The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-26
TIE war u vIRGINIA-sTEE eprRATIoNs OF
HU,srFn. CROOK k4gD .yERu1.


TIE war ~ viRGINIA-sTEE ePrRATIoNs OF
HUsTEE, CROOK AID AyERuL
Early yesterday morning a rumor was
reported Of the capture Of Lexington,
Ye, by the enemy under Generals
Crook and Averill As the same ru-
NOR had once before gone round, not
much credit was given it, but il being
afteward confirmed by official intelli-
gsnce, the question was at last settled
The enenys forces we're reported to be
about le060 strong, and consisted
mainly ef7eavalfy5 With dozen pieces
Of artillery.
They advanced by two roads leading
from stauntOn, and formed a junction
several miles northeast 81 IexiAgton,
where they arrived. on Saturday morn
iax. 1t Is believed that they burned
the Institution at Lexington 1t was
supposed that they would proceed TO
Lynchburg, about forty miles distant.
Lexington is about lao miles west Of
Richmond, is the cspital Of Roekbridge
county and is situated on the west
bank Of the North River, a branch of
the James 1t contains q courthouse,
a jail, four or FIVE churches, of various
denominations, the Virginia military
institution, Ann Smith Seminary, Wash
ington College, about twenty stores,
two weekly papers, and about 1000 in
habitsnts. ~
Washington College was originally
established as an academy in I716, IN
der the name of Liberty Hall In 1896,
II received its first regular endowment
from Gen Washington, and from that
time took tie name of Washington
Academy, ana by an act of the Vir-
ginia Legislature, ia 1872, was changed
% Nashington College 1t has fine
library, consisting Of $500 volumes
One hundred shares Of the James River
a. Kanawha Canal Company, left by
Washington 10 found this college, Yields
annually s., 800 The Virginia Military
Institution, which is supposed to have
been burned was built on the plan of
the United States Academy at West
Point 1t was a handsome structure,
and enjoyed, as a military institution, a
fine reputation.
The advance Of the enemy upon
Lexington was resisted by Gen. Nc
Causlsnd, but his forces were entirely
inadequate for the purpose Of seriously
checking it, McCausland, outnumber-
ed and tianked on both sides, fell back
20 Balcony with the Falls Cadets.
A portion Of AYerilfs forces is re
ported, in Weil-informed quarters, to
have diverged from Lexington stage
rood at Fairfield, and crossed Blue
Ridge into Nelson county
Here they are said 10 have made a
descent upon the Lyncbburg and Char
lotteyille railroad at Tye river bridge,
twenty-four miles from Lynchburg,
where they burnt the bridge and com
mitted other excesses. 1t was suppos-
nd they would make a feint upon Lynch
burg, cross the James, and pitch upon
the high bridge over the Appomattox,
destroy it, and complete the detour by
going on in Gen. Kautz's track 10 But
ler's department This supposition,
however, is provisional
The demons tration on Lynchburg
may not be feint, but if foiled, Lynch
burg may be the point Of attack as an
alternative Yesterday evening official
information had been received that the
enemy, in the morning, had burned Ar
rlngton Depot, and passed on to Am
hurst Courthouse, which is only twelve
miles from Lynchburg Their force is
believed TO be eight or ten Thousand
strong, and Il sa j 10 be under the inn
mediate command Of Crook
LATER
Information received last night
states that the enemy have arrived
within six miles of LynchbUrG
STILL LATER
From the Richmond Enquirer, juno Is.
4 gentleman who left Lynchburg on
Thursday, says a Yankee force, $4,000
strong under Gems Hunter, Crook and
Ayerill, were at forest depot, on the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, some
eight or ten miles from Lynchburg.
They have done q good deal Of damage
TO the railroad, 90 was to have been ex-
pected, but we did not hear the particu-
lars of their vandalism m
A train ofcars arrived from DanvilIe
last evening The Yankee feat has
not been accomplished.
Other Richmond papers say that
portion Of AyerilIs men had cut the
Petersburg and Lynchburg Railroad
east of Lynchburg, and and that anoth-
er party were at Campbell Court House,
south of Lynchburg, but supposed to
be aiming At Station on the Virginia I
end Tennessee Railroad, west of Lynch
burg If these statements are true, 4
and it may safely be inferred that
they are, the latter place is completely i
isolated from every means of railroad 4
communication The rebei papers +
speak contemporary of what has been
done and, Of course, assert that the
moyelaent has been a failure.
The Fatal Mistake Of the Democrats.
signing his own death-warrant" is
no longer a strong figure OF speech the
Democrats have reduced Il to hard mat
ter Of fact We did suppose the rep
resentatiYes Of the partY IN Congress
would at beast hase the sagacity 10 let
the anti-slavery amendment to the
Constitution pass by default That they
would dare assume the responsibility of
its defeat by squsrely voting it down
was incredible 70 any one who under
stands the course of events, and the
obvious and irresistible drift Of public
opinion. The Democratic leaders did
not need even to commit themselves
for the measure, IL they had any doubt