The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-03-03

YORKTOWN, Va, Feb. 10, 1864.
Having seen somo terrible accounts IN
the daily papers, Of our late advance on
Richmond, il seemed to Inc matter OF
duty to tell your many readers the facts
In the case. On Saturday morning, the
9th inst, was ordered to draw six days
rotions and issue them ut once. In Q
short tune had The regiment supplied
with hard tack and bacon, aud at O'Clock
y. NJ, we started with our brigade to-
ward Williamsburg, where we arrived in
due time aud encamped for the night
The men were obliged to carry theii
knapsacks, blankets, 20 rounds of cart
ridges, besides their six days rations, ior
we had positive orders that not single
tC am should be with the expedition.
On Sunday morning we, in com pany
with Col. Vests brigade and two batter
ics of artillery the LIST Rhode Island and
battery l., 4th Regular Artillery ] got in
motion about 10 O'Clock, and marched to
New Kent Court House, n distance of 80
miles, and laid down to rest about =
O'Clock in the morning. In order that
our movements might not be revealed TO
the enemy, we were not allowed TO build
any fires till day ylighi, although it was
very cold. At half past four we were
awakened and allowed to get our wood
and water, and in about half hour after
day Eight we were again in motion. |
neglected to state that force of about
. ,1C0 cavalry passed us the day before,
and in the morning Of which was speak
ing they were some ten miles in front
of us.
We now first learned the object Of our
expedition, which was no less thOn to
make raid on Richmond! The cavalry
was to cross Bottoms Bridge early in the
morning,und proceed at once to Rich
mond. Each company had its specific
duty to perform. One company was to
release our prisoners, another to capture
jeff and his crew another TO take charge
of the arsenal, the treasury, burn the
city, &c. At the same time the infantry
and artillery were ordered to advance toe
and hold Bottoms Bridge, and thus pro-
tcct the retreat of our cavalry, as II was
not intended TO hold the place. After
learning this we marched on in high spir
its till about eight O'Clock, when we
heard again the roar OF artillery. while
still in camp that morning we had heard
the roar IF artillery in the direction OF
Richmond, from which we were only "a
miles distan,.] On we marched till noon
with proud steps, when we were halted
opened ranks, and the cavalry passed
through! Oh, God! What shock that
was to our high hopes! We comPrehen'
ded in moment, that all our Privations
and hard marches had been in vsin--in
pain! We pere then Oiihin IL miles Of
The rebel capital.
Riding up to cavalry officer, | learn
ed that the night before they had adyanc-
cd 10 within a mile, and in the morning
had advanced to the bridge, some of the
men even had reached the bridge when
they discovered that part Of IL had been
removed by the rebels. The enemy then
opened on them with two pieces o. artil'
lery and the cavalry were obliged to fall
back. Directly thereafter, two regiments
OF infantry, one Of cavalry and two bat
teries of artillery, arrived to reinforce the
rebels, and so after a skirmish, in which
one mans head was shot of snd another
mortally wounded, our cavalry fell back
on the supports We then about faced,
and had relrsced our steps some three or
four miles, when the rebel cavalry COM
menced diminishing with our rear. One
gun Of the ist Rhode Island Battery was
run back and opened on them, when they
retreated on the doublc-quiek.
Col. Conine, Of the 9th U. s. C. T.,
our artillery for that of the en-
emy, Immediately faced the regiment to-
ward the foe and was moving back on the
double-quick, when an order reached him
to fall back 10 hill, some half mile or
to where he at once moved tho regiment.
If there was apy fighting to be done. the
Colonel was bound TO have share in il.
He is a fighting man and knows no cow
ardice. by his soldierly bearing and his
great military abilities, he has eudeared
himself 20 both the officers and men Of
his command. hail eias
We then fell back 20 New Kent Court |