The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-08

advanced line, while Gen. Crook division was
sent off to the right but returned almost I'M
mediately. As that Generals practiced eye
saw that the enemy were massing for ON attack
on our CENTRE he advised the Commanding
General of the fact, and recalled his division.
1t arrived not minute too soon. Having seen
the weakening of our centre, and not knowing
of the return of the Kanawha Division, the
rebels came on in perfect confidence OF victory.
There they come-old veterans OF the famous
Ewell corps, practiced in the hundred battles
of the Potomac army-rank after rank. Grape,
canister, shell, are hurled on them from our
batteries, while regiment after regiment pours
in its effective fire at short range. They wa
ver-halt-turn-when, with cheer, our men
are up and after them, driving them clear into
and beyond their breastworks. These being
completely commanded by works in the rear,
our men reluctantly retired, bringing with
them numerous guns dropped by the rebels in
their hurried fight.
With this charge, repulse and charge. end
ed the second days work before Lynchburg.
We had tested the enemy's position and num-
bers, and found both too great for our army,
was strongly fortified town that if taken by
us at all, could only be taken by surprise. In
it were troops far SURPRISING ours in numbers
and freshness, fighting behind breastworks.
So quietly on the night of the 18th the wag-
on and ambulance trains were started; in the
afternoon and about o'clock the troops were
withdrawn, and our journey home commenced,
Gen. Crooks division briging up and guarding
the rear.
Flying rumors, and false rumors, too, pass
ed from one end of our column to the other,
as to the number and designs of the enemy fol-
lowing in our rear. The event proved their
only object to be to harass as much as 500
men could, our army, and pick up staggiers.
Earlys division could not be spared from Rich
mond longer than absolutely necessary for
Lynchburg's safety, so McCousland followed
us with his brigade
All night of the 10Th we marched along the
line of the railroad, and every bridge or Gull
vert that was burnable was burnt, SO that
through the whole country for miles shown
the light of these traces OF our devastating
march.
As the command was at breakfast on the
morning of the 21st, in and around Salem, the
rebels made fierce attack on the rear, with
both musketry and shells. A brigade being
sent back to assist in covering the retreat into
the valley at the foot of the Cataw6a Noun
tain, the trains were hurried on: For few
| moments it was very difficult to decide whelh.
er we were not going to have regular stam-
| pede, such panic seemed to possess the inev-
| table transfers. The trains passed ON in safe
| ty, and were followed by Carlin's and Stones
batteries, that, by some strange neglect, were
| left unguarded by any except the artillerists,
|
| ing into a defile, a party of one hundred and
| fifty TO two hundred rebels rushed down on
them, drove them of, and proceeded leisurely
| to chop up the spOkes of the wheels and cut
the traces, and lead off the horses, and all too
without firing single shot. An effort was
made to haul off the pieces in wagons, but it
was found impossible to carry but four the
remaining six spiked, and with trunnions
knocked of, were hidden. The ten carriages
and ten caissons were then, by some brilliant
orders, fired and left to burn by the roadside,
over which almost our whole column has still
to pass. The result may easily be imagined,
and the folly and stupidity of the mornings
work eliminated in the killing of six men and
| wounding ten of the I'd Virginia Cavalry. Our
loss, then, by this sole disaster of our retreat,
is six cannon, ten carriages, ten caissons, one
hundred and twenty horses, six men killed and
twenty wounded.
On the evening of the 21st General Crook,
growing tired of the incessant skirmishing in
our rear, determined to give the rebels a les
son, and, cOncealing the SD R giment on each
side of tie road, marched on. The over-con-
fdent MISUNDERSTANDING such alone they are
| followed, and as usual fired on our rear. a
return fire from the infantry from the roadside
greeted them, and killed fifteen and wounded
several; since then they have been very eau
tious OF any too near approach to our columns.
At Salem we turned north on the road over
| Cawtaba Mountain to Newcastle, and on the
night of the 23d we camped at Sweet Springs.
Passing the night of the oath at White Sulpher,
| we reached Meadow Bluffs on the 18th, with.
out incident, save the great need of rations
that began to be felt SO pressing in the ranks.
| On the 10Th and 9th the march continued; on
the latter day the command meeting wagons
| with abundant rations. Once more rest and
quiet await us. and in a short time the army
will be ready for another expedition. with, lei
us hope better auspices.