The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-20
GENERAL HUNTERS EXPEDITION.


What It DID and How IL Was Done
Reasons for les Nom Return Down tho
shsaandoah vsiiey-RespOnsibtli
for tne Maryland Invasion Placed
Where 1t BcIongs-0eneral Hunter
Aska to he Relieved, &C., &c.
OUR HARPnR's FERRY CORRESPONDENTS.
HARrER's FERRY July rs, 1854.
For every military disaster appears the theory Of
certain persons high in authority that scapegoat must
Immediately be found II makes little difference who he
10 what services he may hsve performed. If he be
only available'' seapegoat he win be caught, bar
dened with all the sins Of tho War Department, and be
turned loose into the wilderness.
At preseut the selected scapegoat for that want OF
foresight which permitted the invasion Of Maryland
would seem TO be Gen. Hunter Those who accuse him
should go step further ard hold him responsible for all
disasters tho White river and elsewhere
He is broad shoudered officer. and could just as well
be made bear the responsibility for every misortuue
that has overaken Of late for the one with which
be is specially charged This will be comprehensive
policy and will enable all concerned, except himself, to
ret and start out again with clean bill Of health
But there rather 1t is TO bo hoped there
are-in the community some few OF the antique and
progressive Sort who desire found their judgment
evidence, and iee unwilling TO condemn to day off,
whom they zere audpg but brief period since let
place record a brief statement Of facts as part
answer 10 the writ call ing General Hunter to show
why he should not be made "general scapegoat'
for tho recent invasion Of Maryland.
just two months ago General Hunter assigned to
command the Department Of West Virginia, his orders
being to relieve General sge from duty de-
parmen, but 10 take up the @rading force Of about
ten Thousand men, which had been beaten back from
Newmarket under that officer. and to sigers ad
vance in the direction of Staunton. He was, Atf he
coud, capture staunton and destroy the railroads
and OF that place. II found Staunton well
fortified and defended that to attack would involve de-
lays and heavy sacrifices OF e then he hurt
railroads each side OF 1t much possible and to
keep large number possible Of the enemy's troops
In employment These were the orders to General Sge
and it to be presumed the expectations OF
not increased by the defeat Of Newmarket.
Travelling without pause from Washington TO Cedar
creek General Hunter assumed command OF the beaten
army which he found demoralzed degree that coaId
scarcely be exceeded Nearly two thousand OF its infant
ry without shoes About thousand had thrown
away their arms In their fight and had to be rearmed
The appearance OF few guerlas in any direction pro-
duced general stampede the men having lost all conf
dence in their commanding general and expecting every
that the troops who had chased them Roods
Hin would reappear In force to continue the pursuit.
How rapidly this command was ro0rganzed and bet
ter spirit infused would be record In the public
mind that mind were in Q condition Of health
abng It 10 remember any thing In few days the little
army e6tted in all particulars, and within twelve
days from General Hunters assumption Of
mand tho battle OF Piedmont was fought and
won by the Union forces Piedmont being ten miles
further up the valley than any Union army had pre-.
viousy penetrased II rs true Breckinrdge's division
not there to help the enemy but Its place amply
supplied by the accession the rebels Of the
mand OF General William L. Jones-tr0ops fully good
and numerous those Of Breckinridge and commanded
by an officer universally rated a. his superior.
From Piedmont Hunters little army advanced TO
Staunton which entered without opposition the enemy
being much demoraized from the defeat Of the day
before to avail himself Of the eartnworks and lines OF
rifle pits constructed for the defence OF that city Here
the railroad destroyed west and east in the most
thorough manner, and quantities Of ordnance,
rebel government captured and either Issued
our destroyed. or details, however, there will
be time to speak In this letter.
At Staunton Hunter joined by the infantry OF
General Crook and the cavalry OF General Aver-two
officers excellent and distinguished any in the
service cavalry division, under General A. N Dufhe,
sent TO threaten gecksh 9ap-deended by Breckn.
ridge and Imboden-wth orders the Blue Ridge,
destroy the railroad at and around Charlottesville and
reach and then rejon the at Lexington.
within two days.
From Staunton 30 Lexington our troops advanced
driving before them cavalry force OF about Ave thou
sand men, under McCausland, who made lex-
ington, under special orders from Lieutenant General
Robert f. Lee These orders directed McCAusand hold
lexington sat any until could be reinforced by
troops from Richmond, who he was assured al.
ready on the way TO succor him. de made the stand
accordingly; but, npdng the town directly under the
guns Of General Hunters infantry acvance and that no
being fanked by Averills cavalry, who had
forded the river higher up, McCausland 1nally
ELL back, just In time to himself and
his command from capture. At this point occurred
delay two days. which resulted from General Dulles
having lost bis way In the mountains the eastern sdo
OF the Bne Ridge He, however, destroyed two large
trains of government stores which the enemy were NOV
Ing by this route from stanton TO Lynchburg and cap
tured many prisoners lie could not, however mate.
rally niure the railroad at point. beng everywhere
confronted by Imbodens largely superior cavalry. Here
and there only did no burn brdgocliyhs injuries that
could be repaired in han day.
From Lexington the command of General Hunter thus
DELAYED two days by General DUTIES blunder marched
towards Lynchburg Buchanan partly because there
might be dlculty In fording the James below that
point pcntoon brdge being utterly worthless was
proved at Port Repubic) and partly because we had
information of the renforcements from Richmond
then arriving in the valley that becaae necessary to
OF advance At Buchanan, moreover, were located
sone OF the most important furnaces, foundres ami
cloth mills of the rebel government and these It wa
essential TO destroy.
From Buchanaa the march was continued toward
Lynchburg the country becoming barcr ana barer OF
supplies advanced the people running OF all their
stock and into the mountains to the right aud
Of us, and the business Of foragng becoming and
hazardous consequence OF tho large retel
force which enveioped, az with cloud. front and
nangs. On the 17th OF June tho enemy made resouto
etaud NJ a place yarously called "Od Church, "Da-
mond Ei,- about four miles from Lynchburg, hut after
Rcoutcst OF three four hours, forced 20
iinue tho.r retreat Averis cavalry doing particularly
this light nud Crooks infantry charging, through storm
well IN OF Rrapeshot clean the rebel breaGtworks
without afnge pause moment OF hesitation or disorder
On the dav following General Hunter and bis subord
learned with precsioc Of the arrival OF
the greater part II Ewcls corps their frout, and
briss attack which lasted with brief INTERN ssis all
day dereoped powerful line OF defences 10 front
OF usonr regular earth works, well mounted with art
ery, built years ago, connected together by
lines of the usual rebel rail- rife pits, on |
which men had heard 80 the Johnnies" hammerug |
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