Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-08
vhe Enemy near Charlottesville and
Richmond.

~ +ba enemy advanced to within four miles of
Charlottesville. They crossed the Rivanna Riv-
ar. Int Beckhams Horse Artillery, and Major
MASON. with body OF dismounted and furlough-
ed soldiers met them with boldness and drove
them back across the River. The Rio Mills, five
miles northeast of Charlottesville, and the bridge
across the Rivanna River, were burned by the
enemy, The enemy retreated through Early |
syille in Albemarle, and Stanardsvilfe in Greene
county. They carried off great many negroes,
and destroyed great deal of property in their
retreat along their route, burning all the mills
The enemy took off from Col. ). J. Bowcock
all his slaves, but three women, and all his meat
and corn. They also caraied off the slaves of
Mrs. Susan Michio and Mrs. Without, on whose
farm they campod at night, six slaves of A. ].
Parish, and all his horses. They took VIM.
Smith, oyerseer Of DR.. Niche, prisoner, and
Frank Austin, one of the artillery who was at
home, they called out of the house, and took
him off. The slaves of DIR. Rogers and Col
G. Crank were also stolen. 1t is reported tha
the enemy burnt public house at Longwood,
belonging to Mrs. Eddins. The fencing around
the farms from Col. Bowcock's to EarIysville
and vicinity were burned by the ruthless inya-
ders.
At the same time that this portion of the enc
my's cavalry were advancing upon Charlottes-
vile, another column crossed the Rapidan at
point east of Orange Court House, and, passing
through Spotsylvania, succeeded in reaching the
Central Railroad, at Frederick Hail. short time
after the upward bound train had passed that
station. Gen. Lee was ON the train, and thus
narrowly escaped capture. a few miles from
Frederick Hall, they destroyed the railroad track
for some distance, cut the telegraph wire, and
captured number of our officers who were
holding Court Martial at that place. Among
the names given of the officers captured are the
following: Col. il. 2. Jones, Captains Dement,,
Chsnning, Page, Watson, and two Lieutenants of
Artillery. Some Of these officers, it is known
made their escape, and it is quite probable that
all have done SO.
Mr. Wm &. Richardson, roadmaster on the
Central Railroad, was taken prisoner near Fred
erick Hall, Gu Monday afternoon week. After
robbing him Of a splendid gold watch and chain,
about $1c0 in geld, and 1000 in Confederate
notes, he was released.
Col. Edmund Fontaine, President of the Cen
trial Road, had barely time TO escape from his
residence, near Beaver Dam depot. In bis has
ty retrea: he fred at five or six times BIZ the
pursuing enemy.
After they crossed too railroad, their forces
wero divided into two columns, enc OF which
moved in tao direction of the James River Ca
nal, AID the othsr to Ashland, and thence to
within few miles of Richmond. The former ap-
peared st the farm of the Hon. James A. Sad-
don, Secretary OF " in Goochland county
Tuesday forenoon, and burned ali the flour and
mills in the vicinity. Gen. Henry A. Wise, who
at q 4tar,ca E hi
son, in Goochland, narrowly escaped capture
He was at ME. H's when the enemy went to Mr
Seddon's place, and hearing of their presence
in the neighbozhood he put out for Richmond,
and arrived there about the middle Of the day
Tuesday. This column ofthe enemy is said to
have consisted of four regiments of cavalry and
One battery of artillery.
The other column that went to Ashland and
thence to the vicinity Of Richmond, was accom-
pauied with battery OF artillery and appeared
on the Brooke Turnpike, about six miles north-
west Of Richmond Uesday morning, and were
handsomely repulsed By q portion oftho engineer
troops, under Col. n. Il. Ii. Stevens, who man.
ned few sections Of artillery. a duel ensuei
and shots were exchanged for about two hours
The enemy taen withdrew in the direction OF Me-
chanicsvilio burning the trestle work Of the Gen.
trial railroad across the Chickahominy river
in their retreat. Our loss in The fight on the
Brooke road Was one killed. and six or seven
wounded,
Prisoners captured say that tho column of
their forces which approached OF the Brooke
road was UNDERGO. fitzpatrick, and that tbs col.
umu which went into Goochlend was co,nman-
ded by Gen. GFegg.
They Impressed negro to guide them. who
told them they could cross the river at Jude's
Ferry, two miles from Dover mills. On reaching
the ford, end finding the river too high to cross,
they hung the negro. The negro was named
Martin, and was the slaTe of Mr.. David Mems,
of Goochland.
At one O'Clock on Tuesday night, Ger. Hamp
ton surprised the camp of the enemy at At!ee's
Station.
The surprise was admirably effected Gen.
Hampton was in advance, and be was fired upon
by one Of the eneny's videttes, which was the
signal Of the alarm. wild panic immediately
took place in the Yankee camp; the horses SIAM
peded, and scene Of indescribable confusion
ensned. The results OF the surprise were, that
VIC killed three Of tho enemy, Tone lieutenant
mortalIy wounded, took one hundred and five
prisoners, among them one lieutenant Col. and
one assistant surgeon, and captured more than
one hundred borsss. GeT..-HaIaDtoa's eona'd did
not Lose C. man. There were three slightly woun-
ded.
Thursday afternoon Col. B. T. johnson, with
about forty Of his Marylanders, assisted by de-
tachment ofthe 9Th Va. Cavalry, which had join
ed him, came up with the rear guard Of another
portion of tho enemy near Tunstall's Station,
when skirraish ensued, resulting in the capture
of the raiders.
The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded and
captured will amount to, we suppose, about four
hundred. The greater portion effected their
escape by the Tay Of Williamsburg.
Genl. Dahlgreen, a son of Commodore Dahl
green, of ordnance notoriety, with several hun |
dred of the enemy, crossed the Mattaponi at Ay-
let's. Lieutenant Pollard, in command of Co. |
II. 9th Va. Cavalry, followed the enemy across
the Mattaponi during the whole Of Wednesday, |
harrassing his rear. Al the forks of the road the
enemy took that leading to Walkerton, while
Lieutenat Pollard, directing few OF bis men to
follow the enemy on that ronfe and make pre-
tence of pursuit, rapidly withdrew the larger por-
tiOn OF his force To the other road. He succeed
ed in making a circuit OF the enemy, and about
eleven O'CLOCK az night appeared On their front,
having been Joined by some home guards and a
few Of Robbins command. The Yankees at
tempted to charge through or lines, the charge