The New York herald., 1864-09-24
EXPEDITION TO THE RAPlDAK.
Destruction Of BridYe-Oapture OF
Two II andred Horses and nj NIuies-Brisk
Encounter with Early's Advance-TRe
Expedition Cuts Eas Way Through sud

Our FALLS CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE.
FAIls CauRas. Va, Sept. 2l, 1854
Il having become tina. rebels had constructed
large valuable bridge the Rapdan about fifteen
miles Curepper, for the double purpose OF
petng the railway communication from that place with
Richmond and aifordng easy exit from the Shenan.
ooan valley or all the harvest and punder collected by
Early his occupation OF that district Colonel
Iazelle Of the Sixteenth regiment New York vouu.
teer cavalry, commanding tho cavalry brigade
near Falls church ordered to effect its
destruction Accordingly, the morning OF tho 18th
iust that officer started at threa o'clock with three hund
rod men OF the Sixteenth New York volunteer cavalry,
and dfty OF the Thirteenth New York cavalry, for
the action. The party furnished with the
necessary ratious and fully provided with for
tho contemplated work.
ROUTE
The command moved through Farifax county and
crossing Wolf Run Shoals after march bvouack
Cd at Next morning at throe O'Clock party
resumed its maroh and crossing tho Rappahanoek at
Kellys Ford passed through Stephensburg capturing
the rebel vdetes on the route Then crossed the Rapl
AT Rapdan station charged through the
village capturing the enemys advanced line OF pickes
CAPIURE or HORSES AND MuIxs.
At this pout Information was Obtained OF a large
corral Of the rebel governments borses, mules. &c.
being in the neghoorhood and dash was made at
them resulting In the capture Of the guard aud upwards
two hundred fine horses and muis that we're quietly
grazing there, were duly collected and cared for
OBSTRUCTION THE BRIDGE Erc
The work OF destroying the bridge about two hundred
length by hundred and nifty in height then
commenced. under Col. .Lazslle supevis, ~ Meanwhile
another party PROCEEDED to fire a large mil!
S:sss and
lie buildings which all soos consumed to
snr r.a ns
smoke of tho burning buildings did not como near enough
10 admit Of Its capture.
PART or EARLY'L FORCE ENCOUNTERED
The OF destruction having been thoroughly COM
pietcd the command together ~ th the prisoners (oi
Eary's army consisting OF McCiouds division, number
pieces OK artillery that had been sent expressly to
guard against the deed Just 90 efcctuAliy &C
Culpepper tho enemy in small bodies harrassed
the rear guard considerably until the column
opened heavy FIRE IL flank. Colonel iazele then
marched his command three parallel lines. and struck
fantry had been sent eudoavor OF retreat
The allowed TO and the approach Of
fantry Hero Captain Lawrence Leahy (ac,ng ma or)
and CAPTAIN Beown Of the Thirteenth Now York cavalry,
ably insisted by Iieutenants Rave and Dougherty OF
the Thirteenth and sixteenth respectively charged with
their commands In the hopes OF routing the infantry but
\ swamp 10 their front. were repnIsed with
loss. The enemys cavalry seeing this charge repulsed
At once charged on the rear Of the column with the view
defesed their main object with heavy loss and ouiy
succeeded recaptuDg goody portion OF the horses
mules, having beOn again charged in turn BY Captain
I6ahy and his command.
Colonel Iazeil seeing. by the new forces moment
ary developing themselves that be greatly out
numbered, commenced his retreat, without gratifying
evident wish aud intention Of the rebel commander
charging the bresstworks, which the whole
command must inevitably have been cap tured cut to
pieces.
That this was the idea is self evident from the fact OF
the gradual development of his force, he hoped by
tina. means entice Colonel Lazee but In this
4tbe Early bird" did get his worm and the column
ated n GOOD
cnesnys cavalry kept harrassing the guard, which
consisted OF Captain eahys squadron, embodying what
" left Of Washington Light cavalry consolidated
with the sixteenth IN October last.
Our total loss in killed, wounded and missing
officer aieutenant French, Sixteenth, missug and forty
Of this number the Thirteenth LIST four and tho
Sixteenth officer and thirty.sx men.
Rebel Accounts.
The Richmond tnuRin,r Of september 2l, publishes
the following account which IL says Is authentic of the
Yankee raid into the county OF Orange Monday
The rading party was about ave hundred strong and