The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-10

4 New A0nt " --,;r
I ~ --day moin.n
forces under An
from Yorktown wa =.
cavalry arrived at 2:3O yes... LII
At Bottoms Bridge, across the ON,
,n;nv. 10 miles from Richmond for the nur-
nose Of making raid into Richmond and
endeayoring by surprise to liberats our
prisoners there. H~I
The cavalry reached the bridge 1t the
appointed time, marching Al miles in 16a
hours. A force of infantry followed in their
rear for the purpose Of supporting them.
It was expected to surprise the enemy at
Bottoms Bridge who had had for some time
only a small picket there.
The surprise failed because. as the Rich
mond Examiner of to-day says Yankee
deserter gave the information in Richmond
of the intended movement. The enemy had
felled q large amount of timber so as to
block up and obstruct the fords and make
it impossible for our cavalry to pass.
After remaining at the bridge from 2 un-
til IL o'clock, Gen. Wistar joined them
with his infantry and the whole object OF
purprise having been defeated, Gen, Wistar
returned to Williamsburg On ibis march to
New Kent O. H., his rear was attacked by
the enemy but they were repulsed without
loss to US.
A march, by our infantry, 3 regiments of
whom were colored, of more than 80 miles
was made in Sc hours, and the cavalryin 30
hours marched over 100 miles. This shows
that it is possible to make campaign in
rain or winter.
The despatch boat is just in. from New
bern,
Gen. Palmers reports everything going
on we'll in this district. The losses by US
in the way of public property are too trid-
ing to mention; we could not desire more
favorable results, and our losses in killed,
wounded and missing are but few.
BALTIMORE, Feb. "a special despatch
from Fortress Monroe to the American
from G. O. Fulton who is at City Point,
saws: The rebel flag of truce with Conn
missioner Ould and Capt latch, the truce
officer arrived On Sunday at City Point
Two citizen prisoners were brought down
both of whom were Marylsnders. They
brought exciting news from Richmond
which they represent was in state of most
feverish excitement from midnight on Sat-
urday up to the time they left Sunday even
ing. At midnight on Saturday the bells of
the city were rung aud men We're rushing
through the streets crying "to arms, to arms,
the Yankees are coming, the Yankees are
coming!" During the remainder OF the
night there was intense commotion every.
where visible. The home-guard was called
out and the tramp of armed men could be
heard in all directions, cannons were hauled
through the streets, women and children
were hurrying to and fro and there were
all the evidences of such panic as has sci.
dom been witnessed in Richmond. On
Sunday morning there was no abatement in
the excitement, the guards were all march
ed out of the city to the defences and arm"
ed citizens were placed on guard over pris-
oners. Horsemen were dashiBg to and fro
and tho excitement among the prisoners,
to know the cause Of all this excitement, be-
came intense. 1t was soon learned that a
large cavalry and infantry force with artil'
lery had made their appearance on the Pc
ninsula at Bottoms Bridge within 10 miles
of the city, and that Richmond was actu-
ally threatened by the Yankees.
The same hurrying of troops, arming of
citizens and excitement among the women
and children continued during the morning
and at 2 o'clock when the two released
prisoners were about to leave in the truce
boat the alarm bells were again rung with
great fury. The rumors that prevailed were
conflicting and Wild 1t was their impress
sion that from 5000 to 10000 cavalry would
have but little difficulty in entering the
city, liberating the. Union prisoners, de-
stroying the forts and public property and
retiring by the Peninsula before any suf-
fcient force to resist them could brought to
the aid of the small garrison left to de-
fend it.
For several days previous to this alarm
the troops in and about the city, to the
number of 1000 or $1,000 had been sent off
to Join Lees army with great DESPATCH
The impression was prevailing that move
ment was contemplated by Gen. Meade
In this they were right, as during the pro
gress of the excitement on Sunday, intel
Geence was received that Meade had cross
ed the Rspidan.
On Monday morning courier arrived at
City Point, bringing copies of the morning
papers with the intelligence that the ex>
element had abated and it had been ascer
tanned that the Yankees were falling back
from the Chickahominy and had abandoned
the attack.