The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-23
official report Of the battle and our success
In Western Virginia, are subioined.

official report Of the battle and our success
In Western Virginia, are subjoined.
Up to this hodr--8:30 P. M.-nothinq
has been heard from Nashville since last
night, and nothing from Sherman later
than the Richmond papers report of the
capture of Fort McAllister on Wednesday.
aKN CANBY's EKrORr.
HEADQUARTERS NRw ORLEANS, Dec. 0.
On the 10Th ult reported that movements
cooperative with Sherman's operations would
be made from Vicksburg and Baton Rouge for
the purpose of cutting Off Hoods cOmmunica-
tons with Mobile. The expedition sent from
| Vicksbnrg, and consisting of about IL 000 cav
airy and eight pieces of artillery, under CON-
| mand of Col. f. ID. Osband, of the Sd colored
| cavalry, returned on the 4th inst, having met
| with complete success, alter an admirably exc
cuted flank movement on Jackson on the 14th.
| Tho expedition started for Big Black BriDge
! on the railroad, which was reached Oh the 9th
| and after stubborn resistance destroyed. 1t
! thus cuts Hoods army Off from large ouanti-
ties of supplies and stores accumulated at jack
son, and makes the railroad, which is his main
reliance, unavailable to run for months to
come.
Besides this important bridge and trestle
works, the following property was completely
destroyed: Thirty miles of track, including
culyerts, tho wagon bridge over the Big Black,
Vaughn, Pickett and Goodman stations. with
all their depOts and buildings, $500 bales cot.
ton, 20 locomotives. 4 cars, stage coaches. 20
barrels salt, and $780, worth of stores at
Vanghn'S station. .,..
The expedition was considerably harrassed
on its return by large bodies of the enemy's
forces, but suffered no material loss, and
brought back more recruits than its entire
loss.
q Maj B. Cook, commanding the Sd colored
cavalry, distinguished himself and all his regi-
ment generally, by the gallantry with which
the force guarding the Big BLACK bridge were
driven from their position. Our men had to
charge across the bridge dismounted, with
nothing but railroad ties for a protection in the
face Of sharp fire:
CRY POINT, Dec, 16.-The Richmond
Dispatch of to-day, after fully confirming
the previous reports of the capture Of
Bristol, Tenn, states, ''that the enemy
then advanced up the railroad towards
Abingdon, which, we presume, fell into
their hands on the 9th We have no in
formation of the fact The next we heard
of them they had at 9 o'clock yesterday
morning bounced down upon Glade Spring
and the depot of the railroad thirteen
miles this side of Abingdon, taking every
one there by surprise and capturing all the
railroad employees except one. At last
accounts the enemy were pushing up the
railroad in the direction of Marvin which
is twenty seven miles on this side of Alb
ingdon. This is a raid in Breckinridge's
rear.
The raiders leaving his forces some
where in the neighborhood of Knoxville,
came up the north side of the Holston
River, and crossed to Bristol 1t is pro-
bable that the raiders separated, one party
proceeding to Briston, and the other to
Abingdon. If unchecked, it is likely they
will come up the railroad as far as Salem,
and thence into the Kanawha, by the
route followed by Hunter last summer. 1t
is unknown who is in command of the ex-
petition, but it looks very much like
Stoneman's work.
"None Of the dispatches say anything of
Saltville. If it is unprotected, it has doubt
less been visited by the enemy"
floods official report of the bat
tie of Franklin has been received, 1t
confirms the reported killing and
wounding of many officers He says he
drove the enemy from their inner line of
works.. which they evacuated at night,
leaving their dead and wounded in our
hands In their retreat We captured
several stands of colors and $50 prisoners. ="
(Signed 4. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War