Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-03-16


Colonel who had but one leg was cap
+ tured by the rebels. If so. it is feared he
lie must have been wounded, but strong
ie hopes are entertained that with his usua
determination he has cut his way thro
with at least part OF his hundred and fit
ty men Meanwhile, Gen. kilpatricE
had advanced down the Crooks turnpike
from Ashland, having torn up the rails al
that point, destroying the telegraph as h'
marched. At one of the stations, howev
er. the operator succeeded in sending 1
dispatch to Richmond announcing thai
the Yankees were coming.
He was a prisoner in less than fifteen
minutes, but that short time put Rich
mond on the qui vive, and it has since
been ascertained that about a dozen field
pieces were put in battery and a new IN
. trenchment thrown upwhile awaiting hii
arrival
The troops reached the outer fortifica
tions early on Tuesday morning, and, ai
the spires and houses of the city came III
view, cheer upon cheer went up from oul
men. Riding rapidly toward the city, the
outer line OF works was entered. The
rebels therein surrendered, threw down
their arms, many of them surrendering
and Others taking TO their heels.
A fight then ensued for the next line,
hut the batteries were too much for them,
and so with his battery, Gen. Fitzpatrick
opened upon them and the city.
There is no doubt that the men would
: have dashed upon and over anything that
stood in their way, so enthusiastic had
they become, but Gen. Fitzpatrick acted
the wiser part, and as the shrill whistle
: OF the locomotive told of the bringing up
: of reinforcements from Pickett's brigade,
at Bottoms BIidge and vicinity, he re-
luctantly gave the order to move toward
! Mechanicsyille.
That this was difficult to do soon be-
came apparent. On every road the enc
my's pickets confronted them, and a Sc
ries of manoeuvers took -lece, in which
the enemy were found to be on the alert
az every point. Night coming on, xii
patrick with his accustomed audacity,
halted and made preparations TO camp.
He had chosen place, however, too near
A., a rebel camp, and of this fact he was re-
nj inded by being shelled out of his posi-
ton. So the command CROPPED its way on
in the darkness and gloom, fighting when
pressed t6o hard, and with the telltale
| whistle of ihe locomotive now warning
hem that troops were being hurried back
70 Bottoms Bridge in the hope of cutting
off their retreat.
On Monday Gen. Butler received orders
to send out force to meet Gen. KIpat
rick and assist him if necessary. This
movement was part of Gen. KS plan as
proposed. Had he known of or even ex-
pected a force at New Kent Court House
or at Bottoms Bridge. he would not have
then turned away from Richmond, but
would have treated Gen. Buffers forces
to fight for the same prize.
Two thousand infantry under Col. Dun
kin, 4th United States Colored Regiment;
500 cavalry under Col. Spear, llth Penn |
sylvania Cavalry, and Belger's lst Rhode |
Island Battery, the whole under COM |
mand of Col. West, were ordered to New
Kent Court House, there TO be governed
by circumstances as to further movements. |
TIE infantry colored troops left on Mon
day afternoon, and reached New Kent
Court Eouse about noon the next day, /
having l,aade an extraordinary night !
march through rain and mud.
The cayaly left Williamsburg Monday
night and arrived Tuesday morning
About eight o'clock Tuesday afternoon,
Col. Spear took portion OF his cavalry
force and proceeded to Tunstall Station,
where he destroyed new steam saw-mlH
and all its machinery, burned freight
car and 10000 feet of lumber.
On Tuesday night 8 portion of Kilpat-
rick's force was discovered, but not know
ing whether they were rebels or not, prep
arations were made TO give them warm
reception. On Wednesday morning the
question was solved, and as the two col
umns of cavalry came in on both sides of
the colored brigade, drawn up TO receive
them, the mutual cheers were deafening.
This incident is marked from the fact
that heretofore the Army of the Potom-
ac, and particularly the cavalry, have en-
tertained a marked dislike to colered
troops After resting while they re-
sumed their march down the Peninsula.
Gen. Davis, who led, had several men
shot by guerrillas, and General Kilpat-
rick and his attendants chased body,
capturing lieutenant and two men.
: force picked up on the way one of
In, II Richmond prisoners, Col.
be escape, +kinE, of an Ohio regiment.
?; Hson or Wa. TO camp few miles
he troops went II, Thursday night,
ON Fort Magruder on 20 Williams
I'D yesI erday were to move forage
lrg for the purpose of procurin,
Id rations, and resting the comman,.
This raid h.Ss been one of the most dar-,
g of the war, and but for the two fstaT- v.
es mentioned would have proved com ~
etc success. The men and horses have ltC
'rne the hard marching remarkably m
ell, the saddles not being removed d1. nc
ng the trip, and but little sleep being i
ven to the men. We
Tho rnen r,odo .L, hi
me with the inhabitants, and the stock -,
poultry, hogs, &C., has somewhat de- -. 80
eased. The people generally were CIV -,
TO lying, none of them having any, W..
ing to eat, either for man or horse ~
nong other acquisitions large piles of bo,
nfederate money were secured and . 10
wandered with recklessness BETTING toe .ue
cir easy acquisition. One party paid ,rn
,hty odd dollars for a supper for eight ~. -
mprising the best the house afforded - -
The ratio with the people was four dol seI;
s graybacks for one of greenbacks. A a.
ge number of horses also found their at ..at
Y along with the command, and MANY ia io'
older has mementoes of Richmond. 80,
thered inside the Notifications. Over
prisoners were taken, but from the
ure Of the expedition it was impossi
to bring them in. S
he casualties have not vet been ascer- sun
ned. Col. Dahlgren, Maj. Cook, and inh
ut. Col. Litchfeld, with about one frol
1dred and fifty men, are missing top
: latter is known to have been wound an
she
he greatest CONSERVATION prevailed in sun
hmond during the fighting. as well it sno
hit. The men who have been baffied con
heir prey-the rebel capitalized that to
y would have been gloriously success leas
if the authorities at Washington had con
mitted Gen. Butler to cooperate with of
m, and keep Picket's infantry employ evel
Down the Peninsula tion
diul
rays
ONE one writes both gracefully and sun
IDLY: 81 would be glad to see more atm
70 1,nIorofoud hot ruban | faaa