Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-03-10
KILPATRlCK'S EXPEDITION.
Details Of its operations.

has rocolvod from 6en. Butler despatch
from Gen. Fitzpatrick, datod Yorktown,
March 4. which says s.'-,.
Col. Dahlgren was directed to make
diversion with 500 men on James river
He attacked the enemy Tuesday, 2. NJ, and
attack having failed, Dahlgreu attemp pted to
join me at Meadow bridge. He and Col.
Cook were with the advance guard force,
which became separated from his main force,
since then nothing has been heard from them
l have still hopes they may yet come in.
The main force reached me with slight
loss. I,t ,'
Gen. Butler adds that a'rebel descrter
informed one of his aids that one legged
colonel and about 100 men were taken
prisoners. lcro-.T s'Er,ag.TT =.
The Republicans this morning says:l
We are authorized to announce that the
government have received despatch from
Gen. Butler, announcing that Fitzpatrick
succeeded in cutting the railroad and tele
graph communication Of Gen. Lee with
Richmond by tearing up the rails on the
Virginia Central railroad at various points
and destroying the canals and mills on the
James river. He burned much other prop
erty belonging to the rebels, inAicting q
severe blow on the rebellion.
He was met by the enemy outside the
deiencss at RiehMond, but succeeded in
forcing. bim inside the outer works, where q
spirited engagement cnsued, when dark
Fitzpatrick finding the enemy and the
works too strong to allow him to reach the
city and accomplish the object of the ex-
pedition, withdrew and reached the lines Of
Gen. Butler with the loss about $50 men.
| AnnvrrnNAU uunus N
New YoRK, March g. Tho Times spe.
cisl gives the following additional ssateme uts
as 10 the result Of Gen. Kilpatrick's raid :,
Miles Of the railroad track on the two
principal roads over which Lee transports
his supplies for the Northern army Of Vir;
ginia, have been so thoroughly destroyed
can be put in running order again. Depots
of commissary, ordinance and quartermas-
ter's stores were burned or destroyed. No
less than six grist mills and one saw mill,
principally at work for the rebel army, were
burned six canal boats. loaded with grain;
several locks on the james river canal and
the coal pits at Milliken's Bend were des.
troyed, nearly 800 prisoners were captured;
several hundred horses we're pressed into the
service; hundreds OF negroes availed them
selves Of this opportunity to come within
our lines
The following account from the source Of
the expedition after leaving Richmond, is
of interest: ua
| At night the command went into camp at q
place six miles from Richmond and two
miles from the ChickahOminy. At 1880
o'clock, just as the command was fairly
asleep, except those on duty, the rebels
opened = two gun battery upon the camp ol
Gen. Davies brigade, and immediately after
charged upon the camp Of the 7th Michigan.
The men though taken entirely BY surprise.
seized their carbines, and under Col. Ltch-
field, supported by the lat Vermont. Col.
Preston, handsomely repulsed tho enemy,
Several men were wounded. aud Col. Litch-
Geld, who is missing. it is feard is also woun-
ded. af' y 5.g 81
! Gen. Fitzpatrick decided to move across
the White House railroad and down the
Peninsula.
During the day Capt. Mitchell, of the I'd
New York, with the bulk of Col Dahlgren's
command, 70 joined the main column.
The enemy, ON Tuesday night aud all day
"Wednesday, lowered around the command.
Skirmishing was almost constantly going
ON in different directions. e,, ~.
"Wednesday morning at about o'clock a
large force came upon the rear of the col
umn; Gen. Fitzpatrick was not nnprsparsd
for this, and decided 70 give them battle.
The lst Vermont, under Lieut. Colonel
Preston, ably assisted by Capts. Grant and
Cummings and the lst Maine bore the bruui
Of this tight, which lasted something over
On hour, while the 7th Michigan and other
regimsnu Of Gen. Davies brigade were 10
position to ronder whatever assistance might
be necessary. Only one charge was made
and that was BY Co. A. LIST Maine, when
Eve OF the enemy were captured. The enc
my suddenly retreated. rep .ay T..
An offer Of battle was made but they re.
fused it. ~ s.S2
| On this day Wednesday, several refugees
from Riehmond came into camp and report.
/ "A ths nrs,,,,.a Of Capt. Wilson, Of the I'd
Ohio. Who had escaped frou;; the Richmond
bsstiis, near At hand. For some reason be
aid not join che command.
| On Wednesday Lieut. Whitaker was sent
to destroy TunAtall's station, on the White
House Railroad. but upon arriving there.
much to his astonishment he found the
lplsse u tsAsA JRtSme 4sssuss ia the VI
asiU hs ascsrtaiHsd that ste!Hm9 n Unlsn