The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-03-10
Result Of KiIpatrick's Expcdi.

ton.
| The Republican, Washington, March 4
is authorized TO announce that the Gov
eminent has received a dispatch from Gen
Butler stating that fitzpatrick succeeded in
cutting the railroad and telegraph commun.
ication Of Gen. Lee with Richmond by tear.
ing up the rails on the Virginia Contra
Railroad at various points. and destroying
the canal and mills on the James River
He burned much other property belong ing
to the rebels, inaicting severe blow on the
rebellion. He was met by the enemy out
side the defenses at Richmond. but succeed
ed in forcing him inside the outer works
where aspirited engagement occurred, when
darkness came on and the conflict ended =
Fitzpatrick finding the enemy and the works
too strong to allow him to reach the city
and accomplish the object Of the expedition
withdrew and reached the lines Of Gen.
Butler with the loss of about so men.
The President has received from Gen.
Butler dispatch from Fitzpatrick, dated
Yorktown 4th, saying Col. Dahlgren was
directed to make . diversion with 500 men
On James River. He attacked the enemy
Thursday afternoon, and drove them in on
Richmond. The main attack having failed,
Dahlgren attempted to join me at Meadow
Bridge. He and Colonel Cook were with
the advance guard, which became separated
from his main forces. Since then, nothing
has been heard from them. have still
hopes they may yet come in. The main
force reached me with slight loss.
Gen. Butler adds that rebel deserter in
formed one Of This aids that one.legged
Colonel and about hundred men were t..
ken prisoners. oaa yo4
New YORK, March 4.-The Times special
gives the following additional statements as
to the result Of Kilpatrick's raid: a5
Miles Of railroad track on the two princi-
pal roads, on ono which Lee transports sup
plies for the Northern Army of Virginia,
have been SO thoroughly destroyed some
time must elapse before the roads can be
put in running order again. Depots of CON-
misssry, ordnance and Quarterm aster's
stores were burned or destroyed. No less
than six grist mills, one saw mill, prinei-
pally at work for the rebel army, were burn !.
ed. Six canal boats loaded With grain, with
several locks on the James River Canal, and
the almost invaluable coal pits at Miliken's
Bend were destroyed. Nearly 800 prisoners
were captured several hundred horses were
pressed into the service; hundreds Of me-
groes availed themselves Of the opportunity
to come within our lines. c
The following account Of the expedition
after leaving Richmond is of interest:
At night the command went into camp at
. place six miles from Richmond and two
miles from the Chickahominy. At 1880,
just as the com nand was fairly asleep, ex-
cept those on duty, the rebels with . two
gun battery opened upon the camps Of Gen.
Davis brigade, and Immediately after charg.
ed the camp Of the 7th Michigan. The men,
though taken entirely by surprise. seized
their carbines, and under Col. Lichfield, sup.
ported by the LIST Vermont, Col. Preston.
handsomely repulsed the enemy Several
men WIRE wounded, and Col Lichfeid who
is missing it is feared is also wounded-ro--,
Gen.. KilAorse K r. and down the Pen
insula. During the day Capt. Mitchell, Of
the I'd New York. with the hnlk of Dahl.
gren's command, engaged the main column
of:the enemy Tuesday night and all day
Wednesday. On Wednesday night they
lowered all about the command skirmish-
ing was almost continually going on in diff
ferent directions. Wednesday morning
about Q o'clock large force Of cavalry came
upon the rear of the column. Gen. Kilpa-
trick was not unprepared for this, and deci-
ded to give them battle. The lst Vermont,
under 1t. Col. Preston, ably assisted by
Capts. Grant and Cummings and the LIST
Maine, bore the brunt Of the fight which
lasted something over an hour, while the 9th
Michigan and other regiments of Gen. Davis
brigade were in position to resdor whatever
assistance might be necessary. Only one
charge was mads and that was Go. A, LIST
Maine, led by Capt. Estes A. A. G. and
Capt. Cole, when five Of the enemy were
captured The enemy suddenly retired, but
when the command moved forward passed.
the rear flank severol times. An offer oil
battle was made. but they refused. On this
day wednesday, several refugees from
Richmond came into camp and reported the
presence Of Capt. Wilson Of the Dad Ohio
who had escaped from the Richmond bastile
near at hand. For some reason he did not
Join the command. On Wednesday also
Lieut.. Whitaker was sent to destroy Tune.
tell Station on the White House. r. R.
But upon arriving there, much to his aston
ishment, he found the place in flames. =,
From negroes in the vicinity he ascertained
column Of Union cavalry from Buffers de-
partment had just left there. This was thu
first intimation of assistance being SO neal
at hand.
Thursday morning Fitzpatrick moved to-
ward New Kent G. II. and on the way met
Col Shepherd in command of . cavalry
force looking after Kilpatrick's command.
UNION TRIUMPH IN MAINE.
| PORTLAND, MARCH 7.i-.Jacob Mcclellan
the Union candidate, is elected Mayor o
this city, over John B. Carroll. by maj
of11s( AGAINST majority last wear of AS