Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-30
Kautz's seeoud Raid.

f'ttHs7Atat4 I
BERaunA HuEDRED, Va, May 10
Il was noon ofMay 18th that General
Kau.z, with his noble division OF cavalry
commenced a movement which had for
It's object the destruction Of the four main
railroads leading to Richmond The
msa ~ho we're 10 perform this arduous
duty bad just returned from raid of a
similar character, and we're thoroughly
fAtigued from lhs effects OF long marches,
loss Of sleep and short allowances Of
food. Bot their patriotism instilled into
them au energy that demonstrated that
the work 20 be done would be faithfully
and successfully performed, as the sub
joined sequel will show
The same day they started began their
daring exploits Bat a few hours ont
they had turned the rebels right flank
Here was q point gained for our main
army to work upon, and which was not
lost BY IL After this maneuver they
pushed on and reached Chesterfield
Court House. where they visited the Jail
and found confined in Il three persons
who had been imprisoned for refusing 10
take up arms against the United States
Government Releasing these, the com
mand pushed rapidly on to Coalheld pits,
within twelve miles Of Richmond, on the
Danville road Here the work Of de
stroying track was commenced, the de-
pot burned, and the mails captured
Bivouacking about four miles beyond,
about daylight next morning started for
Powhattan Station, where they arrived
at halfpast eight A. NJ, driving the reb-
ell pickets before them. Here, too, the
track, depot, several cars and Il large
amount Of forage was destroyed
The next point visited was tbs bridge
at Matoax. Being built Of iron and solid
masonry no attempt was made to destroy
it, rs il was defended by four pieces Of
artillery, which would have caused a sac
ritiee Of life that would not have waran-
ted its destruction. After reconnoiter-
ing for a while in the vicinity, the com
mand struck of on the road to Goode' S
Bridge, on the Appomattox. On their
arrival at the site they found that the
bridge had been removed by the rebels
In the astonishing short time OF four
hon RS the men had thrown structure
across the stream, marched over IL. and
burned it again, so that the rebels could
not use Il
Forward TO Chorea Station, the line
nov moved Here it was ascertained
that three trains, heavily loaded with
troops, had arrived. One tr ain remain
ed while the two others ran down i'm
mediately to the Junction Of the South
side 4 DauviIle Railroad Here con
siderable railroad property was destroy
en-, much to the discomfort Of the enemy,
( who sent n locomotive down to recon
noiter. About daylight Of the next
morning, Saturday, the eleventh Penn
sylvania Cavalry formed on the left, with
the Third New York Cavalry on the
right A demonstration vas made up
on Fiat Greek Bridge. While Lieuten.
nant Sehriver was leading q charge
across this bridge he fell mortally wound.
ed The enemy we're in strong force
aud the contest waxed fercer for tims
While It vas going on, another portion
Of the command, the 5th Pennsylvania
and lst district Of Columbia cavalry.
we're doing important work-the dem0l
| ition of the telegraph, locomotives, cars
I track and ties Of the railroad From
this point il pushed for the Southside
Railroad, by the way Of Deep Greek. Al
I the road leading from thelatter place "a
[ Petersburg it vas learned that FIVE thou
/ sand rebels were in position about three
miles beyond Their scouts we're driven
in, and Gen. Kautz ordered the ffL
Pennsylvania to proceed on that road q
I few miles, 70 create the impression thai
we were marching toward Petersburg.
1 While this vas going on the main
body was moving on TO Wellville. Col
4 Spears brigade then marched to vii
( sons depot, six miles beyond. Amer de
I stroying much at both points, the con-
msnd continued on to Blacks and
Whites Here large amount or supplies
were destroyed, together with the depotl
and tracks
On Sunday the command had reached
Brunswick Court House. where all tie
! commisSary stores we're rendered useless
Monday morning brought them to EithiE
four miles Of Hicksford, we're prepara