Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-05-12
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REBEL RAID AT PIEDMONT.
DESTRUCTION OF RAILROAD PROPERTY
ASSISTANCE OF HOME TRAITORS.
Neic Creeh Military Energy.

PIEDMONT, MAY 5, 1864.
Strs-Pernit ME, as a DELAYED passen.
ger, and Bultimorean bound West. tc
make statement of the most signal mil.
ltary failures TO protect the Baltimore &
OHIO Railroad Company at Piedmont
Company that is straining every nerve
for the benefit of the Government. On
the morning of the 9th of May, 1864. a
Union citizen, living some four miles
from New Creek, saw Captain Mcneil
the noted Rebel chief with a small force
pass his place in the direction of Pied
mont lie Immediately left his home
and by 5 o'clock was in New Creek, with
the information to the commandment O;
thrt post (Which, left me say here is not
Colonel Mulligan,) of which information
no notice was taken.
Captain Mcneil, with about thirty Re
bel cavalry, at about half-past six o'clock
A. NJ, sent one man with flag of truce
into Piedmont, demanding surrender of
this place, knowing from information re-
ceived from his friends-of which | find he
has many in Piedmont, all depending on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Compa-
ny for support-that there were but four
teen men of the 9th Virginia Infantry
there. They Immediately surrendered
and their guns were taken from them and
broken to pieces. lie then commenced
operating quite lcisurcly. After taking
possession of the telegraph Office, they
set fire to the bridge across the Potomac
on the Georges Creek Railroad, and as
often as they left it the patriotic ladies
would put it out At the same time he
had the larger part of his forces setting
fire to the valuable improvements of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
at this place. Their large and extensive
machine shop is 4 complete wreck, and
the two capacious round-houses are very
much injured.
While they were busily engaged in
their work Of destruction the stock trains
due at Piedmont at A. NJ, arrived
within half mile Of Piedmont, and were
there informed the Rebels had possession
ofthe town: the sound of their whistles
returning back to New Creek alarmed
them, and hasty exit was about to be
made when their friends informed them
to complete their work Of Obstruction.
They then moved west about one mile
and half and met the passengers train
and two tonnage trains bound east. AZ
ter robbing the passengers they burnt to
ashes the cars
Messrs. Editors, there is something
mysterious about this raid. About Gye
O'Clock \. NJ, messenger arrived at
New Greek with information that Mcneil
had passed his place to Piedmont with
q small f rec. No notice was taken of it
and at seven o'clock A. NJ, the employ
ecs of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
had an engine and five cars on the track
ready to convey troops to Piedmont.
They were not accepted, out some forty
or fifty infantry were started ON foot, q
distance of six miles, occupying at least
an hour and half which could have
been accomplished with the engine in ff-
teen minutes. This certainly requires
explanation
After those troops left New Creek a
person who is engaged largely in buying
horses for the Government, left New
Creek on horseback for Piedmont; he ar
rived there some folty-ive minutes before
the troops sent from New Creek. He
then changed horses and returned to New
Creek. Now the query is, what was
his business, and is it military to suffer
citizen to pass troops on such an expedi-
'Ion to point where they expect to sur
prise the enemy?
l am informed by those who were on
the adjacent heights at Piedmont that
they saw horseman come up to New
Creek road at full speed, and when he
approa' h d McNeirs outer picket he rein
ed up for few moments. They then
both moved to the second picket, station
cd nearer the town, and the three passed
into the town where Mcneil and his par
ty were, and in very few minutes after
he was seen to leave in full gallon the
way he came, and McNeils forces were
immediately put in motion to leave, which
he did, and when the troops from New
Creek arrived Mcneil and his party were
some three miles off, and they well noun
ted. and the pursuing party afoot and IA
tigued at that.
Again, who was this horseman who
had the power to collect and taken in
with him McNei's pickets?