Washington telegraph., 1864-09-07

Am
ltsrn. StunanEH, Nith large portion Of
h;s force. was A mest disastrous blow TO
tue eremy The expedition was boldly
conceived, ami, had it succeeded, would
Ihave done us incalcalable damage. The
intention was 10 take Macon, release our
prisoners, destroy stores, and cut of our
r,mnunication with the East, hy our
only remaining railroad. IT. failure, and
the capture Of their most distinguished
cavalry officer, has had correspondingly
depressing effect on the North. 1t may
be well TO give our readers something
like connected history Of tho affair.
Gen. Stoneman left Sherman s army
on tho 26th July. with force Of between
ak and seven thousand cavalry. They
wen; 10 tie eastward Of Atlantis, and
proceeded south through the counties Of
Newton, Jasper and jones, to the vicinity
of Gordon, On tho Georgia Central road.
which runs from Macon to Savannah. at
which point, also, branch road leads TO
Milledgeyille, the seat Of Government.
The Macon Telegraph says
.'On arriving about ten miles from
Gordon. they halted and detached 100
men, belonging u an Illinois regiment,
and placing them under the command OF
one Major Davidson. ordered them to
destroy all tho stations and wator tanks
from Gordon 10 the Oconee river, and on
their arrival there to burn the bridge
On arriving III 81 ght Of Gordon, they dis
covered that train full Of militia vas OF
the way to Millvdgcvilie, followed By 0
passenger train- and deenng il impru-
dent to attempt their capture, tile raiders
concealed themselves on the left Of the
railroad, and allowed both trains 10 pass
unmolested. As soon as they were out
of sight, they dashed into town and pro
ceeded III their work Of destruction. Th,
warehouse at Gordon was filed with
bacon, meal and -four. as also large
amount Of furniture. belonging - rctu
gees from Charleston, Savannah. and
other points. II vas. however. promptly
sct on hrc. w order Of Major Davidson
and the whole consumed
There vas at Gordon from 80 ~ zoo
cars and engines These were set o.,
FIRE by the vandals, as well rs .bo ca
shed ann several buildings, belonging {.
and contiguous with tue railroad. Oh,
train of cars contained large and valu
able lot IF machinery, the property uf tht
Western ana Atlantic RAILROAD; ana nn.
other train Was laden with c0nsiirraLl,
amount OF furniture and other household
goods belonging 10 refugees The raid
ers then i.i;, supP0sing their work T. Z,
complete, and a squad proceeded in III,
direction Of Griswnidville, tearing I'D In,
track occasionally as they went On :,
Oconee river > hey took alln- will
thon a. guide hr. Walker, lhe p1st
/. master II Gordon, after robbinE lru y
$1,000 in Confederate money ana W.:
go!t watch. Ills going with them "a
compulsory act. The Yankees haviut
threatened him with death il ha refuse,
to accompany them and guide the bod
20 Grisp oldyiile. He was aitcrward
released, and returned 10 Gordou
As soon a. the raiders had lelt tn,
town the ci;izrns had turned ont cH mss
-both women Hri -nrn--aad sct rnrr
ccticGlly to work 10 put out thv ir,.
They succeeded admirably. OF thr I4rg,
number Of cars at that point only torty
were DESTROYED while but thrC, engine,
hayo been seriously injured; four ! av,
been slightly damaged, aud the remaindel
untouched The depot was saved 1.
well as the building set on FIRE. All IL,
valuable machinery belonging 10 IN,
Western and Atlantic railroad Was +avel
10 the State"
Meanwhile Grn lrcrson, with snmr
1900 men, fel! in behind Stoncman nuc
brought on an engagement with the ms;r
body within short distance of Macon
capturing him and completely routing llit
forces. About one thousand prisoner.
we're taken, and the balance scattered II
disorder.
Every blow like this tells fearfrllv unor
AT army 10 the position Of Sherman !, w
fir away from lis base.
CAsuALTIEs.-Those who, three venrr