The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-03-10


baseness. Exasperated by this treache-
ry, the men burned the barns and out
of John 4. Sedden, rebel Sec
RETRY of War, aud it is perhaps fortu-
nate that the gentleman himself was not
present.
Retracing his steps, Colonel Dahlgren
marched down the river road, destroying
the Dover Flour Mills, several private
Touring establishments and saw-mills.-I
His force also did considerable injury to
the James River Canal, burning canal
boats and seriously damaging one or two
locks They did not reach the immediate
vicinity of Richmond till afternoon, when
everybody was on the alert, Fitzpatrick
having already made his attack.
Colonel Dahlgren's detachment was di-
vided into several parties, for the accom-
plishment of different objects, keeping
together, however. One party attempt
cd to cross the river, but were repulsed.
\ very sharp fight ensued, and, finding
the enemy in superior numbers, and con-
fronting them on every road, the force
was compelled to fall back In attempt
ing to cut their way out, Major Cook, of
the I'd New York, with about one hun
dred and fifty men, got separated from
the rest.
The other detachments succeeded in
rejoining General Fitzpatrick; but moth
ing has been heard of this one. The
people on the road, and some of the pris-
oncrs, aver that a Colonel who had but
one leg, was captured by the rebels If
so, it is feared he must have been wound
ed. Strong hopes are entertained that,
with his usual determination, he has cut
his way through, with at least part of his
one hundred and fifty men.
Meanwhile, General Fitzpatrick had ad-
vanced down the Brooks turnpike, from
Ashland, having torn up the rails at that
point, destroying the telegraph as he
marched. At one station, however, an
operator succeeded in sending despatch
to Richmond annous chg that the Yam
KEGS were coming.
He was prisoner in less than fifteen
minutes, bat that short time pat Rich
mond on the gut cire, and it has since
been ascertained that about dozen pie
ccs were put in battery, and new en-
trenchments thrown up while awaiting
his arrival.
The troops reached the outer fortifca-
tions early on Tuesday morning, and as
the spires and houses of the city came in
view, cheer upon cheer went up from our
men.
riding rapidly forward, the outer line
of works was entered. The rebels, sur
rounded, threw down their arms, many
of them surrendering, and others taking
to their heels. A fight then ensucd for
the next line, but the batteries were to
much for them, and so, with his battery
General Fitzpatrick opened upon the city
There is no doubt that the men would
have dashed upon and over anything that
stood in their way, so enthusiastic had
they become; but General Fitzpatrick act
cd the wiser part, and, as the shrill whis-
1le Of the locomotive told Of the bringing
up Of rcinforcements from Pickett's bri-
gade at Bottom Bridge and vicinity. he
reluct ntly gave the order to move to-
wards Mechanicsville.
That this was difficult to do, became
apparent. On every road the enemy's
pickets confronted them, and series of
'uancuvrcs took place, in which the enc
my were found to be Oh the alert at eve
ry point Night coming on, Fitzpatrick.
with his accustomed audacity, halted and
made preparations to camp. lie had
chosen place, however, too near a rebel
camp, and of this act he was reminded by
being shelled out of his position; so the
command groped its way on in the dark
ness and gloom, fighting when pressed too
hard, and with the tell-tale whistle of the
locomotive now warning them that troops
were being hurried back to Bottom
Bridge in the hope Of cutting off their
retreat.
GA Monday General Butler received
orders to send over force to meet Gen
eral Fitzpatrick, and assist him if ncces-
sary. This movement was part Of Gen
eral hilpatrick's plan as proposed. Had
he known Of or expected a force at New
Kent Court House or at Bottom Bridge,
he would not have turned away from
Richmond, but would have entreated
General Buffers force to fight for the
same place.
Two thousand infantry under Colonel
Dunkin, Fourth United States colored
regiment, eight hundred cavalry under
Colonel Spear, Eleventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry, and Belger's First Battery, the
whole under command of Colonel West,
were ordered to New Kent Court House,
there to be governed by circumstances
as to further movements. The infantry
and colored troops left Yorktown on Mon
day afternoon, and reached New Kent
Court House about noon the next day,
having made an extraordinary march
through rain aud mud,
The cavalry left Williamsburg On Mon
day night, and arrived on Tuesday morn
ing about eight o'clock On Tuesday af.
ternoon, Colonel Spear took portion OF
his cavalry force and proceeded to Tun-
stalls Station, where he destroyed new
steam saw-mill and Its machinery, burned
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