The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-31
CAVALRY FIGHTS AROUND RICH
NONn
Correspondence of the Raleigh Confederate.
CAMP 5TH N. G CAVALRY, May 16.

CAMP 5TH N. c. CAVALRY, May l6.
T. Thinking few lines from this quarter would
be OF interest to your many readers, | have as
sumed the privilege of giving you some of the de-
tails In regard to the recent raid of Sheridan. .
On the 9Th instant, We very unexpectedly re
ceived orders to march from our left to the right.
On reaching the telegraph road, it was ascerraned
that the enemy, variously estimated at from ten
to twenty thousand cavalry, had, about o'clock
10 the,liorning, debouched from the left of Grant
army, elaborately fitted out with all the parapha-
naha OF war, and were marching down the road
IN the direction of Richmond thinking it an easy
prey In the absence of our troops. most OF which
were engaged at other points Nickbam's brig
ade, quickly followed by ours (Gordon's,) was sent
III pursuit The former being several hoars in ad-
Of ours, had had several desperate encounters
with him III each Of which he was driven back. }
before We were able to overtake bin Devastation
and waste characterized%he section through which
the raiders had passed, and vestige ofa Yam
kee save their dead. was seen until our arrival on
the North Anna river On the opposite bills,
sklrted with. heavy timbers, mounted yidettes of
the enemy could be seen apprisiDo rs Of our proN-
unity to the main column
Uordons brigade, comprising the LIST, ID, aud
9th n. e. cavalry, were sent to "a point higher up
the river than that held by Wickham; detach.
ment from the 9th, under command of1Capt Me-
ClennahaD, was dismounted and Sent to clear the
banks of the stream of the enemy's sharpshooters,
which Was done in handsome style without any Sc
rous loss on our part. Simultaneously with this
movement, Capt Galoway's squadron of the 5th
vas ordered to cross the ford and charge SaLres
being drawn our boys with yell put at them and
followed the fleeing fugitivcs several miles many
having been killed and wounded Horses too
worn out aud exhausted, dotted the roads for miles
Hardly had his rear reached Beaver Dam Sta.
hn trafr Il
hams Va. brigade came on his flank killing 'ey-
eral and WoundIng many and pushing him in he
direction OF Richmond. His demoraIized condi-
ton was evident from the fact of trees being ic,d
across the road and all the bridges torn up to de
lay pursuit. On that night the camp fires Of the
raiders could be seen 1Iom the loint at which We.
had stopped to rest
About three O'Clock on the following morning.
we were again il saddle, ready to move. Having
advanced short distance. line Of ms ai5mi>Arfs
were seen advancing, which IA du,ao4ra ..n4 ran
the I'd soon drove back About 10 o'cldc4, after
being man@uvered considerably on both sides the
sklrmlshlng between the enemy and portion If
the lSt or I'd, dlsmounted became very bTsk.
The.4t squadron Of the 9th, III command IF Capt
McClennahan, was detached, parl a. Inouuted
videttes and the remainder placed in the road
Go9da!Is house, confronting several regiments Of
Yankees. Soon Gen Gordon came up and gave
with the At squadron in the van, which broke the
left of the enemy's lines Capt Harris in the cen
tire and Capt Galloway on the left, also did much
in completing the discontinue of the raiders At
the same time, the lst, under the gallant Colonel
Cheek, were IN close pursuit, having made flank
movement. The rout was complete The I'd also
added new laurels to those already won on so lnany
hard fought fields To mention acts of individual
courage, would be doing many injustice; but there
is one deserving of special notice The bugler Of
the lst, after having sounded the charge With his
own trumpet, dashed forward and seized the bugler
Of the lst Maines taking his buge from him, and
again sounded the charge. The rout of the raid
efs being complete, a short time was devoted to
rest and collecting the spoils. The pursuit was
then resumed his rear being ovcrtaken at Mr.
Winston's The 18th squadron was again dismount-
cd and thrown out skirnishers. After several
hours, the enemy retired with no farther loss on
our part than that of Adjutant Worth Of the I'd.
During the day, Lomax's brigade had severe
engagement Yellow Tavern. 1t was here the
heroic Stewart-fcll, mortaly wounded jnst as vic
tory had perched itself on our banners. The day
following, the raiders had gained outer en-
trefchments and taken position near Brook Church.
Gordon brigade were soon at the place. CaPJs .
Shaw and Irwin with their respective companies
were dismountcd as sharpsbooters, which together
with the 32d Va infantry, were engaged most Of
the evening Here ten Gordon received q severe
wound in the arm, from the fleets of which he
died Most of the evening and during the night,
the enemy was gradually falling the Chick
ahominy in the direction Of MechanicsviIle and
finally retreatcd down the Peninsula towards Coal
Harbor. Thus ended the great raid so elaborately
set on foot for the capture of Richmond. II.
FUNERAL HONORs-The remains Of the la
mented Gen Gordon received Saturday even
ing, May 2lst 1T Kerr Craige, A d G., accompa-
MED them On the arrival Of the train at the de-
pot the Garrison Battalion, under the command
Of the Conmandant Of the Post; Capt 6 W Alex
ander, received the body with appropriate honors,
aud bore it to the Town Hall, where guard Of
honor was detailed At o'clock Sunday morn
ing the quiet Of our streets was broken by The
solemn cadence Of the muffied drums On enqui-
ry, it was ascertained that all the troops from the
Garrison that could be spared we're turned out aud
formed beautiful escort for laInented hero's
remains to the Western Railroad cars
Among the Pail Bearers, noticed the Hon
B Crage, the gallant Col A Goodwin, Major
u ycrs aud Capt Galloway -S0iisJD,y lHatchn,oH-
Gen. Gordon's death was caused by erysipelas at
dcing the wound he received.
BACON BY THE WHoLEsALE.-The Conmissary
Department has recently received three millions
pounds of bacon, from outside Of the Confederacy
Il is stated upon official authority, shat the 1.-THE