Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-07-06
ITEMS OF WAR NEWS,

ITEMS OF WAR NEWS.
Gen Hunters movements in South-wes-
! tern Virginia have been carried out on
! grand scale, and have been highly successful,
/ notwithstanding Lees efforts to overtake
and defeat him. 1t is known in official
/ quarters that Gen Hunter has adhered to
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad with
pertinacity unparalleled He produced
CONSERVATION at bynchburg that the rebels
OF that vicinity viii never forget While
one portion Of his forces was engaged in
tearing UP the railroads, the other portion
fought the enemy. Rebel accounts agree
that the damage done by Gen. Hunters
forces was very extensive. They say that
tie scene or deSolau0n and ruin In the
neighborhood of Lynchburg is positively
appalling. All available supplies for the
rebel army were destroyed, and grain, cattle
and other stock coniscated After leaving
Lynchburg, Gen. Hunter pushed on west
erly 20 Liberty, on the same road, destroy
ing the Big and Little river railroad bridges,
the rails and sleepers on the road, and rebel
supplies From there he moved along the
same road to Salem, where he destroyed
large number Of bridges, including the rail-
road bridges over the branches of the Stan
ton river. At this point he turned north
ward, passing flncastie, and, at last accounts
his command was out of the reach of any
forces sent again HIM by Lee. He has per-
formed great work He has not done it,
of course, without hard fgt ting and losing
some men; but be has done his work and
done it well
An army correspondent gives further in
teresting details OF the attack by the rebel
eighteen-gun battery upon Gen Smiths
Eighteenth Corps on Z iday morning, June
24th. The cannonade is said To have been
one Of the heaviest Of the canpaign, and
the impression on people at a distance was
that terrible battle was in progress. The
enemy wasted large amount of ammuni-
ton in concentrated but harmless fire up
on our troops and batteries The ball OPEN
ed at about 6. 80 O'Clock, a. m., and closed
ut about nine. Our own batteries during
this time were not silent, but replied in a
spirited style. While this artillery fire was
raging, a charge was made on position of
Gen. Stannard division, formerly General
Brook S. OF the Eighteenth CORPS by Hay
goods brigade of rebels About four hun
ired Of them succeeded in entering our
Tont line OF rifle pits-a mere, picket line,
our sklrmlshefs retiring to the main breast
work OF the front line of battle. While
,hese were coming In our troops did not fire
rom the fear that they might hit our own
yanceJ boldly towards our entrenchments,
lut the moment our skirmishers had all gone
n, a yoiley was Immediately fired into the
ranks of the enemy, and moved them down
eartully. Their progress was all at once
topped and to retreat was as much out of
he question as to advance. While placed
n this dilemma our men continued firing
apidly upon them. They made signs of a
,esire to surrender which was not at first
but as soon as their wish was as
firing was discontinued and they
ecelved a cordial invitation to come in
The number of prisoners taken was one hun
red and sixty-six, and thirty-six wounded
Tere brought off the ground. The remain
er Of the four hundred must have been Ell
her killed or too badly wounded to get a
'ay, as the men captured say none went
'ack. Many OF rhe prisoners appeared to
G rather pleased than sad at the lot which "a
ad befallen them. One sergeant, ex-
laimed ferventiy, as he jumped into our
Thank God, I'm a white
IAN again, rather emphatic way of an
that he considered himself releas-
d from slavery IN becoming a prisoner
mother one. Captain, expressed the
plnion that the entire brigade to which he
elonged would come in if they could do so
lthout being fired upon. 1t is worthy Of
MAJ thdo eiiCoe iucil appear W NC Cllituy
outh Carolinians, and judging by the feel
lgs they express, one would infer that the
tate which inaugurated the war was ready
cry hold, enough, but these men are
the poorer class, and their views and
elings are entirely distinct from those of
le wealthy oligarchy who rnle them, and
ield them for the accomplishment of their
yn aims b. combining system of the most
lameless mendacity with a rigorous exer-
Sc of power. Some of the prisoners ta-
n this morning say they have been told
that the Yankees, if successful.
III reduce them TO condition almost worse
an that of the slaves, compelling them to
)rk for seven pence a day, or whatever
ey may see fit to give. | was particular
struck by the naturalness and evident SIN
rity of the reply made by wounded reb-
to some one who inquired whether he
me into the army on his own inclination.
70, indeed, he answered, II ought to be
home ploughing corn this very hour -
le look of care in his eye as he said this
trayed anxious thoughts of his distant
fe and children, and the crops he had
lnted willing under the hot sun for want
his culture.
The OPINION OF A WAR DENoCRaT