Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-06
W.. VA. MONDAY. MORNING. JUNE 6. 1854.

STRAINS to Abb's Valley, In Farewell coun.
y, where it arrived on the evening Of the
Ttb, capturing so0uts and ons company OF
the Sd Virginia Cavalry on picket.
et On the 9th, party of Kentucky troops
were met aud driven 10 miles, with reb.
Ell loss of four killed and Eve wounded. Il
was there learned that q rebel force Of
1900, under Generals john Morgan aud
w. E Jones, had assembled at Saltville,
and that the approaches from the north
were we'll defended by eaFthworksl and ar
tillery. The necessary adjuuots TO q sue
eessfnl attack upon such Works-infantry
aud artillery-not being on hand, it was
decided to abandon the attempt on Salt
vile, and rapid advance Ras ordered on
hythville, to prevent the concentration
there of any force against the column of
General Crook. "A trRin of wagons was
captured on the way to Wytheville.
FIGHT AT RYFHEVILLB.-
Arriving near WytheVille on the after
noon of the 10th, they met q force, stated
BY rebels to number Q, 900, under Generals
Morgan. and W. &. Jones, on its way east.
ward. This was mostly infantry, with
three pieces of artillery, aud posted in an
admirable position for defense or attack.
The l4th Pennsylvania and lst Virginia
cavalry, under Colonel Shomacker, open
ed battle, while General Dnfis's brigade
was formed in liue of battle. The I'd Vir-
ginia cavalry, mounted, on the lett, and
the .34th .. v. n. l., dismounted, on the
right, and the Sd Virginia cavalry occupy
ing the extreme left. The enemy pressed
up on both tanks, and advanced in three
lines-sheltered by fences in front. The
6ght continued four hours, the vigor Of
the enemy gradually waning, and after
dark be retired, and Averill marched to
Dublin, arriving there on the evening of
the l1th. sid .a-
Our loss in this battle was about 1874
officers and men killed and wounded. The
names of these men l have not been able
to learn. AS soon as ascertained will
forward. w t
On arriving at New River, Averill found
1t swollen by recent rains, but managed to
cross on the morning of the 18th. Not
long after, the columns of Morgan and
Jones arrived on the left bank, but the
river was soon impassable, and as the
General remarks in his report: "The eue-
my had leisure to observe the ruins of the
railroads and bridges, which all the en-.
ergies and skill of their superior forces
bad failed to avert" Hrr|E %. ru "
Communicating with Gen. Crook, who
was then at Blacksburg, AVerill went to
ChrisLiansburg, driving away a small force
Of the enemy, and capturing two iuch
g1ns left behind by the flying foe. The
railroad was destroyed as much as practi-
cable, with depots and shops, to a point
four miles east OF Ohristiansburg.
Learning by telegraph from Salem and
Lynchburg that heavy reinforcements were
moving along the railroad, aud the ammu-
milton being nearly exhausted, it was de.
termtued tojoin Gen. Crook, which, after
difficult march, wasRfseted at Union on
the 18th, having marched $50. miles over
90 4lmoHttmpAssahle region, aud dohtituta
Of supplies. The mountain streams were
frequOntly Sunfordablo, aud . few msn'aud
hOrsss were loat by drnWaiug.a 10 the
main object of this part of the expedition
it seems TO have been very successiul-the
entertaining a large force aud preventing
u from reinforcing the psrty opposed to
Gen. Crook. r.i. -.
TRANSPORTATION D IFF1CULTTEs.
Both Generals Averill and Crook, in
their reports, complain ofthe miserable
quality of the transportation furnished
them-worn out wagons, decayed horses
and mules, and, worse than all, two year
old unbroken mules; and now that we
are preparing for another expedition the
same evil is met Captaie Craig, Quart
ermaster Of this Divisioe. was complain
ing of the mules sent to him by the
contractors and inspectors below. Young
and perfectly unfit for such services as
will be required of them in this rocky,
mountainous country, they are sure to
increase the losses to tho Government in
condemned mules and abandoned wag-
ons. -..- ~ d.. -
The evil is growing one and threat-
ems serious and permanent injury to the
cause iu this department. 1 understand
that active measures are soon to be taken
to bring the guilty. responsible parties to
an account for their delinqencies. On
the last expedition the men were at one
time four days without rations, simply
from this cause. 5
The question, when do we move? is
still unanswered. It was the intention
to have started last Sunday, but trans,
portatiOn failed. To remedy the evil as
far as possible, each regiment has been
restricted to one wagon, and every means
has been taken to Tighten the baggage
Despite the inconvenience of this restric.
ton, every one cheerfully submits TO it
as one of the hnrdships necessary to sue,
cess. CRAs