The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-04

up n towards Lawrep0SvfRe. Tho rebels were moving
acoss shs country "a tho left nank, the inside lire
desermtDed ~ cut on the retreat. 90 the 2Stn
shs hssls Ncttaway was crossed eight mss from jar
rls station, and attempt to the country
directly 10 Reamh slaton AZ Rocky creek the rshel
ary VA met IN iorce and cavalry turned back.
the lighting was continuous day and night, and no
rest allowed our men At any point.
TIE IaHr At REAM's STATION.
Tho next asy-ths 20th-ths battle began near
Ream's. Kautz struck the enemy in force, at eight
O'Clock, In tae morning, and fought them Ill four in the
afternoon The also hardly pressed and noaly
flank attack made that the column two, and finally
separated Kautz md wilson The former 10 With
hs Command and a part OF Wilson's that cut or
with bfm The latter was forced 10 make wide detour
through tho country, and only arrived last evening.
rHs GUNS ABANDONED
During the 2Sh and 29b IL became apparent that the
enemy moved with too much ceerity, and In too great
force 10 admit Of bringing of guns and trains
All ahe former, excepting two pieces were spiked run
into the river and abandoned. The wheels and woed.
work sawed and destroyed. The wagons were smi.
lary destroyed burned No part of either was cap
tured. The ambuiances containing the wounded, who
could he brou. or were abandoned good order,
with the sick and wounded in them.
RESULTS EXPEDITION
are Q probable loss OF thousand men IN killed
wounded aud prisoners, and the abandonment and de-
sirncton or twelve guns four small mountain howit.
and light train Of wagons. Tas Is counterbaancsd
than tenfnld by the amount OF damage inflicted
This Petersburg and Lyncbburg Railroad is utterly de-
stroyed for twenty-six miles, and the Richmond and
panve Railroad for thirty miles, including the juno
tion al Bnrkesvic, connecting Richmond and Lynch
burg. No such complete demolition OF road has
ever been made. Nos q single rai was left
Dart NJ tha
the old fiat rail-, The stncers and ties of thcso oil
burned and the min consumed that sawed them out
Excepting last days gh, tho raid successful
and victorious evoryw II is considered moro than
successful u is brilliant. by our highest military
authorites. Not single railroad now connects Rich
mond with the confederacy. All are badly destroyed
They rebuilt in thirty days, and possibly not
sixty by the whole rebel army. Lee lily afford TO
lose their daily We also threaten and harass
their working parties at present. and hope 10 command
the entire, long before the rebels rebuild it The
p paid the Of these important railroads
is considered exceedingly email one.
REBELS SAY ABOUT IT.
The rebel papers admit serious destruction Of their
roads, that much time and labor will be needed TO
repair them
The follow Ing data were furnished by an officer who
ACCOMPANIED tho expedtion:-
CAVALRY CAMP. NEAR JoNEs' NECK, July l. 1854
am enabled to give you full report OF the part taken
by Colonel Spears command in the latc expedition. On
the morning o! the 21st Of June they broke oamp
proceeded Mount Sinai church. There thcy joined the
rest Of the coMmsnd, under General Wilson. At
two o'clock they took up their line Of march
towards the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad.
The first station reached was Ream's, where
they destroyed thirteen cars two water tanks
and all public property They report that there
train passed this road for throe weeks
guns bong in q pasltion 10 command the road. Resum.
ing their march they passed through Dnviddie Court
House, reaching Fords station At minutes past
nveP.N Al this place they destroyed large quaint.
ties Of commssay stores cotton and tobacco Working
hero until twelve O'Clock, they succeeded In eectuay
destroying six miles OF track. Resting hero until
ing the 23d at hapast O'clock they proceeded
up South Side Railroad in the junction Of the Peters
burg and Weldon Railroad, passing through on their
way. Wilson's station at four O'Clock, and "blacks
and Whites" AZ haLpeet SIX At this place they DC.
stroyed cars and railroad buildings and reached Motto.
way at half pas, eleven A. NJ. Here they captured q
large rebe, mail and destroyed tho station. Here the
expedition also destroyed ten miles Of track At this
place they also found rebel hospital containing een
woanded .'rebs," who ate Uncle Sans ratous with
gusto. Tho expedition left the place the morning Of
the 24h four O'clock Colonel Spears brigade being left
IN burn depot and stores From the junction
they made up along tho Danve road reached Menerrn
nine O'Clock A. NJ and Keysville AT past r
Here they unit, three O'Clock destroying eighteen
miles of track hoy went The then laid down TO
sleep for few hours At i've O'Clock they resumed
their march, passed brakes Branch at eight O'Clock A. NJ
and reacbed Roanoke Station at FIVE O'Clock P. NJ Here
they found the enemy strongly ntrenched. Tho enemy
also had large gun mounted on q car and containing
sharpshooters rns protected by plates OF iron.
The enemy opened with grape and canister. The First
Ds,ric. OF Columbia and Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry
Gcployed "a skrmshers the left Of the main road
Colonel spears brigade, tho Third New York
and fifth Pennsylvania cavalry dcployng the right Of
the road and the adv within good rifle range and
held the position until nearly OF ammunition. They
fell back the depot 10 get fresh supply After
dong this they marched back took the morning line
formerly occupied aud held It until night They did
succeed in burning bridge the stauntou river,
but burned TIE depot and destroyed tho track Here
Captain Reynolds or the Eleventh Pennsy vana cavalry
killed. whc leading his gallsntly the bridge.
Colonel Congor and Major Curtis, Of the First District
OF Columbia cavalry, are supposed to have been
killed In this engagement. At daylight the nsxt
morning the troops withdrew. Colonel Spear pro
ceeded along the Christianville ro,d. Hero be
expected tho river bu, there being br i'd go
10 less than eighty miles Distant he was compelled 10
fall back Reams tho rsbcls hanging the flank
and This cavalry, supposed TO be from the
command OF Titzhugh Lce They marched until two
O'Clock the morning OF the 27h and at six
the morning Of tho 9Th took up their line Of march
They arrived at Meherrns At forty Eve minutes past
eight A. N. No lighting to-day. We camped at Price 3
farm. On Tuesday morning, the 2stb At half-past
nve, We proceeded towards the Petersburg and
Weldon Railroad, passed through Liberty church
At fortylve minutes past nine. snaky ordway, on the
Petersburg plank road Notoway bridge and Stony Creek
Station the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, about
eleven o'clock Al six O'Clock in the evening arrived In
the vicinity Of Reams and marched within about Ave
hundred yard. of the enemy when they opened the
cavalry with artillery, masked, whilo Hampton at this
time was in tho driving in our rear guard The
Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry were ordered 70 the
and the carbiniers 70 dsmoupt, about twenty