Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-13

L
munition had been tsken.- For eighteen
dsys-includiug four days after meeting
Geo. Crook-Ihe command were unheard
of by their friends. After the llth their
ammunition WAS about exhausted, and but
for the fortunate capture of rebel train
on the 9Th. they would have been without
food; as it was they were seven days on
half rations. They had ridden, walked,
torded, swan, climbed aud fought during
the raid Of three hundred and 6fty miles,
exhibiting an endurance and heroism chal.
lenging the admiration Of the world of
chiValry.
. TEE oBJECrs OF THE RAID. .- ..H
The principal object Of Gen. Averilrs
| movement was to distract the attention of
the rebel Gems. Jenkins and the noted John
Morgan, and by diyerting it towards him
self prevent a junction of their forces
against Gen. Crook, who designed moving
on to Dublin, destroying the stores and the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at that
place aud the bridge (the largest and the
finest in the South) on New River, seven
miles above. The purpose was accom-
plished, Gen. Crook effecting the complete
destruction he designed, aud Gen. Morgan
the while. as it proved, holding himself at
Wythville, southwest about thirty miles
distant on the railroad, in expectation of
Gen. AVerill. Another purpose of the raid
| was the destruction of the road at what
ever point it should be struck, and Gen.
AveriII starting from Charleston May l,
selected Wythville as his destination. His
command consisted OF the First, Second
and Third Virginia and Fourteenth Penn
sylysuis Cavalry, and the Thirty fourth
Ohio Mounted Iufantry-in all 300 men.
REBELS GoBBLED Up.
The march was without especial incident
until the evening Of the 7th, when the ad.
vance suddenly came upon and gobbled
up some rebel piekets; rapidly advancing,
they came upon an entire company of the
Eighth Virginia Cavalry, part Of John
Morgan's men, engaged in games of ball
and quOits, capturing the whole of them,
save the Captain, who escaped to the
bushes. The horses were also taken. 10
the surprise, only some Eve or six shots
were fred, and they without injury. The
rebs. were beWildered at first, chagrihed
Afterward, and expressed surprise ct the
temerity. This occurred at Abb's Valley,
40 miles southeast of Charleston. The
presence of a superior force in that sec
tion was suspected, and the command that
night camped on the playground of their
prisoners.
THE MARCH CONTINUED.
The next morning, TWO miles from camp,
rebel pIckets were met. who opened FIRE
on our advance; they were driven back
aud the march continued, until the enemy
were found posted in the woods on the
bills. Scouts we're sent forward, but were
driven back, some wounded, without being
able to ascertain the number Of the oppo-
sing force.
FIGHT.
Gen. AVerill concluded to fight; the ma
ture of the ground WAS such that cavalry
was usless, aud the Thirty fourth Ohio and
Second Virginia, ordered to dismounti we're
thrown out as skirmishers on either flank;
they gallantly went 70 their work; brisk
firing ensued. our men pressed forward
into the woods and up the bills, from one
to another OF which the rebels were driven
twelve miles, when they broke cover and
fed to Jeffersouville, three miles beyond.
This skirmishing wood and hill fighting
bad continued for six hours. OF General
Averill's command two were killed and
Eve wounded; the rebels lost seventeen
killed and carried off their wounded. At
the close of the fight man we'll posted in
the military policy of the rebels, came 10
and surrendering himself to Gen. Averill
took the oath of allegiance. He gave much
valuable Information, and especially valu.
able-the fact that Morgan was then at
SAlIVille, twenty miles from Jacksonville,
With strong force on the qi ViUs for our
command, It was further ascertained that
all the mountain passes on the route from
Jacksonville to Wythville were strongly
guarded, and that passage through would
be impossible. T#.- aIsasr 81. g
REBEL TRAIN CAPTURED. '1j
That night, therefore, Gen. Aveill march
ed back seven miles, branching off ten
! miles to Princeton, where he camped. The
next morning, mile ont, q rebel train ol
ten wagons. loaded with provisions, was
J captured; what the force required, and
they were sadly in need, was taken and the
balance destroyed.
MEDICAL STORES DRsTRoTED. aI a.
A colored woman came up to the rear
guard Of the column and informed them
that in cave about mile up the moun
tain medical stores were concealed
Twelve men were detailed 70 search fol
them, and on reaching the spot were assail'
ed by some thirty rebels on guard. They
retrested 70 the main column and returned
reinforced. The rebels skedaddled, the
cave was entered, large quantity of midi.
cines and of surgical instruments were dis,
covered, all Of which were destroyed. 9 A
lWeary march was: taken across Walker
Mountain 70 MounIain Gap, aud the nexI
day (the lotb) forced: march Of twenty
Eve miles brought the command TO Gave
Mountain Gap, Eve miles from the ex'
pecied KoaI-Wythville. The Gap Wal
reached at 3 P. n, and here
THE GALLAsL FI0HT ocoURRED.
Evidently information Of our movement
|. bad reached Morgan, for st the Gap wa
Iu6axnactedlV diacoVeFed the FedoubtablV