The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-20

HEADoUARrERs, GREGGs Cav. DIV,
lK THE FIELD, Dec II, 1864
oREGGs CAVALRY OPERATIONS N THE LATE
MOVE.
The expedition which recently start
ed out under the command of General
Warren, for the destruction Of the Pc
tersburg and Weldon Railroad, having
fully accomplished the object, have re-
turned in safety.
It was sscertained by the recent re
connoissance of General Greggs caval-
ry, that the enemy were preparing to
build branch railroad from Stony
Creek station to the South Side road,
which, if accomplished, would render
the occupation of the position now held
by the Fifth Corps valueless, and be
sides materially assist the enemy in
holding Petersburg and Richmond
To prevent this IL was necessary to
destroy the road south of Stony Creek,
which has been done most effecually
for distance of over twenty miles,
renderingit alInostimpossible to rebuild
the road this winter, and with loss to
US Of less than one hundred men.
In consequence of the extreme Sc
verify of the weather for the past few
days, and long and rapid marches nee
essary to be made, the troops are natu-
rally quite worn out and jaded, but
few days of rest in camp will bring
them all right again
FORCES ENGAGED.
The forces engaged in the expedition
consisted of the Fifth corps, together
with the Third division of the Second
corps, under General Mott, and the
Second division of cavalry, commanded
by Major General Gregg. The whole
under the command Of General Warren !
! his made force of something over
twenty thousand mes and twenty two
pieces Of artillery
THE MOVEMENT
The infantry left their camp on
Tuesday, the 9th inst, and moved out
in readiness to start early the next |
morning On Wednesday, at four A |
NJ, the cavalry took the advance and |
marched over the Jerusalem plank |
road to the Eottoway river, which is
about twenty miles distant from Peters, |
burg. Here we first met the enemy,
but in such small numbers as to cause /
no delay of the column. The stream |
is about sixty feet wide. The bridge /
which formerly crossed it was DESTROYED
early last summer, and never rebuilt
The cavalry found no difficulty in ford
ing the stream, which is some three
feet deep, and Lieutenant Dennison,
with some difficulty, even got his battery
across, but it was found impracticable
for the remainder of the column to
cross without the pontoon bridges with
which we were provided. The cavalry
at once advanced 10 Sussex Court
House, FIVE miles distant from the river,
and encamped.
General Crawford's division.sof the
fifth corps, also arrived during the
night. At three o clock the next morn
ing the march was resumed, General
Davies brigade of cavalry having the
advance.
We moved in a southwesterly direc-
ton, passing through small village
called Corners Well, and expecting
10 strike the railroad at Jarrett station
Great vigilance was now required in
watching the enemy, as he was dis
covered towering in front and flank
The duty devolyed upon the cavalry,
who not only marched in front, but
occupied all the side roads until the
whole column had passed. Small
parties of the enemy were constantly
being seen waiting for an opportunity
TO pounce upon stragglers, who are
always numerous upon a march of this |
kind, Notwithstanding the utmost eff
forts Of the officers TO keep them in
line Unfortunately some of this class
succeeding in finding quantity of
apple brandy at some of the houses
which they visited, with which they
not only drank their fill for the time
being, but filled their canteens for the
benefit of their friends in the ranks
The effect was soon visible, and cavalry
men in all stages of intoxication were
constantly dropping by the road side.
An investigation and inspection of
canteens was ordered and large guam
titles of apple jack discovered and
thrown away.
FIGHT
The first fighting Of consequence oc- :
Cured Just after the rear of the cavalry
columns had passed on the Halifax
road, when the enemy succeeded in
getting in between us and the infantry ,
General Gregg at once halted the coli ,
umn and sent Major Corrie, of the Sth {
Pennsylvania, with a squadron to open /
communication with General Warren
Major Corrie charged through, killing {
and capturing number of rebels, and !
came upon a brigade of the Fifth corps, /
drawn up in line of battle, with such ,
impetuOsity as 10 draw their fire, but j
fortunately without doing any damage {
At THE RAILROAD.
A few miles further brought the head
OF the column to the railroad at point
river The third brigade Of cavalry,
under Brigadier General c. II Smith, !
was here detached with orders to take
the bridge and burn il If possible 1t
was supposed the enemy would defend
this position TO the full extent of his
ability, bat il was found upon reaching
the point that be had Withdrawn the
garrison and General Smith fired the
bridge without opposition. We then
marched on some i've miles further 10
-Jarrets station, where halt was made {
aud orders issued 10 destroy the road
The tenth New York, under command
of Lieutenant Colonel Avery. was de
tailed for this purpose, and had sue
ceeded in thoroughly destroying por>
tim of the track when General Gregg
received orders 10 move forward his
columns 10 allow the infantry 10 work
st the road.
DESTRUCTION. ,
The destruction now commenced in
earnest As fast as the road was torn
up the ties were piled up and fired, and
the rails placed on top IN order to bend
them and render them unit for future
use. Not single tie or rail was left
Notwithstanding the night was bitter
cold and stormy, the men seemed 10
enjoy the sport and to vie with each
other in doing the work thoroughly
By twelve o'clock at night over FIVE
miles OF road had been thus destroyed,
including the depot water tank, DC, !
AZ Jarreft's station In the morning
the cavalry again advanced 10 allow the
infantry 70 continue the destruction eff !
The road, which vas accomplished as
far As BelI6eid, making the whole dis !