hearing sever
al trains together arrived from the East
with troops, and then having made oil the
trouble he could, returned as dashingly q
he went. H4t sl I.f -, =.
Kilpatiick's movement began on Sunday
morning at 8 o'clock. He crossed ths
Rapidan at Ely's Ford, eight miles east o.
Germanna Mills, surprising and capturing
the Rebel picket of two officers aud hfteel
.. men, and marched to Spotsylvauia Court
I House at eleven. He must have passed
,, within Ave miles Of Lees right on the rosc
to the Court House, and after leaving ]
turned toward, not away from, the mali
|, body oe the enemy, marching direct TO
Louisa Court House, in its rear. His arriva
!. at that point is positively affirmed, and "
sea no reason to doubt it. Thence turning
! east, again, he pushed forward on the lin
: Of the Tirginis Central r. R., marching il
,. three columns and destroying everythin
y as he went. Ifit be too much to hop
= that he will enter Richmond, he will at leas
have given the Rebels new sense Of i
. insecurity, and compel them to retain tn
! garrison which Gen. Buffers expeditio
3 induced them to establish. And If XII
= patrick has kept on the South Anna Rive
y y and destroyed the railroad bridge, he hs
2 30 effectually severed Lee's railway CON
!. munication with Richmond that we see n
! reason why the Army Of the Potoms
= should not at once advance in force.
y "A later dispatch says that Fitzpatrick
4 understood to be on his way in; but tt
statement is very vague, and gives y
intimatiou of what has been done. I'll
|. account which placed him. yesterday
y White House, on the Pamunkey, f.
. contradicted, and we are lett to infer tn
he has found it impossible to get to Ric
:, mond. But If any reliance is to be plact
" on these last reports, 1T must be presume
>, also that he has met with no disaster
4 repulse. :,
~ Our special advcies, still later, beil
\, from headquarters at noon Of yesterds
" report ION authority Of one Of kipatrici
,. scouts) that our forces were within IA mil
40 of Richmond, and had effected juscti
10 with Con. Buffers scouts. The railro
- bridge over the Pamuukey had been d,
. !. troyed by our mon. Gen. X. had thus
ar found no serious opposition. me.