The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-06-29
The Fight with Hunters Command
at ifnM"iN. Rock.

The iynchburg republican, of Sunlay has. fiona
an eye wiints The particulars O. the fight wit.
Hunters troops at Hanging Rock on the " ednes
day heioIe:
At B"nsack's Depot the enemy made a clean
sweep Of almost everything. The extensive inanu
itciutins establishment OF Mr. Bonsack was nil
iaged OF large amount OF jeans c!0ti--ab0ut iii
teen thousand yaris when the building was set on
tie and entirely consumed 1'he enemy then made
Il prisoner OF Mr. Bonsack, tuf u hat ft.,S IN ~ nm
explained, and carried him oil with them. The
depot at this pIaee, as before slated. was also
burned, together with several other buildings The
ss Of the Bonsack's MIL s a very serious one as
Tie Government was furnished with large supplies
of cloth from its looms, while ii gave employment
10 many poor people, mostly women, who are thu
thrown ON the cold charities Of the world for a
.SuPps',, Fb. ,.e0s, however, we,. ,,s. ~. no No,
sacks In Il rather uDceTelnOuiuus manner, our
forces coming close upon them, and so raptd was
their retreat from that point TO Saie that they did
not tany to in1ct nysianage 10 the Railroad ex-
cept the burning OF the tepot at Big i.cs-and tor
.ie same reason the country along the route sui
ierej vefy little, In fact, none az all, except that
committed ey petty thieves and small strasging
parties.
On reaching Salem, the enemy determined t, con-
tinue his retreat TO Chnstiansburg with The iuten-
ton OF pushing on 10 the Lead Mines and Salt
Works, aud in fact, L large portion of his wagon
train had been sent forward in that direction, bnt
getting Information that t}en Morgan had return
from Kentucky and was at the Salt Works with
took The read leading to Newcastle and Sweet
Springs. Hunter, however, had not proce edcd
on this TOAD but Il few miles, when he found
that the vigiiant Gen McCausland was in his font,
and almost before he was aware of II some ten or
twelve pieces OF his artillery twenty five or thirty
wagons, between two and three hundred Prison
ets, IA hunher OF negroes and about two hundred
horses were iii the hands Of our cava nv The en-
emy, however, quickly threw forward his forces.
aud compelled Gen McCau5and 10 abandon al
Except six Ut the Captured pieces of artillery, but
with them and The other captures Gen Nee with
dfew = the spur OF mountain close by, where he
gained p aition almost impregnable. The enemy
then atte mpIed to cont nue. his retreat bur from,
the new position occupied by our forces his
guns, and, 10 save them from Imaginary can,nre
The enemy blew up number of caissons and de-
stroyed large pstsion of his train. @any Of the
enemys men were killed by the explos IN or thni,
own caissOns, and In he several hitle skirm,ish..
which occurred, their casualties are ren0rtrd IA
being qnite heavy. Our loss was hnt slight ex
ssp'ah one instanfc 1t being stated that captain
shelley lost, out Of about sixty men, al, excppt
| seven Capt 8 ii seems, had been ordered TO hoia
| q certain point at all haz ads, when he vns COM
pIeteiy surrounded by the enemy, and maJr m smr
1 Ter heavily, a. above stated.
The enemy finally succeeded in e xtrIc atIns hiu,
self from our cavalry, and proceeded ON his route
but, from what We consider reliable Information
he will lind many obstacles In his path before e
reaches his own lines Under The direction of
Gen Echols and Maj Dorman, who are In that po,-
ton OF the State, the roads as far out the Sweet
springs nave been eucctu0Iiy bIOc kaded at mum
ber OF points, which Distractions, 1t Is thought,
will enable our cavalry. that Of McCausIand and
imboden, together with force under Gen EdW ard
Jackson, from the front, TO infilct an tmm anse
amount OF damage upon the enemy.
During their march through the town OF Salem
the enemy did not take time 10 mOlest anything,
believing that our forces were close In their rear
The post office and telegraph Office, which are
always sacked, did not receive their attention.
The enemy aIe represented 10 have with them
seserai hundred negroes, ard an fnealcuabie
amount Of stolen property, including hundreds OF
horses, cattle, sheep, &c They allowed nothing
10 impede their movements, and when any Of the
animals gave ont they were shot down In The road
and 1t is said That The whole line of their march Is
marked with the carc3sses Of dead animals, In
many places several together, aad which under the
effect oi aroiling SUM- are iiiag the ais with the
inDst hOrlid tiavia.
Eo hard pressed have been the enemy. that, when
they reached Salem, the greater pOrtion of the
men had been furnished with rallons for several
days and they are deschbed 40 teIag In a very de.
mOralized condition. We trust this state Of thing
may continue, and that we may thus bc enabled IN
capture the greater portion Of them.