Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-10-22

did His Work WeLI-The Rebels
Cleaned out very ERectuRlly.
NEAR HEADQUARTERS ARMT OF WEST VIRGINIA.
LIZ TIE PIRLD, Oct. Ii, 1854. ]
have just learned the particulars OF
another cavalry raid, which, in point of
movement and daring enterprise, may be
ranked among the first class exploits in
the history of the present war.
On the 30th ult., Col. Powell, command
ing the Second cavalry division of General
Sheridan's army, received orders to pre-
pare his command to go on an expedition
to Luray valley, the country east of the
Blue Ridge.
The division left Harrisonburg for Luray
valley on the Let instant, and proceeded to
Conrad's store-a distance of twenty-three
miles-where they encamped for the night,
dispOsipg their camp guards and pickets to
prevent surprise from the enemy.
THE ORDERS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN
| to Colonel Powell were to destroy all -four
ing mills, barns, grain factories, and to
drive off all live stock and cattle that he
| found on his route of march. On Sunday,
the I'D inst, Col. Powell broke camp aud
moved to the town of Luray. AS the
| troops proceeded the roads were found in
wretched condition, and almost impracti-
cable for the passage of the division train.
| The troops encsmped for the night at Lu-
ray. While at the latter town, Colonel
Powell ordered the destruction of several
barns, well stocked with hay and grain
While several of his men were engaged in
this duty one of them, private of the
| Eighth Ohio cavalry, WAS seized by two
lrebels and murdered in cold blood-his
throat being cut from ear to ear. The body
of the soldier was found the next day,
i nj NJ m n q n
the cause Of his death, with. the above
conclusion.
GUERRILuA RENDEZVOUS DESTROYED.
On the Sd inst the troops, or at least q
portion of them, under Lieutenant Fender
grast, were sent ont on a reconnaissance
to the front and up the Blue Ridge, where
one of the rebel guerrilla rendezvous were
found; and so rapid were the movements of
our troops that they surprised rebel
guard, who had charge of medical and 9th.
er stores, and captured the rebel army
wagons. The stores captured were valued
at seven thousand dollars. One rebel SOL
dier was killed during the affair.
RETALIATION.
| On the 4th inst. two OF the prisoners
captured, who confessed they belonged to
Mosby's baud of horse thieves and muir
derers, were shot to death in retaliation
for TIE murder of the Union soldier already
referred to.
SEIZURES.
On the same day the command destroyed
a rebel government gtannery in full opera
ton in which were eight hundred thousand
dollars worth of leather, and siezed lthree
thousand head of stock. -s
YURTHER OPERATIONS.
The command then proceeded through
New Market Gap, en- route to Thornton's
Gap, On this day Major Larrabee, with
the FIRST Virginia cavalry, was sent to the
rail road bridge over the Rapidan river,
near James City. Passing through Thorn
toms Gap over Cedar Mountain, Maj. Lar
rabee captured the rebel pickles stationed
there. They were takeh wholly by sur
prize, as they had been led to believe that
General Sheridan's cavalry had been de-
feated near Fishers Hill the Sunday pre-
vteus. The main command proceeded to
Woodville, laying waste the country as
they proceeded.
On the 9th instant, at three o'clock P NJ,
Msior Larrabee's detachment rejoined the
main body of the troops, and the whole
force proceeded to Madison Court House
aud Little Washington, and thence to Luz
ray rss rst -.-.-r.1
lion the 7th we crossed the Rapidau river,
i've miles below Luray, and proceeded to
Milford aud encsmped north OF Milford
creek. Captain Larrabee, who had been
sent out on reconnaissance, returned to
camp, bringing with him q rebel Lieuteu-
J ant and eight soldiers as prisoners Of war,
captured at the Rapidan bridge.
DEsrRucTIoN AT FRONT RoYAL.
The division left Milford at Z a. m. on
the sth instant, crossing the north and
south branches of the Shenandoah TO Front
Royal. where they encamped on the north
branch Of the latter named river. Col.
Powell remained at Front Royal during
the time occupied, and destroyed several
: barns and mills, and then proceeded to
Piedmont to communicate with the troops
J of Gen. Anger, operating In that vicinity.