Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-09-23
RAID ON THE RAPIDAN.
The Object Crowned with Success-Grea
Destruction of Enemy's Property.


Destruction Of Enemy's Property.
A detachment Of 300 men of the 10th New
York, and 50 men OF the 18th New York cav
airy, under command Of Colonel H. NJ. LazelIe,
commanding cavalry brigade, left camp at
Falls Church at a. m. on the 18th, for the
Rapidan, for the purpose of destroying a new
and valuable bridge lately constructed over that
river by the rebels, and which was OF immense
value to them, as this line was the only route
by which communication was kept up between
Richmond and Culpeper, and it was on this
road that the harvest and plunder collected by
Early in the valley were dispatched to the rebel
The command moved through Fairfax coun-
to, and crossed Wolf Run Shoals the same
near Elk Run At O'Clock next morning took
up the line OF march; crossed the Rappahan-
mock at Keliy's Ford, capturing the enemy's
vidette. Pushing forward through Stephens
burg. the command reached and crossed the
Papidan at Raccoon Ford, and following the
course OF the river, reached and recrsssed IL at
Rapidan Station, where a charge through the
village was made, capturing six prisoners,
fully equipped.
Here, as per information received, horses and
mules belonging to the Confederate States Gov
ernment, to the number of two hundred, were
found grazing. These were quietly got togeth-
or, and soon after the work of destroying the
new and beautiful bridge commenced, under
the supervision Of Colonel LaZelle himself. In
the meantime the mill, with fl We thousand bar
rels Of flour, the telegraph office, the railroad
depot, and other public buildings were con-
SumeQ. "A large Train was moving In our d.
rection, but seeing the smoke from the bridge,
&C., did not approach near enough to be cap
tured. The work of destruction complete, the
command moved with the captured property
to Culpeper, where it was met by the advance
Of Early's corps, consisting Of four thousand
men, six pieces of artillery, and two hundred
cavalry.
During the march from the Rapidan to Cul-
pepper, the enemy gradually gathered in our
rear and harassed our rear guard considerably.
McCloud's division, at Culpeper, opened with
fnr on IN Wi niafa
she'll, and musketry. Colonel Lazelle marched
his command in three parallel lines, and
struct the foot of Piney Mountain, where two
regiments Of infantry had been sent to cut off
our retreat The advance was allowed TO
pass, and on the approach Of the column a
terrific fire was opened by the rebel infantry
on our line. Here Captain Lawrence Sealy,
acting major, and Captain Brown Of the 18th,
with their commands, charged on the rebel
infantry with great impetuosityi the charge,
however, was repulsed. Owing to the posi-
ton the rebels had taken, twas Impossible to
cross swamp in their front Captain Sealy
again rallied his command and held the " kew
Of the mountain" under tremendous fire,
and repulsed two cavalry charges, until the
whole command had safely crossed and were
out Of danger.
The column, after crossing the ford at the
Rappahannock, kept leisurely on its way to-
ward camp. During the night we bivouacked
near the ford. At in the morning the COM
mand moved, and its rear guard, under Lieut..
Doherty, commanding company M, when near
Elk Run, was charged upon with great fury
by Whites battalion. Five minutes sharp
fighting and a counter charge from the rear
guard put the enemy to the right about. Al
though severely punished, he again and again
returned to the attack. The sore disappoint-
ment Of not being able to capture the whole
command at Culpeper induced them to make
the most desperate exertion to inf1ict every In
jury on the daring little party who had come
over one hundred miles into the very heart OF
the enemy's country, charged into the very
midst of q brigade, and fought their way
through, doing them much damage.
This march and the damage that has been
done the enemy reflect great credit upon the
officers and men of the gallant 10th New York
cavalry. N. S.