The New York herald., 1864-12-14
CITY POINT.
nr. .. Cad waii.d.r's Despatch.

VII EVbNks
~D>~->~~~~>o->~~~S~~~>~~
Mr.. n. Cad w . II iader's Despatch.
cnr PoISr, Dec IL, 1884
xm NV sRAHcs RAnRoAp pUnDno By TIE xSEn.
Ihs recent cavalry raA uHAsr sokmanA 4 GsDsrsl
Gregg sAss ssssssAsA n dssspeyiss Ne wsden Raioal
nom esoay creek STATEN 70 Duva and capturing and
destroy ing large amount Of rebel sores also demon.
stratsd The feet that the rebels were constructing
branch road 70 cosneos Ne main line beew that point
with she 6Outhside road distance beyond Peters,
burg. TO ALLOW this 70 90 sn 70 sucosssfu completion
would bs 70 relisqu,sh, IN great measure The advan
tsgss Of present occupation Of ss upper end and
enable Lees beleasuared army draw supplies from oil
the ricA section Of country pesssratsd BY H. and add
greatly 10 iss ability sustain itself during the winter
IN ~ present position.
70 nnvAAs IN unaPRss rHs oslsm - M LATE Urk
DSnON.
General Meade therefore wisely concluded 70 carry the
destruction Of this important artery Of rebel supplies TO
point FAR beyond their power 70 repair N reasonable
length Of time, and 70 force the enemy 10 supply hims
wholly y She Richmond aud Danvile road.
rHE ToRoEs PARTICIPATING.
70 effect This desirable purpose the three divisions OF
the Fifth corps, commanded by Generals Grinn Ayres
and Crawford quietly Withdrawn their former
positions In the lines around Petersburg during the fore
part Of last week. and their places supplied by other
troops The Third division OF the Second corps com
manded BY General Mott, WAS also withdrawn from the
line and added 70 those already named.
THE COLUMN novEa
On Wednesday morning. At six O'clock the whole force
broke camp promptly 10 obedience 70 ORDERS and started
on the expedition, under command Of Major General
warren, 10 light marching order, with shelter tents
four days. raons in their haversaoks and 10 wagons
liberal amount Of ammunition on the person Of each
soldier, and an additional supply in light train that
companied them sucent number OF becves on foot TO
supply the troops with fresh for several days.
corps Of surgeons with complete hospital arrangements
for all casualties likely TO occur while abeent.
The cavalry under General Gregg Lott their camp on
the left and Of tho line at five O'Clock the game
morning. and crossed the Nottoway early n the after
noon at Freeman's ford six miles east OF
the raroad and six miles northeast Of Sussex Court
House.
The force encamped near there for the night moved
up the river 50 the railroad bridge and burned
Thursday forenoon and then commenced vigorous de-
struction Of the track southwad which continued
till nightfaL But little opposition was encountered.
THE INFANTRY REguHH NARcH
Tne infantry marched down the Jerusalem plank road
about fourteen miles to little, ncndescript Virginia
village, named HswEinsviile, consisting OF an old,
weather beaten, dilapidated country tavern stand,
with = barn adjoining, and another house Of larger
pretensons, from which the Inhabitants ned
In hot haste on our approach. Large quantities Of
corn and considerable loose cotton left undsturbsd
may say, passan shat on the return Of the troops
tho "satssuard left protect pacing regularly in
front Of the barn door, whe sbs cayaymen carry
ing away scores Of bushels under his eyes and nose
distracted from an entrance found the From
this point the line Of march obiaucy 10 the right
10 the Nottoway river, . mile distant, and thence,
IN the same direction miles to Sussex Court House.
The advance reached the latter place, and into
camp little after dark. Crawfords and Motifs dvi.
sons lay the road between Frssaans ford aud tho
Court House, with all the trains Immediately In their
rear and Grdns and Ayres' the north bank Of the
Nostoway, near the ford.
delay OF nearly three hours occurred 1t the ford In
laying ponoons and grading the banks for the trains
The this point has precipisous banks 10 from
thirty ny yards in width, and altogether too deep
to ford. one team accidentally got OF the bridge In
crossing and lost the only loss TO the trains during
the expedition.
IHR MOVEMENTS DECEMBER 8.
On Thursday morning the troops were in line OF march
az daylight With Crawfords divison 10 the advance to.
wards Carnam's weI, and thence Chambss' farm on
the railroad, about fourteen miles from the
ing OF the Nottoway. According TO Q legend Of the
neighpornood this "well' takes It's name from gen.
~,
pecsaiicn OF founding watering place, bun dis
tppoinsed 10 toe mineral properties held in solution
Inc Cnambliss farm reached by noon, where the
cavalry found destroying track, mentioned
before The Infantry encamped till night. Grins and
Crawfords divisions the work OF destruction
~ SIX O'Clock aud continued their labors towards
rets station, six mies southward, TIL midnight They
were then relieved by Ayres and Motifs, and the opera
lions continued till daylight. Al this time the was
tofn 10 Gregs's farm, half mile south Of Jarrelps
NIGHT.
This night the most animated and exciting
imsgssbe Large piles OF dried pine wood FOR tie use
u the railroad, lined sscn side OF the road
FOR long distance, all or which was liz.
niIed during the nght, aud lighted the forests
and farms ,or miles around. vhole regiments
would forro nne close the could stand along
the track gwen signal every seized nod o. tie
railroad in he front, aud 10 twinkng hundreds o,
yards u track would be hepved up on edge, with tho
tee looking IKE The roGpds " giants ladder when
was easily twisted and wrebched ssunder. The lies
were piled up breast high and red and TITO rails thrown
across 10 ts heated and bent by their weight III.
hgn graceful Games OF the pitch pine the darker end
smoker combustion Of the ties the twin king and nut
iering OF innumefabie camp nses and the songs and
cnoruses OF the working psrtieg all united 10 give the
whole an imposing and weirdhac appearance amosl IN
alscribsblc
EtIURn of The WORK DESTRUCTION
Tho rails we're all ruined 4 ride OF would FAN
70 show single rail tha, ben. and warped pas,
All redemption, save that OF rerolilng.
NV rspKHsN R,KR nEAonsp.
Friday tne troops wmo scattered along the entire ds-
ialse to BeDcd, The Neheuin river opposite Hcr,.
ford (su sbbreys;on e ine old name OF Heks fora)
ard the destruction msdo complete the river pcpa
Ing Tho ranrosc bridge thas spanned the stream
noHSw.RD.
On Saturday, having fully accomplished thS opiec, O,
ns tho md