Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-03-17


cars, and a number of outbuildings.
were all set on fire. While the command
was engaged in this work of destruction a
picket reported the approach of train
loaded with troops from the direction of
Richmond, and here commenced the first
fighting. Gen. Fitzpatrick advanced COL
umn to capture the train, if possible, bat
the enemy had seen the smoke OF the burn.
ing station, and approached cautiously =
They came on, however, to within two
miles of the station, and portion of the
troops were disembarked. A small force
was advanced to meet them, and in a
charge our troops captured two officers and
thirty men. The enemy then fed. Seve-
parties were sent ont from this point to
destroy the rail road at other points, and
bridges on important roads. =,
Major Hall, of the 9th New York cav
airy. with party went to destroy the
Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad
bridge over the South Anna, at Taylor
vile. but found the place guarded by the
Maryland rebel battalion of rebel infantry,
who had two pieces of artillery. This
command was absent some time on i'm
portant service. and did not rejoin the
main column until the following day in
front Of Richmond. Not returning at the
time expected. a detachment under Capt.
Hull Of the 81 New York, wis sent out on
mission and to find the whereabouts OF
Maj. Halls party. Hall ran across su-
perior force and had brisk skirmish, in
which he lost five men and was, forced to
retire. Another party undcr Capt. Plum
was also sent off and returned in safety
The main command. Just at nightfall,
Monday, moved forward and during the
night crossed the South Anna River
Here the advance had skirmish with an
infantry picket near Taylorsville aud dis
persed them. The men crossed, brieI
halt was, made to feed, when the column
at daylight moved ION to Richmond" be-
fore which, and within the second line oI
defenses, a position was taken at 105 O..
clock the same morning. On the way
Kibby Station, on the Fredericksburg road
was destroyed, and Lieut. Whitaker, oil
Gen. Kilpatrick's staff, blew. up stone
bridge near Kibby Station. and the track
and culverts were destroyed all along in
that vicinity. Lient. Boyce, of the 9TH
New York cavalry, with twelve men, Gu,
the track and destroyed the telegraph al
Guinea Station. ~.
Tuesday. at 101 o'clock a. m. found the
command passing the outer earthworks or
the Brook turnpike, within 81 miles oil
Richmond. The arrival of the Yankc.
troops was entirely unexpected, and the
indignation of some very good looking
women, standing in front of houses, and
at the roadside, excited much amusement
The advance captured several men on pick,
ct duty belonging to the citizen soldiery o.
Richmond. without firing shot--and
while waiting for the main column tc
come mp, citizens were stopped and ques
toned with the utmost freedom--they o.
course did not know who their qnestioner.
were. Here was obtained a copy of the
Examiner and Dispatch fresh from the
press that morning, announcing some ru
mors about brigade OF Yankee cavalry
having crossed the Rapidan. What thei
astonishment must have been one hour la
ter to hear Kilpatrick's guns may be i'm
agined, not described. Moving forward
to within the second line of defenses, go
ing toward the city, the skirmishers en-
countered the first shots from near tn,
third line. or what is known as Battery
No. Q. Guns were opened on both sides
and strong line of skirmishers was
thrown out. Captain Bacon, with others
charged the Johnnys, and drove them inside
their works. and desultory firing wa,
KEPT up until between 4 and o'clock il
the evening, when, for some reason ther
unknown, the command of Col. Dahlgrer
not appearing. Gen. Fitzpatrick decided tc
fall back. The enemy had burned the
bridge across Brook Greek in rear of tn,
command, and the columns turned off up
on the Meadows Road, crossing the Fred
ericksburg aud Richmond railroad, and de
stroying everything within reach.
AT night, the command went into CAM
at place six miles from Richmond. AM
two miles from the Chickahominy; Their
was slight fall of rain and sleet. and TIN
men built fires, cooked their chickens an,
bacon. and had turned in for few hour
sleep; but as all persons are doomed to dis
appointment at some point or other, so ]
was their lot on this occasion. At abou
104 o'clock, just as the command was fair
" asleer-except those on duty--the reb
els opened two gun battery upon th
camp of Gen. Davies brigade, an imme
diately after charged the camp of the I'll
Michigan. The men, though taken entire
lIy by surprise. seized their carbines. an
under Col. Litch6eld. supported by the Is
Vermont, Col. Preston, handsomely re
pulsed the ehemy--who, owing to the cam
fires, had decidedly the advantage over on
troops. owing to their occupying posi-
tion between the enemy and the camp fires
After forcing the enemy back, the com
manding General decided to move hi
command again, SO as to be ready for an
emergency at daylight. In this affair
number of horses were killed, and fe'
were stampeded by the shrieking she
rushing through the midnight air. Th
scene, all things considered, was not vs
ry fascinating one to man OF tendt
nerves. Several men were wounded. an
Col. Litchfeld. who is missing, it is feare
is also wounded. The enemy had the es
act range of Gen Davies headquarters. bl
l. "a -. L. = Al -