The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-12-14
1Fhs AraleyI 81 tie Potomac.
HEADo'Rs. ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
-December Ii.

The movements in this Department
which have been in course of execution f3y
sthn psst few dsys have fihally'hfn devel !:
,atS< and now tie objects i1fe 8dsd bbe
accomplished can be made known to the
public, Is well as the results attained. 1t
was knoyn that the enemy were hurying
large supplies for their troops by way Of
the Weldon railroad 20 Stony Creek
whence they were wagoned to P, tersburg.
The cavalry force which was sent there
some ten days ago has not been ableto eff
fectually stop tie rebel Supplied. The
5th corps, with Gregg's cavalry and divi
sion were detailed to effectually put stop
tois bH destroying thertshqe, q farISouth
as'Hickiford, aud II possible that place also
At daylight on Wednesday q colum n
started south. on Jerusalem road, the caval
~ taking the advance. On arriving at q
point l9 miles from Petersburg, they di
verged from the road, about a mile to the
right, where they reached the Nottawsy
river, and the commander at once com.
msnced crossing the river and bivouacked
on the side for the night. At u A. M. on
Thursday, the pontoons were taken up and
the column started, leaving q cavalry de-
tachment to pick up strsgglers and return
with them. On reaching point two miles
beyond Sussex Court House, some cavalry
were encountered and driven back to where
the Weldon Railroad crosses the Nottoway.
About noon a small force of the enemy
made dash between our cavalry and the
advance of the infantry, but were soon
routed, with slight loss on both sides. A
-cavalryman was found here who had evil
IDENTIFY been murdered and stripped Of even
his boots.
The advance then commenced the de-
struction of the railroad by, burning the
bridge across the Nottaway, and continued
on to Jarett's station. He bivouckedv al
that place on Tuesday night. On Friday
morning an early start was made, and the
advance in the evening reached point near
Hicksford, where the enemy were found to
be- in some force and having artillery IN
POSITION with strong works on both sides
of Meherrin river. After the position had
been examined, an attack was deemed i'm.
prudent, on account of the strength of the
works and difficulty of approaching them
by cavalry. With artillcryit was deter
mined to carry the line Of works on this
side and destroy the depot. which was sue
cessfully done. During this charge Dol.
Sargent, lst Massachusetts, wasskllled..
q .Troops we're seen moving into position
at this point as though they had Just arr
rived, and the fire from the rebel battery
soon after showed that they had been rein
forced. It had now become dark and be-
gan raining, showing and freezing. The
command camped ia the vicinity for the
night, and in the morning started on their
return, reaching Sussex Court House. and
holting there till daylight. The rebel cav
airy and portion Of their infantry fol
lowed and endeavored to annoy our rear
guard, but each time they were driven back
with loss. This evening the Nottaway
river was reached, and the command crossed
in safety, where they found q part OF the
other corps which started to their aid in
case of an engagement, Tomorrow they
will all be back lin their odd position in
front of Petersburg. - -, a