Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-09-19
NEWS


Nsw YoRk, Sept. 19.-Thc Wor11'e
Army Of the Potomac correspondent, of the
l7th inst, gives the following account Of
the rebel capture Of our cattle to the rear Of
portion Of our line, pcketed by the LIST d.
vision Of coloTcd cavalry:
There was I large field ii which there
were 1900 head Of very fine beef cattle, and
AZ the enemy had been constantly throwing
scouts through the country, he had proba.
bly, learned the fact, and resolved 70 possess
himself Of osw treasure.
Accordingly At daylight Columbia regi-
| ment in two strong lines of battle, the first
comprising troops Of VIM. II. Lee. and the
second being the Hampton Legion, and an
aggre gasc number Of men, reaehing proba.
bly, 5000, quickly broke in the front of our
pickcts. and the enemy turned by the right
and left, moved around the cattle and drove
| of the entire herd, likewise many hor es
oelonglug to our men. An this was done
so quickly that it was impossible to get any
reiniorcements here in time to check the
bold movement
A brigade Of cavalry, under Gen. Davies,
and another party undcr Gen. kuntz, were
sent cut with the view ofinterrupting them.
It is believed they can cress the Norfolk
Railroad, but their success will all defend
upon who arrives at this position first
AT about the same time an attack was
| made on our rear Two consecutive move
ments were made against TIE lines in front
Of Crawiord's and Ayers divisions, the
| pirkc,s -beisg driven in ON the main body
on both occasions.
This fact leads to the opinion that the
| masssing OF troops was feint, and only a
part OF the movement Of the enemy to drive
| the cattle.
At the time Of closing this dispatch notin-
ing definite has been beard frc,n the par
suing party.
Parties engaged i, putting up a tele
graph line, wit, six wagons, &c mules 9nd
~ miles OF sire, were also captured.
VIM. acIntosh, Frank Thompson and g
coior I'd tcainstcr are all Of the par ~ l.nowr
y, nave escaped
In the pursuit we first CAME upon then
In force at small creek near Hawkcnsville
on the Jerusalem plank road, where W,
found them strongly cntrenched beyond tn,
stream, with the bridge torn up, and almos
impossible swamp intervening.
Cen. Stcadman, who commanded the adj
vance brigade made strenuous efforts t,
carry, but finding it too strong, Gen. Davies
ordered the I'd Brigade un,.cr Col Smith
and Clark battery, our CON ned force, In,
sth and 10th Massachusetts, Regulars form
cd on the left road The Sth Massac!u
chusctts and 9TH Maine were in the right
The nature OF the ground compel cd then
10 fight dismounted, after vigorous artil
cry fire by 1t. Cameron and Sergt Rechen
broker, of Clark's battery.
4 genes assault was ordered, which was
obeyed with a will but without success.
1hc enemy s line was found both Longer
and stronger than ours.
The LIST Massachusetts, regiment, in
charge. became in:ermingled with the enc
my and fou. hit them hand TO hand bat wcr,
obliged 70 fall back The enemy had 81,
pieces of artillery while we had only four.
In the meantime we could hear nothing
from Gen. Kaiuz, although prisoner in
formed us they had captured a whole regi
ment Of kau'Z's command, with Is shooting
guns. II this be true it must be the first
District Of Columbia regiment, as they only
have 10 shooters. AS it now stands, oul
chances Of rc-capturing the beef are very
slight and we will have to own that the reb
els have outwittod us, and make the be S
nCit