The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-05
Colonels Dahlgren, Cook and
Litchfleld Missing.
A Large Portion Of tho Virginia Cen
trail Railroad Destroyed.
Destruction Of Mills on the James
River.
REPORTED PANIC IN RICHMOND,
Co.. &C.. 60.
Our Special Dispatches.

Our Special Dispatches
HEADQUARTERS ARMY Tim PoroxAol
March 4, 1884,
The camp is full Of rumors In regard 70 Gen. Kilpa-
tricks movements; and II attempts be governed
by any OF the thousand and reports he viii be mig
led. The fact Is there has been communication with
Gen. Fitzpatrick since he at spottsylvanla Court
House on Tuesday morning at daylight.
Il feared that the expedition has not been as success
fol desired and expected, and, II such shall prove
to be tho fact its failure may be attributed TO several
Causes among which sre:-Frst the premature pubca-
ton Of tho movement and It's objects in tho republican
papers Of New York and Philadelphia Monday
ing These papers reached the army Tuesday morn
ing and doubtless read the rebel camps The
Rapdan before dark The authorities at,Rchmoud could
have been thus notified Of tho advent OF this Yankee
host In ample time to be prepared for It's coming Be-
condIt publicly known and canvassed In the army
early Friday morning. and there was not secesh
in Cupepper who did not understand ar
least fortyeight before the expedition started.
ThirdThe matter fully canvassed in circles OF tho
troops and the friends OF the confederacv could have
notified their corere South, through the usual chan
nes In time to have the expedition met at the outset
with a superior force.
The arriving just at the starting OF tho oxpedi
ton necessarily retarded tho movement, and gave the
rebels ample time to for the reception Of tho
force, IL they had not received ntmaton OF tho
movement prior to General Kpatrick's crossing tho
Rapidan Sunday.
learn that General Humphreys, Chief OF staff, and
General Patrick, Provost Marshal General OF tho army,
investigating the matter In regard to the premature
publication above spoken OF by the New York and other
Northern papers, and from tho character Of the two
have hesitation In saying that example will ba
mado Of OF them In payment for the ndiscretion
Dcserters and contrabands have been coming In quite
freely of late until Tuesday night last when the rise IN
the Rapidan put q cbsck to the immigration.
General Meade and part OF his personal STAFF went
TO Washington to-day.
The gueras continue their devitrcs along the line Of
shot by them half milo from Fairfax staon At house
where he had gone for milk for an officer.
WAsHiNGToN, March 4, 1884.
Is assigned as reason for tho unexpected alcriness
Of tho rebels in preparing to repel General Fitzpatrick
that the destruction OF the telegraph and track or
Virginia Central Railroad announced In Richmond By
General Loe. Immediately after the occurrence over the
telegraph lines between Richmond Lynchburs and Cor.
louisville. This seems highly probable from tho facs
that the expedition passed through Lees pickes and be-
yond his army without skrmsh and met At some
distance from Richmond by formidable force Of mount
ed infantry.
The Newspaper Dispatches.
wAsHNGroS, March 4, 1884.
The President has received despatch srom General
Butler stating that General Fitzpatrick arrived yesterday
Within lines with oss something loss than one
hundred aud nifty meo, having had skirmshes on the
way Among the missing Colones Dahlgrsu, Cook
and Iltchded. Dahigren and Cook supposed TO be-
prisoners.
Generli fitzpatrick destroyed large portion Of the
Virginia Central Railroad and several mills along tho
James river and other valuable property Tie penetrated
TO tho suburbs or outer Notifications Of Richmond.