The Portland daily press., 1864-12-05
BY TELEGRAPH
ToTHE
Portland Daily Press.
FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Expedition to Dinwiddie Court
House.
GALLANT CONDUCT OF OUR TROOPS
Capture of Taco Forts and Three
Guns.
Destruction of Rebel Supplies.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY POTOMAC, /
nanannhar 9

HEADQUARTERS ARMY POTOMAC, [
December 2. }
From information obtained through the
South and deserters, it was ascertained mat
the rebels we're constructing branch railway
towards Dinwiddie Court House, and that
quite large lot of supplies had been collected
at that place. Orders were consequently CIV
en- to Gen, Gregg's division OF cavalry to pro-
coed in that direction and destroy all property
found.
The column started at half past three yes-
terday morning. On crossing Rowanty Greek
our forces met the enemys pickets, who at
once retired. The command pushed on, pass
ing DuvalPs Mills, when the 1st brigade under
Gen. Davies were put in opposite TO protect
the flank. The I'd brigade, Col. Gregg. com
ing up, advanced towards Stony Creek, where
the enemy were found in strong position on
the south side with three guns sweeping the
open fields on this side.
The 4th, Both and 10th Penn. regiments took
the advance and did most of the fighting. The
4th formed in line at the edge of woods, and
with loud yells charged across the opening un-
til within 80 yards of the Creek, when they
dismounted and crossing the bridge, rushed
up the bank and into the works before the
rebels could get their guns to bear on the
bridge. The enemy had previously torn up
the planks on the bridge, thus making the
NAOSSAAS A1OAO 0ihAOuAb nnu tCuiOuSs 4uUoc
who remained in the fort at once surrendered,
while about hundred attempted to escape
These were met by a squadron of the 4th,
Capt. Every, which had swan the stream at
another point, and many of those trying to get
away were killed or wounded. Capt Every
has received great praise for the manner in
which he executed this part of the movement
he received severe wound in the arm.
The 10th, Major Swan commanding, mean
tn H.
other work, taking number of prisoner. The
18th was also busily enaged, and captured six
wagons and twenty-five mules. Three guns
were found in the works, two of which were
thrown into the Greek, and the other being
too heavy to be handled was spiked. Had the
bridge been in good condition they would have
all been brought away. All the buildings at
the station were then fred and burned to the
ground, besides the following supplies -
One thousand two hundred new Enfield rifles.
large quantity Of ammunition, 5000 sacks of
grain, 900 bales OF hay, a quantity of corn and
oats, 400 bushels sweet potatoes, 500 barrels
coal oil, a quantity of bacon, the camp AMI
garrison equipage and the railroad bridge,
$50 feet long. The command was then or.
dered to fall back, which it did in excellent
order. L
The enemy had by this time made their APP
pearance in pretty strong force and Indicated
an Intention of making flank attack, but were
driven off by few shells from a battery. On
reaching Duvalrs Mills an order was given
to fire them, and in few minutes they were
one mass OF smoke and flames. Here the
rebel cavalry again attempted another charge
but were received with salute of the seven
shooters OF our men and few well directed
shots from the battery, when they fell back
quietly, leaving number on the field. They
afterwards rallied and followed the column,
but notwithstanding repeated efforts to annoy
us, did not infiict any damage.
The division returned to camp about eight
o'clock in the evening with a loss of only
twenty seven killed and wounded, all of whom
were brought away.
We captured 40 prisoners and five officers,
among them Maj. Fitz Hugh, who will be re-
membered in connection with the raid into
Maryland last summer, when he took one OF
our Captains prisoner, and after taking his
boots off made him walk some twenty miles
barefoot To bring to his mind his conduct
at that time, he himself was compelled to walk
from Stony Creek to the camp without his
boots. ttIt III I
Gen. Davies was struck by spent ball DUR
ing the action, but suffered no injury.
The enemy had quite a stretch of road
graded, and ties cut and rails on the ground
ready to be laid down, but it is believed they
will abandon the project, as they have learned
that our cavalry can at any time strike, it in
few hours.
1t is said that Hampton's cavalry had near
ly all been sent off to oppose Sherman, and
that the stores found at the depot were for the
supply OF their horses, which it is supposed
had been run off when our troops were found
to be advancing.
The entire affair was one of the most sue
cessful we have had during the campaign and