Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-11
FROM NEW CREEK.


FROM NEW CREEK.
The Recent Raid Designs OF the
Rebels = Their Disappointment
What They will Probably Do this
WInter.
A let.or from New Creek gives us tho
following information concerning the re-
cent raid:
INV CRHuK, Jan. 8, 1864.
Editors Intelligeneec:
All quiet once more on the North
Branch. We have subsided from the ex-
element of the raid and things 20 on as
usual. II Was not all q scare, can assure
you, and had it not been for the thorough
and energetic preparations that were made
by Gen. Kelley, this post and Cumberland
would now be in the bands OF the rebels
Such vas eVid emily the design of the
0camps. They are as hungry and as bold
as wolves, and it was their programme to
secure the stores Of supplies in the way of
food and clothing bore. AS it is they came
and went without them, having to content
themselves with 40 empty wagon train
and about two hundred mules-very VAL
liable l acknowledgement a poor reward
! for their severe exposure. If they can stand
| tho raid we can. We don't care how many
| such they make this weather, for it is GER
| tain that every time they come they will go
back (if they go back at ally with
diminished aud disabled numbers
Several deser1ers came in, hay
ing seized favorable opportunity,
so they Gay, to do what they and many
others had long been meditaliug. Taking
their accounts With the usual discount Oh
| the statements of "reiiable" gentlemen,
aud there lie no doHbt OF the woeful suffer.
ings of the rebel troops uoW in the Valley.
These deserters say that it has been no un-
| common thing 10 be without food for two
| days, and that their commissary depart
ment is supposed to be something without
"a local hSoitaton or name" They repre-
sent that the chagrin and vexation Of the
rebel officers at AVerill's escape was in.
! tense, and that they Swore like blue blazes
to gel even with the Yankees. During the
recent raid they forced their men through
the snow and over the frozen ground at a
tremendous march, keeping them up all the
time with threats and promises and leaving
behind to die, as an example, those gave
out. Their ratious were of the most mis-.
cradle character, carried in their bavrr-
sacks and were frozen. On Sunday last they
| reached the road between Petersburg and
this post and waylaid the train to which
| have alluded. About $50 men guarded the
train, composed mostly Of squads from the
! I'd harylaod, 23d Illinois, 1st and 14th West
| Virginia, and some twenty or thirty of Capt.
Jarboe's doth Vest Vireinial COMPANY
| The rebels were about 700 strong in the at.
tack and closed in % the train with a fierce
ness and rapaci'y no: to be resisted by so
small a number. They thought they had a
oetterthing CT it than 1t turned out, and one
can imagine their disappointment after
81
time strong apprehensons were entertained
for the safety of Col. Thoburn at Peters
burg, especially after we found that he was
surrUunded by a force greatly superior to
his own. But the Colonel was not fright
ened out OF his proFriety, and the rebels
seeing that they were to have q severe fight.
and fearing that General Kelley would be
into their rear, soon pulled out and retired
to whence they came.
The boys at WilIiamsport had a narrow
| escape from a sudden descent Of the enemy
on that post, but getting the hint in time,
they took to the mountains and made their
way here by all sorts Of crooked paths,
after very considerable travelling and hard.
ship. The general opinion is that the raid
Is played out, and that we will see no more
OF 1t. But who can tell about such things?
Ny opinion is that the rebels have come tn
spend the winter in these parts. not hav.
ing much to do elsewhere. II they can
make living off the country, they will
hover near the Aoorefeld Valley until
Spring. Gen. Kelley is determined at any
rate not 10 take their falling back as any
thing moro thaa a feint, aud is using all
possible Vigor in the work Of preparation.
He will not be caught mapping. His De
pArtment is difficult one to manage.
None could be more so. IL stretches along
an immense front and comprises broken,
mountainous country, filed with mixed
population, no small portion ofwhom are
the friends Of these raiders, and who aid
and aoes them in every secret way. 1t
Garu 10 stop up all the holes, but it is the
Determination OF the General to make those
left open OF very little account to the rebels,
Yours, INV CR1rT