Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-18

the citizens of this Department, as wei
as many military and officers and soldier.
have been at a loss to conjecture the mo-
, tive which prompted the authorities t.
keep force stationed at Petersburg. re.
curing large wagon trains to haul sup
plies throu Oh the enemy's country some
so miles, and liable to be attacked and
captured so often as has occurred.
I To resume our narrative. On the Sd
of January 1864. another wagon train
the finest mule train probably in the Gov
ernment service, was captured on the same
road, though guarded by over 800 men,
many of whom We're taken prisoners
The Rebels again moved off lcisurely with
their booty. whilst Col. Mulligan in COM
mand of considerable force, retired to
Fort Fuller at New Creek, fearing an at
tack from rebel cavalry. Col Campbell
was ordered to fall back to Cumberland
with his Brigade, and thus no attempt
was made to follow the rebels to recap
ture the wagon train.
On Both Of January, about ten days
ago, another large train of wagons, re-
ported to be nearly one hundred, travel
ling on the same road. with rations and
other supplies for the garrison at Peters,
burg, was captured by the Rebels, who
also took a numbered prisoners out of the
guard along with the train. The Rebels
4. In1 L.. MI r.,
down Patterson Creek to the b. & D. X.
r. where they captured on Feb. ID. a
company Of the 5Ith Pa. Vols. stationed
there. They then proceeded about .
miles further along the railroad and set
fire 10 anothsr bridge over the Potomac
river, within 6 miles of Cumberland. -
They then retired as usual in the dircc-
ton Of Moorcfcld. ...
The garrison at Petersburg having
evacuated that post during this period,
Col. Mulligan with them and other troops !
forming a considerable force, moved to
Burlington, but did not 90 to the june
ton of the Moorefeld and Romncy roads
AZ which point the rebels, with their plum
der were bound to pass. Another large
Federal force sent from Martinsburg were
at this time in the rear of the rebels, and
followed them to the junction Of roads al
ludcd to when Col. Mullgan at last moved |
his force up and united the whole Federal
force, as We are informed. They then
followed the rctrca,ng rebels to Moore
field, from which point flaming dispatches
were, sent back that the enemy were being
holly pressed &e Some of the Federal
cavalry having pressed forward, and see
ing that the rebels could have been rout-
cd and their plumber probably recaptured
sent an urgent request for reipforcements
but instead of sending them, they were
ordered to fall back, and thus the pursuit
turned out to be grand fz=fe.
In the capture Of these various wagon
trains, between New Creek and Peters
burg, the Government has lost probably |
4 million dollars, beside number of men
and considerable prestige.
The facts here stated can be established |
by the testimony of gallant, brave and
patriotic officers, who have been reluc-
family and disagrceably compelled to wit
ness such disgracefuI proceedings, and we
trust that an investigation will be institu-
ted by the War Department, or by the |
Congressional Committee on the conduct
Of the war, to ascertain who is RESPONSE
bile for all these bluuders and where the
blame should properly rest