Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-06
AvERMLs OFFICIAL REPORT.
EDRAY, PocAHoNrAs Co., Va, Dec 81, !
- Via Beverly, Dec. 20.

EpRAY, PocAHoNTAs Co., Va, Dec 81,
-. Via Beverly, Dec. ~. :.
Il. W. HALLEcK, General-in, Chief:
have the honor to report that cut the vir-
ginfs and Tennessee railroad at Salem on the 10th
inst and have arrived safely at this point with my
command, consisting of the I'd, Sd, and 9th Viz
ginia mounted infantry, l4th Pennsylvania, Dob.
sons battalion of cavalry, and Ewings battery At
Salem, three depots were destroyed, containing
1000 barrels of -four 900 bushels of wheat,
,000 bushels of SHIELDED corn, $4,000 bushels Of
OATS 1000 barrels of meat several cords of leather,
1000 sacks of salt 81 boxes of clothing, 20 bales
of cotton, large amount of harness, shoes, and
saddles, equipments, tools, OIL tar, and various
other stores, and one hundred wagons The tele-
graph wire was cut, coied and burned for half
mile The water-station, turn, table, and three cars
were burned, and the track torn up, and the rails
heated and destroyed, as much as possible, In SIX
hours. Five bridges and several cuiverts were de-
streyed over an extent of fifteen miles. A large
quantity Of bridge timber and repairing materials
were also destroyed.
My march was retarded occasionally by the tenn
pest in the mountains and the roads. Twas Obliged
to swim my command and drag my artillery with
ropes across Cragg's creek, seven times in twenty
four hours. On my return I found six separate
commands, under Gems. Early, Jones, Fitz Lee, I'm
boden, Jackson Echols and McCourtin, arranged
in line extending from Stanton to Newport, upon
all the available roads, to prevent my return.
captured dispatch from Gen. Jones to Gen. EARLY,
giving me the position land that of jackson at
Clifton Forge and Covington) which he was selec
ted to carry. marched from the front of Jones
to that Of jackson during the night His outposts
mounted infantry, and the two bridges across Jack
son river saved Although faggots bad been piled
ready to ignite, my column, four miles long, has
tened across, regardless of the enemy, until all but
ambulances, and a few wagons and one regiment
had passed, when strong effort was made to re-
take the first bridge, which did not succeed. The
ambulances and some sick men were lost, and by
the darkness and difficulties the last regiment was
detained on the opposite side until morning. when
it was ascertained that the enemy seemed deter
mined to maintain his position on the cliffs which
overlook the bridges which were too long and high
tobe destroyed, and the enemy Immediately changed
his position to the flank and rear of the detach-
m.ent, which was cut off. l sent orders to the
nant to destroy our wagons and come to me across
the river and over the mountains. They swan the
river, with the loss OF only four men drowned and
joined me- In the meantime, forces were concen-
trating upon me at Calaghan's every available
road but one, which was deemed lmpracticabe, but
by which passed over the top of the Aileghanies
with my command, with the exception Of four cais-
sons, which destroyed in order to increase the
teams of the pieces. My loss is SIX men drowned,
one officer and four men wounded, and one officer
and ninety men missing. We captured out two
hundred prisoners, but have retained hut four fl
GERS and eighty men, on account of their inability
to walk.
We took also about $50 horses My men and
horses subsisted entirely upon the very poor coun
try, and the officers and men have suffered cold
and hunger and fatigue with remarkable fortitule.
My command has marched, climbed, slid and
swan three hundred and fifty miles since the 9th
instant. W. W. .AVERILL, Brig Gen.