American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-16
Gen. Kilpatriok's Expedition.

elect That ten. fitzpatrick, with q force
Of picked cavalrymen, has arrived at the
White House, and formed junction with
force sent up by Gen. Butler from the
Peninsula These statements are based
upon the fact that two of Gen. Kilpat-
ricks scouts have come back and made
the above report. The report is believed
in the army of the Potomac. Fitzpatrick
is thus within few miles of Richmond,
and as Gen. Butler is cooperating with
him, we may expect to hear of startling
news from that quarter in a day or two.
On his route to the White House, Gen.
Fitzpatrick having orders so to do, avoided
meeting any large force of the rebels.
After he had left the front, another
party of eight hundred picked men were
sent out to communicate with him. They,
however, met rebel force, and as their
orders were not to fight if battle could
be avoided, they moved towards the East,
and the commandernot striking the direct
road, came upon a party of rebels, near
Fredericksburg, and captured them, burnt
their camps and destroyed quantity of
army stores, and then proceeded on their
way to join alpatrick.
PHILADELpHIA, March 5.--The Ecea-
ing ZelHroph publishes the following ac-
count of Kilpatricks raid from the spe-
cial correspondent of the Tribune:
On Monday they reached the Virginia
Central railroad and tore up the track in
four places, destroying whatever property
would render the road useless At Fred
oricks Hall, on the Central Railroad, they
came upon a court martial, peacefully hol-
ding its sessions, and captured Colonel,
i. five captains, and two lieutenants. Gen.
Lee had passed over the railroad, on his
way to his army, but an hour before our
men reached it,
Occasionally Union families were en-
countered, who gave valuable information
and freely Offering what they had to cat
and drink.
Leaving Fredericks Hall on Monday,
they pushed on to Richmond A detach-
ment of 500, under Col. Dahlgren, keep
ing well to the right in the direction Of
Louisa Court House, while Fitzpatrick with
the main body, moved upon Ashland, both
parties securing the country thoroughly,
and doing all possible damage. As the
forces neared Richmond, the two main
parties began concentrating. Col Dahl
gren was to move down to the right of
Richmond, destroying as much of the
James River Canal as possible, then Ia
king the river road was to cross opposite
and enter the city from the South side,
and attempt the deliverance of the pris-
oners on Belle Isle.
Gen. Fitzpatrick, with the main body,
was to attack the city by the Brooke turn
pike simultaneously, if possible, with the
other movement. 1t was hoped to reach
the city on Monday night or early on the
following morning, when a partial, if not
total, surprise could be effected. Two
of those fatalities which more than once
during this war have snatched success
from US, prevented the consummation OF
the best conceived and most brilliant
plans of the whole war.
Dahlgren had taken a negro. to pilot
him to Richmond, and he led him towards
Goochland instead Of Richmond, and on
Tuesday Dahlgren found himself several
miles in just the opposite direction from
that he Wished to take, The negro was
promptly hung for his treachery The
men, exasperated by this, burned the barns
and out buildings of j. A. Seddins, the rebel
Secretary of war. Dahlgren retraced his
steps down the river road, but did not
reach the immediate vicinity of Richmond
till the afternoon, when everybody was on
the alert Fitzpatrick having already made
the attack. Dahlgren's detachment was
divided into several parties for the accom-
plishment of different objects, keeping
together, however. A very sharp fight
ensued on one party attempting. to cross
the river. They found the enemy in SUI
perior numbers confronting them on every
road, which compelled them to fall back.
In attempting to cut their way out, Major
Cooke, Of the I'd New York, with about
one hundred aud fifty men, got separated
from the rest The other detachments
succeeded in rejoining Fitzpatrick, but
nothing had been heard of this one
Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick advanced down the
turnpike toAshland, and having torn up the
rails at that point destroying the telegraph
as he marched. :. At one station, however
an operator succeeded in sending a dis
patch to Richmond, announcing the Yam
KEGS were coming. Less than fifteen