Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-15
htIUkN or The EXPEDITION-THE WELDON
RAILROAD DESTROYED
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Sunday, December H. 1864.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Sunday, December IL, 1864.
1Ge movements in this department which have been
Ia Of execution the past few days have finally been
developed and the objects intended to be accomplished
may be given 10 the public well tho results attained
1t known that the enemy procuring large sup
plies for their troops By wsy of tie Weldon railroad to
Stony Creek whence they wsgoned to Petersburg
The cavalry force sent thher ten days not being able
to effectively stop their operations, the Fifth Corps with
resp cavalry and The third division Of the Second Corps
were detailed to eectualy stop it. by destroying the rail-
road as far south az HicksiOTd
Al daylight on Wednesday morning the column started
south the Jerusalem road the cavalry taking the ad
vance On arriving at point nineteen miles from Peters
burg they dyerged from the road about mile to the
where they reached the Nottaway river and the command
at commenced crossing and they bvouacked on the
south aide fer the night At hap seven O'Clock
Thursday morning the pon0ons take up, and the
column started leaving cavalry detachment to pick up
strsgglers and return with them.
On reaching point two miles beyond SusseI Court
House cavalry encountered, and driven
back TO where the Weldon railroad the Nottaway
river About small force Of the enemy made dash
between cavalry aud the advance OF the infantry but
were routed with slight loss on both sides The ad
vance then commenced the destruction of the railroad by
burning the bridge the Nottawsy river and cont-
nued TO Jarretts Station bVouackng at that place
Thursday night
On Friday morning ali early start was made and in the
afternoon the advance reached point near Hicksford
where the enemy found to be force and
ING battery position with strong works both sides
Of the MeheTrn river After the position had been exam
ined an attack deemed mpracticabe account Of
the works aud the difficulty OF approaching them partcu
lary with artillery Therefore II determined 10 carry
the line Of works this ride and destroy the depot which
was successfully done During this charge Col Tor Major)
Sargent of the LIST Massachusetts 10 said to have been kill
ed Troops we're moving into position at this point
IA though they had Just arrived aud the IRE from the bat
teres soon after showed that they bad been reinforced
IL was now dark and began raining showing and freezing
The troops encamped the vicinity for the night aud 10
the morning started their return, reaching Sussex
Court house and hating there Saturday night The
epernys cavalry and small force Of infantry followed but
ench time were driven back with loss This afternoon the
HottawaY river was reached, and the entire command
crossed n safety where they found part OF the Ninth
Corps who had started their aid Ia of engaged
ment Tomorrow hey.wil be oil back to their Old posi-
tons IN front Of Peter sburg ready for the neIt
sgaGst the enemy in whatever direction The commander
in-chief may deem most efectual.
The move may be considered one ol the most suceessul
Of the campaign and reflects honor not only on the orR
nator but 10 whom its execution entrusted
most effective blow has been dealt the enemy by the
destruction Of fifteen miles Of railroad which they
using extensively hundred passing it
daily loaded with supplies. The track WAS torn up the
ties piled heaps with dry wood from the AGENT fences
and set on fire. with the rails top the heat bending and
twisting them in every shape All the depo' along the
route were destroyed well numerous mills, barus
and dwellings from which the cupants bad Aed from
the cover Of which guerriIas bad fred on our troops
Our loss 10 the entire trip will not exceed forty or fifty
killed and wounded besides few stragglers who
captured The severity Of the weather was the principal
difficulty the had to encounter but a. there was much
wood CD the line Of march, and plenty OF work for them to
do they managed 10 keep themselves from suffering
7erely on this account