The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-12

49, s....a Npsr hssrs. This vac fuaday.
:. -.... A. ,hs;, artillery (sevssai pieces)
=. 80, rsssssa to destroy the bridge,
-. -, xere Subsequently % terribly naa'-
"a ia. ,a.y bad = setd in 4 Dag Of trace 10
=, pe.nissiea - barry their dead. which they
v.re allowed 10 DO. and thee they retssated
!. % eastsrly direction, on the Moth side OF
tho river. Their loss must have beea pretty
heavy. Oar loss was four killed. The mum
Der. wosaded We have not yet heard
Ameapat the latter were the following officers;
Il. Col. Joseph Jones, essA Va, in leg; cap'
}. w. Madden, CO X, 5sth Va, 10 breast; Il
Bryast, CO X, Goth Va, In the breast; Lieut.
falley, CO @, sch, In the shoa der.
Part Of the papers aad boots belonging 70
the SUSSEX cosn.y clerA's taaee, which was
burnt on Saturday, were left BY the enemy
At Stony Creek, and thereby saved. Inc
enemy alao burnt Sussex c. II.
1t 10 now believed that fpesrs Is on a.
return to suffolk or Norfolk, to make report
Of HE brilliant operations to headquarters
On Monday, st IL O'Clock, Spea's and his
command were at the farm Of Major b. W.
Bslsches's. in Sussex county, about u or IA
miles from Stoay Creek. They had destroy
ed Major BE- bands,me dwelling, his mill,
all his out houses, and committed many
other depredatiens. is also stated that
spears's ire was particularly excited sgainft
Mai. b. because he had heard that il was
through the las.er,s fundamentally his move
mcnss had been reported.
At Jarratt's depot, besides the depot, wa
ter ,anks, wood sheds, etc, they burnt the
residences of Mr.. VIM. Jarratt, H. Field,
and Others.
It 10 hardly probable that he will return to
the railroad, as at all points that thorough
fare is too well guarded. He has doubtless
gone back to Suffolk, or may endeavor to
E. rm junction with the troops now at City
Point and Bermuda Hundreds.
A fight occurred at Swift Creek, three
miles from Petersburg, Monday. 1t lasted
with more or less vigour for some two or
three hours At this point, and diminishing
more or less shsrp went on upon the north
side Of the creek nearly to Fort Clifton
Our troops at the c'ose of tho day occupied
the position they held before the fight began,
and we are glad 10 believe that our loss was
not comparable to that Of the enemy.
TnE CAVALRY RAID-sTRENGTH OF THE
ENEMY-THEIR APPROACH TO THE cry
FIGHTING NcAR THE FORTIFIcATioNs.
The cavalry raid, numbering 4 900 men,
under Gems. Gustav and Merritt, which was
FIRST heard from at Beaver Dam, arrived at
Ashland yesterday morning, where a fight
occurred, the result Of which is given in The
follow ing Telegram from Gen. Stuart:
HKADQs, ASHLAND, May II, $50 AN.
To Gen. Bragg:
GeReyal-The enemy reached this poin,
just before ns, but were promptly whipped
out after sharp fight by Col. Munford, (Fnz
Lees ADVANCED killing and capturing quite
number
Gen. Gordon is in the immediate rear OF
the enemy. ! intersect the road the enemy
is marching on, at Yellow Tavern, the head
ofthe turnpike, six miles ft om Richmond.
Ny men and horses are tired, hungry, and
jaded. but all right. JE B STUART.
About 9 O'Clock, Gen Stuart arrived in the
enemy's rear on the Brook road. and Gen.
Gordon in their rear on the Mountain road.
The two roads join in the Brook turnpike at
the Yellow Tavern, about six miles from
Richmond, and the intention Of the enemy
was to come down the turnpike, cross Tho
Brook bridge, 60 around TO the Meadow
Bridge road, and thence down the Penia.
sula. Tits plan was ffustIated by the burn.
ing OF the Meadow bridge by our troops
This fac, being discovered, the only mode
of letreat left was to beat Gen. Stuart at
Yellow Tavern and 60 up the Brook or
Mountain roads, or to attack the battery At
the Brook turnpike and cut their way
through.
The former mode was tried, and about A
O'Clock yesterday afternoon they attacked
Gen. Stuart. who, with Lomax's aid Wick
hams brigades, repulsed them. The fight
was very hot one, lasting over an hour.
Among our casualties were Lieut.. Col. H. C.
Pate and five Captains killed.
On their route from Ashland, Gen. Gordon,
who was in their rear, attacked them three
times, using them up badly every time.
There had been no more lighting up to a
late hoar last night, nor had the enemy
made another effort to break out at yellow
Tavern.
AL the dam age done by the raiders on the
Central road has been repaired, and the
road will probably be in running order to-
day.
1t was reported that body of the enemy
on reaching Ashland had turned off on the
Dover Mill road, but Of this we have NO re.
liable information.
TH1 FIGHT At FORT CLIFToN-GUNBOAT
BURNED.
A slght occurred at Fort Clifton ON Mon
Dr. y last, point a few miles above City
Point, on tho Appomsttox river. The fol.
lowing letter, from the officer in command,
gives tho particulars Of the affair:
FaRr CLIFTON, May 9Th, 1864.
l can't refrain from writing you . line as
- se<s in to tel ron how God has blest US
this day. My heart 10 gushing in gratitude
for His kindasss and protec ion, and for the
sigaal victory h gave 10 over our eaemy.
was attacked THE morning on tho Ieia BY
q battery Of six rjfled guns. Finding that my
pieces on this side could not reach them, /
put my men under cover, and they soon got
tired ofshellisg Us. After things had quiet
ed down ! had Just got TO nay left, three