Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-24
. 9atfgg gatFAt9Entef
Gen. Hunters Department.
Reported Capture Of Lexington, Va.
by Crook and Avetill Destruc
ton of Portion Of the Virginia
Central Railroad 0a5uag1l
From the Richmond inquirer, June l8.

i
l Prom the Richmond Enquirer, June l3.
Early yesterday morning rumor was
reported of the capture of Lexington, Vir.
ginis, by the enemy, under Generals Crook
aud Averill. AS the same rumor had once
before gone round, not much credit was
given it; but it being yaftetwards confirmed
by official intelligence, the question. was
at last settled. The enemy's forces were
reported to be about sixteen thousand
strong, and consisted mainly of cavalry,
with dozen pieces of artillery. They
advanced by two roads leading from Staun-
ton, and formed . junction several miles
northeast of fLexington, where they arrived
on Saturday morning. It is believed that
they burned the, Institute at Lexington.
1tWRs supposed that they. would proceed to
Lynchburg, about forty miles distant. Lex
| ington is about one hundred and forty six
miles west of Richmond, is the capital Of
Rockbridge county, and is situated on the
west bank of the, North river, branch of
the James. ltcontains a new courthouse,
a jail, four or FIVE churches, of various!
denominations, the Virginia Military In
stitnte, Ann Smith Seminary, Washington,
College, about twenty stores, two weekly
papers, and about two Thousand inhabit-
ants. elaisa est
Washington College was originally estabb-
lished as an academy in l776, under the
name of Liberty Hall. IL 1895 it received
it's first regular. endowment from General
Washington, and from thatrtime took the
name of Washington Academy, and by an
act Of the, e,zWirginis Legislature. in 1872,
was changed to1Washington, College, 1t
has a fine library, consisting of six thous-
and two hundred volumes. One hundred
shares of the James River and Kahawha
Canal Company, left by. Washington to
found this college, yields annually two
thousand five hundred dollars. The Vir-
ginia Military Institution, which is supposed
to have been burned, was built upon. the
plan of the United States Academy at West
Point. 1t was q handsome structure, and
enjoyed, as military institution, fine
reputation. The advance Of the enemy
upon Lexington was resisted by General
MeGausland, but his forces were entirely
inadequate for the purpose of seriously
checking it. gM0OaNsland, outnumbered
and f1anked on both sides, fell back to Bal
cony with the Falls Cadets. '''-,'A ~ ,l g z
A portion of Averilrs forces is reported,
in bwell-informed quarters, to have diver
ged from the Lexington stage road at Fair
field. and crossed the Blue Ridge into Nell.
son county. Here they are said to have
made. q descent upou the Lynchbnrg and
SduIlOLS6SN44l6dIs. .EhtlEOAut ~ .aGr+ Iy9i river
bridge, twenty four miles from Lynchburg,
where they burned the bridge and COM
miitted other excesEess It was supposed
they would make feint upon Lynchburg,
cross the James, and pitch upon the high
bridge over the Appomattox, destroy it,
and complete the detour by going on in
General Kautz's track to Bntlers depart
meut. This supposition, however, is pro.
Visional. The demonstration on Lynch.
burg may not be teint, but if foiled,
Lynchburg may be the point of attack as
an alternative. Yesterday evening official
information had been received that the en-
emy in the morning had burned Arlington
depot and passed on to Amherst Court
House, which is sonly twelve miles from
lLynchburg. Their force Is believed to be
eight or ten thousand strong, and is said to
be under the immediate command of
Crook.
- LATER. .ar1-a Lsa
Information received last night states
that the enemy have arrived within six
miles of Lynchburg. .ga ~ 5
From the Richmond Enquirer, June 1s. "a
A gentleman who left Lynchburg on
Thursday, says: -,i.f 81
ga Yankee force fifteen thousand strong,
under Generals Hunter, Crook and Ave-
rill, were at Forest depot, on the Virginia
aud Tennessee railroad, some eight or ten
miles from Lynchburg. They have done
a good deal of damage to the railroad, as
waste have been expected, but We did not
learn the extent of their vandalism :! >.
5 A train of cars arrived from Dknville last
eyening. The Yankee feat has not been
accomplished. s5.a
'.t'f
Lee and BeaureRard.
Prom the Richmond Wing, June Is.