The Cecil Whig., 1864-07-16
Raid on the PHIL. VIII. and BAIT.
RailrOad.


A passenger on one of the captured trains s
sends the Philadelphia h4quirer the follow.
ing account:
The 8. 40 and 9. 80 through mail trains left
Baltimore on Monday morning on time, and
both arrived at Magnolia when due No.
thing remarkable was observed on the way.
except the presence of the steamer I.sncas
ter in the Gunpowdcr River. impfovised
into guli.b"at for the protection of the
railroad bridge. immediately on the first
train stopping at Magnolia Station, the
tebel mounted guerrillas, under Major
Harry ''imor, dashed up to the cars, pre-.
senling their pistols. and yelling like say.
ages. Some diSmounted, entered the cars.
and commenced robbing the passengers
which. however. was soon forbidden prl.
vate property and persons were protected
and II strict search made tor officers q! the
army and navy, the mails, and other public
property
The writer was in the FIRST train. and oc.
cupied the same Car with Major General
Franklin and other officers the General
being in citizen s dress. for same time
escaped notice, hut Was finally discovered
by GiImor himself. having. it is said. been
betrayed by a lady. and made prisoner. flr
was Immediately placed III IL new buggy
under picked gHar,i the only intlsniry
offered MIN being by private soidirr. VIM
exchanged hats with the GcncrnI. His pls.
toi aud pocket. book he delivered to Giimnr.
who issued orders that The money of oii!rcr,
only should be cJntiscated citizens were u
be protected
After capturing all the officers, the ludir,
IN the train were put in the rear car. anu
the rest of the train set ON fire Whilst
these were burning the ladies' vacated tnei,
car. and were permitted to select th.ir ha-
gage, which had been taken out ot the bag.
gage car. Inc vacated car WAS then burn
ed
While this was going on. the sound of tho
arrival of the next train was heard. whicI
Notwithstanding the dense smoke from the
burning cars. aui a frame buiiJing the con
dnctor ran the train within one hundred
yards OF the burning cars. This seems un
accountable, as the smoke must have beer
seen for miles. and especially in crossing
the Gunpnwder, Magnolia Station being bn
~ short distance off. When the train stoppet
some of the passengers, the fireman nnt
the conductor attemted to escape, and sew.
eral shots were fired to bring them to a
stand, but we did not see any person killed
or wounded
The passengers of this train. which con
tanned 4 greater number Uf ladies, were
treated as the former. The cars were SCI
on fire, and whilst burning pushed on the
bridge. where they were consumed, burning
portion of the brlgdc.
The next move WAS to destroy the two
locomotives. and cut the telegraph wires --
For some reason the water tank and the
station building were not fired. Nor die
they injure the railroad while we were pres
ent; and passengers who remained after We
left informed us that it was not injured
except on the Gunpowder bridge, by tn,
burning Of the cars uponit it. The extent o
the injury to the bridge We did not learn
and have no idea of the amount of money
and vauables obtained from the mails anc
passengers.
The number Of men under Gilmor was
about one hundred and fifty. The Other
principal officers were Captain Bailey. VIII,
acted as Chief Aid to the Major. and Capt
Nicholas Owinss. Quartermaster Seconc
Maryland Cavalry. In fact nearly every
man seemed to be an officer. and actet
pretty much as he pleased, though there wa
system in their villany.
Among the passengers some were ac
quainted with many Of the Rebels anc
after the work of destruction was well nigh
over there was considerable galantry, no
to say unhecoming intimacy. exhibited b,
both gentlemen and ladies', with the Rebe
officers. Mementoes, in the shape of South
ern buttons, we're quito literally distributed
to the etcrna disyvsce Of the 'yrculcr
Isc.fisats