Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-07-30

| uufln4 tne Gay.
sATrRDAr, July 16.-The expedition then
headed toward Montgomery, following the
road in the direction Of that town till 5 O'Clock
| in the evening, when II was within thirty. Eve
miles Of the place. The route was then
changed toward Youngville, which place was
reached at O'Clock, p. M, where four rebel
storehouses, well filled with bacon and corn
meal, were fired and burned. The Tsllapoosa
was then reached, and crossed at Smiths ford
and ferry, rendered famous by the exploits OF
Gen. Jackson, in 1914. Tents were then
pitched on the south bank of the stream, and
the soldiers rested for the night. a
July 1.-THE raiders then set out on the
Dadeville road, and reached that town at IL q:
m. The Montgomery road was then followed
again, when, at p. m, II was learned that
Gen. Clanton, with reinforcemeuts, was coming
out to meet them. The direction was then
changed towards Loecopaca, and, after few
hours marching, reached the town, and went
into camp for the night. This place Is on the
Atlanta and Montgomery railroad, one hun.
dred and thirty-fve miles southwest Of the
former town. Here depot, q railroad bridge,
and several valuable public stores were burned.
The night was spent In skirmishing with the
rebel pickets, and with guerrillas, the men
sleeping on their arms.
July 1s.-At this point the work Of destroy
ing railroads began In earnest. An expedition,
consisting OF four companies of the 9Th Iowa,
and three companies of the 4th tennessee, was
sent out under command Of Major Baird, with
directions to proceed in the direction of Mont
gomery, and, II possible, strike and destroy a
great trestle work, within twelve miles Of the
city. Another column, under Col. Hamilton,
was directed TO proceed up the track, In the di-
rection Of West Point, as far as was safe 10 go,
that place being defended by q force speedily
detached from Atlanta, consisting Of from 1000
to 5000 cavalry and nearly as many infantry;
while Rosseau, at the head of the main column,
commenced destroying the roads towards Mont
gomery, intending to meet Major Baird, who
was to burn from the trestle work eastward.
After working for several hours, a messen-
ger arrived al Rosseau's headquarters, an
nouncing that Baird had been attacked by
1900 infantry-convalescents militia, con-
scripts, &C., who had been sent down from
Montgomery. The main body OF our men were
soon Oh the ground, and in an hour the rebels
had been driven back three miles, with a loss
of Is killed and wounded, and number of
prisoners. By their retreat q large trestle and
bridge were exposed and burned. Our forces
then proceeded TO Opelika, destroying the rail-
road as they marched.
Hamilton was found at Notsegolla, having
destroyed IL miles of track, great number of
| bridges, captured a conscript camp with 400
prisoners, burned l5O, 900 pounds OF tobacco,
considerable quantity of bacon, and camp
| equipage, &c. The army encamped near Au.
burn, and skirmished during the entire night.
| Reports we're current during the night that the
| West Point force was approaching, but moth
| ing was seen Of them.
JULY ls.-Tbe next morning the expedition
continued in the direction of Opelika, destroy
| ing more Of the railroad, leaving not rail In
| Its place. AT ii a. m. the advance entered
Opelka, and burned three government store
houses, two railroad depOts, one express office,
one tool shop, seven cars filled with spades and
| nails, and large quantities of cotton md to-
baCco. A slight skirmlsh ensued, in which
| one man of the 9th Iowa was killed.
AT s p. M. the railroad was abandoned. the
expedition taking the direction of Lafayette,
and when near that place, learned that the
rebels from West Point were trying TO cut ii
| oil, when We halted 10 form in line of battle.
The rebels, however, mlstaking our position,
passed but q short distance ahead of Rosseau,
| and proceeded 10 await him al another place.
The march was continued till a. IN, when the
men laid down 20 sleep for an hour, when, on
july 2O.-At O'Clock, a. m, the bugle
sounded again, and the wearied men were
once more on the road. The advance was
made on the Carrollton road, crossing the
| State line Of Alabama and Georgia al p. III.
| Alter travelling thirty-hve miles, the men en-
csmped for the night, and lad good rest, the
| first In two weeks.
JULY 2l.-On the morning of the 2lst the
| march was resumed almost due north. Ii was
reported that Gen. Clanton had passed CARROLL
| ton, to Intercept our advance, and this course
was changed toward Villa Rlca, which place
was reached at : p. IN. The 9Th Iowa was
attacked, while bringing up the rear, but no
one was injured.
| July 22.-At9a a. m., our lines were reached,
back of Atlanta-thC l4th Illinois being on
| picket. The Joy of the wearied raiders, at the
| sight of their friends, can be better imagined
than described" Aller hating for time,
ROsseau proceeded to Marietta.
| RECAPITULATIOS.-Our loss was less than
80. The 9th Iowa cavalry lost BILLED, and IS
wounded. The raiders Travelled $50 miles In
10 days; captured aud paroled 1000 prisoners;
killed and wounded 200 of the enemy; captured
500 horses and mules, and as many able bodied
cOntrabsnds; tore up u miles Of railroad track;
destroyed great quantities of stores, cotton, &c.
Thirteen dePots werc also burned, at various
points, and a number Of cars, and one or two
engines.
ALL ACCoMPLIsHED.-Al that Gen. Rosseau
was directed to do was done thoroughly. To
Col. Patrick, Major Baird, Col. Hamilton, and
to Capts. Elkin and Williams, of his staff, the
General was certainly greatly indebted, for
efficient aid rendered.