The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-24
SALT SULPHUR STRINGS, VIRGINIA, /
Nav II, 1864 /

May IA, 1864
It is with satisfaction that 1 give you
a slight sketch of the achievements of
this command within the past fortnight
On the lst day Of May the command
of General George Crook, left Charles
ton, Virginia, for the purpose of tap
ming the Virginia and East Tennessee
Railroad
Passing through a scope OF country
whose Inhabitants were decidedly adj
verse 70 the objects of the enterprise,
the command moved steadily forward
without opposition until going through
the vicinity of Princeton, where two
companies of the enemy we're encoun-
Iered-one Of infantry and one Of cav
alry-whom Major William p Rucker,
Aid to Gen. Crook, charged at the head
of one company, speedily routing, and
driving them in confusion before him
with q loss TO the enemy Of two killed
and several wounded.
Moving EDWARDS in the direction Of
Dublin Depot, on the line of the East
Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, the
enemy were next encountered, in con-
siderable force, near the southwestern
base of Cloyds mountain, about four
miles from Dublin, behind various lines
of breastworks, fringing the brows Of
several very steep hills. His position
was naturally a strong one, but render
ed doubly SO by means Of artificial con
trivance. ] can only give you slight
sketch of the battlefield by stating
that the road leading down Lloyds
mountain debouches from q narrow
gorge into an undulating plain, thread
ed bv various small branches, bitches
and rivulets, until the valley suddenly
terminates, in aeseries of abrupt conf
cal grassy slopes, the sides sloping at
an angle of about sixty degrees, and
Hanked on either side by long skirt
of woods. On the crest of those abrupt
hills the enemy had planted his bate
ries and erected his breastworks, wkile
the woods was expected to protect his
TANKS
After some skirnishing and maneuv-
ering for position 10y the various regi-
ments, the battle fairly opened about
ia. NJ, the LIST and Cd Brigades march
ing with unbroken front to the assault,
despite the shower of "leaden rain and
iron hail which was hurled against
them from behind the breast-works
and through the cannon's mouth. On
rush the gallant boys with wild yell.
Two rival regiments are pitted against
each other-the 36th Ohio, General
Crooks old regiment, and the Both
Virginia, Colonel McCauslands old
regiment The gage of battle between
the two had long since been thrown
down, and now the boys, re-echoing the
5attle-cry sprang forward to the desper-
ate encounter.
The lst and ID brigades did the
fighting st L'oyd's mountain. Both
brigades acted nobly, and deserve all
praise. They fought the enemy most
calamity, hanked his breastworks,
routed his columns, and had General
Crook had competent cavalry force al
his disposal, he would have captured
the entire forces Of tho rebels As il
yas. he pressed them back, a thorough
" disorganized mass, through Dublin
and on 70 New River Bridge, with a los
on their side of fully 500 killed, wound
ed and prisoners and on our own o
not exceeding 500 The next day
tuesday, opened with heavy and ex
citing artillery duel at New Rive
Bridge, which lasted for several hours
and in which our batteries displayed
unusual accuracy in gunnery-oiis
mounting two guns and effectually 81
lencing two Others.
After accomplishing, most thorough,
and effectively, the objects for which
entered Southern Virginia, the cen,
maud of General Crook is now slowl
falling back to new base for futur
events TO develop themselves. Tha
Gen. Crooks success has been mos
brilliant. facts alone will attest, and
shall proceed 10 sum up results IN fe'
words
lie has destroyed the Virginia an
East Tennessee Railroad beyond repai
for fully three months. Hehas roame
almost with inpunity throughout III
whole Department of Southwestern
Virginia Hehas outwitted Gen. No
gan. scared "Briokwalf' jackson int
his den, and backed poor McCauslan
into the capacious jaws Of the Lon
Tunnel He has captured large nun
Ter OF prisoners-among whom al
General jenkins and Colonel Smitl
both Of whom are wounded, and
has dome All this with force whose j
significance IN numbers but serves
render the achievement more brilllan
There are numerous incidents OF U
route which / should like 70 mentio'
but must reserve them for future COZ
rnnnication; a. also the part who
General Averill's Cavalry took IN Z
affair. r.