The New York herald., 1864-12-05
z ] c RI m O M ..
Another Account Of General Gregg's
Brilliant Expedition.
~~~~>~~-~>>~o~~~>~~~
Capture and Destruction Of Duyalps
and Stony Creek Stations.
Handsome Morale Of the
Troops.
CASUALTIES DURING THE EXPEDITION,
TIE CAVALRY.
Mr.. =. T. DuIkIc Us Despatch.
HxApouARrRRs. GRR0G's CAVALRY D'vHloI, I
ARMY oP THE Potomac, Dec. Midnight.
pp1us or cRpuaia pRcoxNo,asA ANCY


GRsdo's Reconnaissance.
Tn, cavalry connected with this army have been wait
Ing three months opportunity to the
rebels for ther tod and successful raid within the lines
OF our army ard tire capture OF large number OF beef
cattle with which iced their impoverished troops.
Such opportunity has finally presented itself, and
to Dight have tho pleasure OF recording OF the
most brilliant and successful raids OF the war; resulting
iu the destruction OF immense amount OF stores,
munition arms mills machinery bacon and forage and
the capture Of two pieces o; artillery with two
hundred prisoners Including commissioned officers
cArsss WINCH LED TO Tns EXPEDITION
II has been known for long time that the enemy
had depot OF supplies at stony Creek stabn the pres
ept terminus the Petersburg and eldou Railroad and
were preparing to construct q railroad from
there 10 coupect with the southsde Railroad
which to transport the supplies for their armies
defending Petersburg and Richmond. II has been the
Intention Of Generals Grant and Mead for several weeks
interfere with this plan and to put stop to the build
Ing or the road; but hardly expected tha, our gal
aut cavalry alone would be able TO accomplish the object
and purposed 10 send division OF infantry TO
support them but tho whole thing has been accomplished
BY the cavalry and with loss Of only small number Of
nc0
oRrxRs TO MARCH.
was some two hours after dark last night when the
order was issued to the different regiments composing
the division be In readiness TO at hree O'Clock
shs morning, each msn 30 carry ono days forage and
provisions
FORMATION COLUMN.
Al the appointed hour every regiment in tho command
was In readiness, tho Second brgade-under the COM
maud Of brevet Brgadier General Irvine Gregg, CON-
posed entirely Pennsylvania sroops-havns the ad
vance, The First brigade, under General H. T. Davies,
Jr, In order, while the Third brigade com
nanded oy BrigudeY General c. H. smith, brought
up tho rear.
nay had fairly 1awaad before tho pickess Of the
snemy were me, captured and very little resistance
offered to ,e OF march I'LL We reached Rowanty
creek, small stream whore found a picket
post, consisting Of upward OF one hundred meu who
disposed dispute fDsher advance. II
the work OF but fyw moments 70 dsperse and drive In
this small before they had time to than
TALLY destroy tho bridge crossing she stream. and Ieav
iue Third brigade hero to protect rear. the
balance tho coramand pushed TO the accomplish
nsnt or more important objects.
grvALs
Tho point OF importance Duvals station,
two miles from Stony creek station, whore q large
steam and esist mill, besides several machine and
blacksmith shops working order, which contributed
largely to the support OF The Tebe, army. Here the
First brigade under Ccpera Davies. halted and made
preparations 70 destroy the government buildings
sTosy csEHx
Msanwhis she Secoud brigade advanced TO Stony Creek
station, which known TO be one OF the principal
depo,s Of supplies for General Lees army. Here stub
born resistance expected, az Known to be
Important point. and dispatches had been captured from
the officer rnandinc the post TO General Wade Hamp
ton say g bad force sufficient 10 hold 4 against al
the torcsthe Yankees crud bring against him. but the
seque siowet him TO mistaken thres Yankee
airy regmeas only captured him, surrounded by .hc
strongest kind OF foaca,cns, bu. also bis guns. rsen
works, &c.
DESTRUCTION rRopxRTs.
Our forces destroyed I'VE ibonsan6 bags Of prnio two
thousand bales OF hap hundred barrels OF rosn
hundred carbucs tso thoussud pounds OF bacon long
train cars loaded with commissary supplies tbr.
ty,wo pound Psrrcl, gun and twelve possd brass
gan besides burning hne depot nec With stores
graph ofhco ana bcuse, dned with ammuraiou, small
srms. &c.
raK rEsrySvr sTAnoS-pS-Aiis or rHxR
To protect ehs point tho aoemy bad built large fort
In commanding position, which was surrounded BY .
vide and deep ditch, ard rad guns with two
| hundred 10 tsem. The honor Of charging
and carrying the position, ~ we'll as the capture Of the
runs and prisoners due to the Sixteenth aad Fourth
Pennsylvania, assisted by the rh,esntb Penpsylvans
/ cimena To accomplish THE " necessary 70
charge across an open ned OF than bali N 10 IN
extent. and oil ths time exposed to rskng Gre from
tho guns and inside OF the works. Tho Sixteenth
reg charged about ha OF the distance mounted,
when Ending It Impossible TO carry the position IN that
| wav, they cooly diswouued under a heavy Gre and
formed line and carried the fort capturing tho whole
! command, wth two pieces of artilery. II wss found
Impossible bring OF tho artillery IN consol olucnco OF
q hcrsss, but the pieces ~ere thoroughly Disabled
| spiked and thrown into the dich. The .worK of
| destruction now commenced and was thoroughly
| completed, resulting not only IN the destruc
ton OF oil the scverrmeni buildings, stores
| and supplies enrmeretcd above, but n'soL an
immense quantity Of ties and railroad iron collected fer
the o constructing this new branch raircsd 10
Petersburg This AL had 10 he aecompiishcJ IN great
haste. Genera, Hamp,on's whos cavalry corps was
kuawp 20 be enoampcd within short distance, and u
vas the Infection 70 get away before they could have
time 10 come up.
| rus wosl ACCOMPLISHED sNp rus raoors wrrursAw.
Tbs whole work iuy accomplished and the brg gade
back jest ths rcbe Gsacra Butler Wit
bis hr gsde y south car liIa tr0nps inside be sppenr
ancc attempted 70 Interfere with movement but
ccr,r Gregg had taly provided against such eoAn.
hrf.ds WI cb hal beer Ieft prva'e stste prepared
10 eover the ~ The sec,pd brigade which ncng
arcaulisnad, thoy werc e. ac ss seim saw and grisi
mis snd they ia Turn fel back ~ Sowanty creek Tor
ths grrucsc The feuth a0f ivcrsy.'oafth New York
regiments vcrc ttvrvr rnrort nr~aesstatrn while
bst,ery sccerd Urso stilrs ertillery, rnier Lion.
tsrsut Gals, aHtiUaAf this m le With
guus sbot,od ana prepared TO En- INC savrnour
c,larrs u tho enemy The shots IN tx worked hs4ut
fully aad cxSctly In accordance VITA Gsnofd Grasss
| rig rNrNy ArrvoAcuss
The enemy caa,e No with fesr gard ipsi - they
| reached Dnyas station WREN they wore sns ed ~
the lenLn New York under Lieutenant Co;nre e Avery
ani tbs Tweriy fourth New YORK, untsr Licntcnan'
| Colonel Ne~hGrg. who kept them cmnlovcd dnt' TIC
Sec,ni brigade nad safety withdtwu and the NILS ured
rni General Davies coplee his arrangcm suts 70 give
| them warm reception.
| rms rSRwy ArrtcKs
Word Vas then sent TO the Tenth and twenty iouFtu
New York TO fall back rapidly, which the eromy rer.
ceviug followed Ut charge, when Dennis ma battery
opened furious fire Of and sbe a. snort range
which sent thsm resns ssex With great loss We snea