Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-26

Ihe South A1s2d CrosSed--ThS AHdtr
al Ashland
At four P. NJ, crossed the South Anna.
and, after marching two miles, bivou-
Aeksd for the night At three clock on
the morning Of the llth the lst brigade,
"a division, was sent under Brig. Ger.
II. Z. Davies, on a special expedition TO
Ashland, distance Of seven miles, for
the purpose Of destroying the railroad
aud supplies.
Great caution and haste we're essen
tial, as il vas known that General Stu
art With bis rebel cavalry, was rapidly
making for thsst point Oar forces ar
rived in sight Of the town At daylight,
and kszned in line Of battle. The lst
Massachusetts, cavalry, Major Sergeant
commsndiug, was selected to charge
through the town, which the men did in
gallant style, driving regiment Of Vir-
ginians, under Col Mumford, Of Fitz
Hugh Lees division, before them. They
then disnounted, set FIRE to the railroad
depot, destroying rolling stock, stores
and supplies, in great quantities also
tearing up miles OF the track ol the
fredericksburg and Richmond rail
road.
Firiao from the Houses - 06Teers
Wounded and Captured
AZ they left ths town they saw sew
eral Of the enemy make their appear
anse, and il was decided to make an
other charge into the town to drive them
Of. The rebels reirealsd into the houses,
and as our mea passed through poured
q murderous yolley into their ranks,
wounding Captain Motley, I.ieatenant
Smith, aud Lieutenant T.. Payson Hop
kins, son Of Professor Hopkins Of VIII
liams College, Mass, and who was Ieit
noiionless IN the road; aud all fell into
the hands OF the enemy. We also lost
about twenty-five men in killed and
wounded, who Likewise fell into the
hands Of the rebel4 IL was at 6rst ia
tended By General Davies 10 she'll the
town 10 retaliation. hut having accom-
plished everything for which be had
started, and aware Of the approach OF
J. (. b. Stuart with large force, re-
tired to ous main column
Approaching RieAmoad-B Bsfwesn Ttro
fires ITS
We were now within sixteen miles Of
Richmond, and at once directly took up
the line Of march towards the city, the
let division in advance and the aeeond
in the rear We marched and fought
all day and night, the enemy being con
stantly reiHforced until at daylight, when
within three miles of Richmond, the
force opposed to as in front we're two
brigades Of infantry asd one Of cavalry,
while in our rear was Stuart with brig
ades Of cavalry, together with syery man
that could be raked up in Richmond
We nov turned 70 the left, on the Mea-
dow Bridge road, leading to Mechanics.
vile, pressing the enemy steadily back.
TAe Outer Defenees Of the Rebel Cap
ital- General Custer Charges Hpoa
and Captures TAem.
Wien about four miles on the road We
found the enemy strongly intfenchsd be-
hind Notifications, composing the outer
line of the Richmond defences. Tie
position was a strong one, being situated
upon hill, commanding our whole
corps, and our preservation depended
upon our driving them out General
Sheridan was equal to the emergency.
The easmy was already pursuing Us
closely ID the rear
The General ordered General Custer
to take his gallant brigade and carry the
position. General Custer placed him
self at the head of bis command, and
with drawn sAbres and deafening cheers
charged directly in the face OF a wither-
ing Ere, captured two pieces OF artillery,
upwards of hundred prisoners, togeth-
er with caissons, ammunition and horses,
which he brought OF in safety Il was,
without exception, the most gallant
charge OF the raid, and when it became
known among he corps cheer after
cheer rent the air The rebels retreated
beaiad the Chickahominy, destroying in
their Sight Aeadow Bridge.
Je6 Ssuart IN the Rear--Hs is Whipped
In the rear Col Gregg brigade Of the
Second division, and = portion Of the
| Third division, under Gen. Wilson, were
hosly engaged With Stuart Gen. Wilson
sent word to Gen Sheridan that the enc
| mr. we're driving him slowly back Gen.
/ Sheridan sent word that ''he must hold
the position at all hazards, and that he
eoald and would whip the enemy" Col
Gregg's brigade, being reinforced by a
regiment from the LIST Brigade, charged
| the enemy and drove them nearly q
mile. The day is now ours The enc
my had now disappeared from our front,
and We succeeded in rebuilding the
Meadow bridge, aud the First aud Third
divisions, which, in tarn, withdrew and
also crossed without being annoyed BY
the enemy.
Torpedoes in the r0ad-Hosc they scere
ReEored
The rsbels previous to crossing the
river, planted large .number Of torpe-
does in the road, two of which exploded,
fortunately, however, killing nothing bat
two horses. The rebel prisoners we're
At once set at work and compelled to
dig carefully with their fingers for the
remaining Internal machines Twelve
of these beauties we're unearthed in the
space Of couple Of hours, and placed
in the cellar of lady with strong rebel
prosIiEities living on the.read She pro-
! tested in the strongest terms against the
indignity, but was told that if she.di
not handle them they would not explode.
4 FaHs- Gaines Ni5-ATriral at Bot
ton's Bridge
The rebels still confined to show them
selves in our front until We had passed
Msehsnicsville, where General Merritt,
BY making 8 demonstration as though
the column we're moving towards White
House, eaused them to destroy bridge,
when We turned shost to the right upon
the road TO Bottoms Bridge
We now sncamped on the old Gaines