Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-07-21

I W iNHA S1A 1AhHNAiANs
At sundown on the oath, We halted at
Keysville, haying burnt the railroad
| track, station, cotton, tobacco and wood
piles up 10 this place. Although the
maddened rebels pressed our rear, still
the general took his own time to DO the
work before him. Here at Keysyille
were stored grain, cotton and tobacco in
large quantities, all of which was burn
ed besides u numSer of railroad build
ings. Keysyile isa small village, sitU-
ated In good ccrn-growing district,
and the farmers seem to have turned all
their energies to planting corn and SOW
ing wheat; but l think their crops will
be small for want of help to take care Of
them; as their slaves joined our column in
squads. Some of the cttizeus when they
heard tnat the Yankees were coming,
foolishly ran off to the woods and hid,
taking their valuables with them or
hiding them in the bushes.
Saturday morning, June 25th, finds
us stin moving south on the Richmond
and Danville railroad, burning nearly
every rod of the track and stations as
far as Roanoke station. Aside from des-
! troying all the railroad property, we
burned numerous buildings filed with
| cotton and tobacco, and several steam
mills that We're running for the rebel
| government. When Gen. Kautz arrived
| near the little Roanoke riverhe found the
rebels strongly posted to dispute his way,
| and not until after two or three hours
fighting-both sides using artillery free
ly-was he able to burn the railroad
bridge across that stream. The COM
mand halted at Roanoke until next
morning at o'clock, whea we started
again ON a course due east. The rebels
were strongly reinforced we well knew;
for trains of cars came boldly steamiag
up to within one mile of our forces; but
night screened them from our view or
they would have had portion of our
extra shot and shell flying about in their
neighborhood.
Gen. Kautz was in the rear to-day and
had another short artillery duel across
the Little Roanoke. Although the day
was extremely warm we made long
march, passing through Christianville,
where we captured corn enough to feed
all the horses of the command. The
corn belonged to the secesh government
and was collected to pay taxes. A
night we bivOuacked five miles from thC
, Meherrin river The men were very
tired and suffered much for the want o.
sleep; the horses too were tired, and
very thirsty, for the country We
had passed through was almost desti
tute of water.
The column was again in motion mex
= morning at 3 O'Clock, and after safe
ly fording the Meherrin it halteC
, two hours. Our scouts reported th'
, rebel cavalry coming up on our left
probably with the intention or prevent
: ing our crossing Stormy Branch, smal
$ stream with high steep banks, tina
n empties into the Meherrin but Gen
n Wilson evaded them by passing to tn
right of the main ford. The rebels afte
n waiting q long time, came down on tn
G main road and charged the 8th N. Y.
o but the Sth was in position and charge
, them in turn, driving them in a hurry
d Soon after dark the column halted, S
; that we might feed our horses an
(, "make coffee"
e Next morning at daylight, we wer
- again in our saddle, and making ou
e way towards the Notteway River. Tn
e country we rode through showed tina
d the farmers had not been idle durin
o Spring time for large fields of cor
d and ripe wheat were upon every hant
t, Some farmers had large fields of cotto
'f growing, which looked finely but, a
d Joined our column, fear the wAit
u. will have to work or want for breat
ID The citizens now seemed to be watchin
Is for our advance, and occasionally reb,
E.. cavalryman would ride on before u
1t telling the citizens that Wade Hampto
1T had got things arranged near the We
s. don Railroad to capture every one of u
ID telling them that we were tired an
E. worn out, and our horses were unab
,r to 60 much further. The First brigaC
m was on the advance, and when nes
ct Sappony Church, met Hampton's mel
le and after short fight, drove them bac
l. one mile. Our brigade, Col Chapman
Of now came up, when general engag
ment commenced, which lasted all nigh
- The men on both sides were dsmounteC
N and fought desperately, for much ws
ne at stake on either side 1t was a gran
pit but awful sight to see the long stream
to of fire as they shot forth from hundred
is OF carbines, and then the broa
= deep red flashes of artillery, and burs
lie ing shell, that for an instant woul
ne light up the midnight heavens almo