The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-23

official report Of the battle and our success
/ in Western Vfginje, are euhio@e4. yEy
II Up 10 this hodr-1:30 r M.-¬hins
has been heard from Nashville since lssl
night, and nothing from Sherman late,
t|sthan the Rithmond papers report Of tie
capture of Fort McAllister on Wednesday
III 4 okN cANBfs RxroRr.
HkADQUARrERs NRw ORLEANS. Dec. o.
On the 10th ult. reported that movements
cooperative with Sherman's operations would
be made from Fickshurg aud Baton Rouge for
the purpose OF cutting off Hoods communica-
Vfeksburg, and consisting ofAbouf IL. 600 cav
airy and eight pieces of artillery, under COM
I mand of Col E. D. -Osband. of the Sd colored
cavalry, returned on the 4th inst, having met
| with complete success, after an admirably exc,
tcuted' flank movement on Jackson on the 14th.
\ The expedition started for Big Black Bripge
| on the railroad, which was reached on the 9th
| thus cuts Hoods army off from large quanti-
| ties of supplies and storesaccupqlateda al jack
son and makes the railroad, which is his main
reliance ol unavailable. to run for months to
Besides this important bridge and trestle
works, the following property was completely
destroyed: Thirty miles of track, including
IL.
Vaughn, Pickett and Goodman stations with
ell their depots and buildings, $500 bales cot.
bon, 20 l0cOmotives,4 cars, 4 stage coaches. 20
barrels SALT and @166,000 worth of stores at
( Vanghn'S station. '"A9 Gse Ef IA
ifi The expedition was considerably harrassed
! On It's return BY large bodies Of the enemy's
forces, but suffered no material loss, land
brought back more recruits than its entire
!, Mai. B. Cook. commanding co the sd colored
cavalry, distinguished himself and all his regi.
meut generally, by the gallantry with (which
the force guarding the Big Black bridge were
driven from their position. Our men had to
charge across the bridge. dismounted, with
nothing but railroad ties tor a protection in the
" 80, 49, - + r. 8. CANDY, Ma..Gen.
Orr .PolNr, Dec, 16.-The Richmond
Dispatch of to-day, after fully confirming
the previous reports of the capture Of
Bristol, Tenn, states, "that the enemy
then advanced up the railroad towards
Abingdon, which, we presume, fell into
their hands on the 9th. We have no in
formation of the fact. The next we heard
of them they had at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning bounced down upon Glade Spring
and the depot. Of the railroad thirteen
miles this side of Abingdon, taking every
one there BY surprise and capturing all the
railroad employees except one. At last
accounts the enemy were pushing up the
railroad in the direction Of Marvin which
is twenty seven miles on this side of Alb
ingdon. This is raid in Breckinridge's
rear. 49,. 4.
y The raiders leaving his forces some-
where in the neighborhood of Knoxville,
came, up the north side of the Holston
River, and crossed to Bristol. 1t is pro-
bable that the raiders separated, one party
proceeding to Briston, and the other to
Abingdon. If unchecked, it is likely they
will come up the railroad as far as Salem,
and thence into the Kanawha, by the
route followed by Hunter last summer. 1t
is unknown who is in command of the ex-
petition, but it looks very much like
Stonemanb work. s. q. 80. :: Il
"None of the dispatches say anything of
Saltville. If it is unprotected, it has doubt
less been visited by the enemy"
floods official report of. the bat.
tie Of Franklin ( has been received It
confirms the reported killing and
wounding of many officers. He says he
drove the enemy from their inner line of
works.. which they evacuated at night,
leaving their dead and wounded in our
hands In their retreat we captured
several stands of colors and $50 prisoners. "
(SigneO z. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.