Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-06
THE AVERiLL RAID.
To tie Editor of the Examiner:

The raid is over. Averill has gone, not cup the
spout" but back into his den. Cast your eye upon
a map, and III tell you how he went and how he
came. He came from New creek, depot on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, in the county of Hardy,
along the western base of the Shenandoah noun
tains, through Covington to Salem, burnt things
generally, and returned over nearly the route.
Imboden seized the gap where the Parkersburg
turnpike crosses the Shenandoah and prevented
raid on Staunton. Averill left five hundred men to
hold Imboden there and pushed on towards Salem.
That general could not pursue without uncovering
Saunton-the force threatening nearly eqaalling his
own. General Lee was informed of the situation of
affairs.
Here commences the reign of major generals and
military science. Major General Jubal A. EARLY
came. Major General Fitzhugh Lee came. Briga-
der General Walker came Brigader. General
Thomas came. Their stats came They all took
drink General EARLY took two. Brigadier Gen.
eral Wickham came Colonel Chambliss CON.
manding brigade, came They smiled also.
When Averill was opposite Staunton, Ftz Leo
was at Ivy depot on the Virginia Central railroad,
days march from that town. 4 fortunate occur
rencs, indeed. Everybody thought Averill was
streed" now. Lee was ordered across the Blue
Ridge He passed through Browns gap. and struck
the Valley turnpike at Mount Crawford eight miles
above Harrsonburg-a miserable mistake. One
days march lost. lie then marched towards Har-
rsonburg, then towards Stanton Another day
gone for nothing. He finally reached Staunton,
where he ought to have been on the first night,
Still there plenty of time to cut Averill off -:
Lee and Imboden marched day and night to Lex
ington and then towards Covington. They had
vet time enough to intercept him. Here was COM
mitted the fatal and foolish blunder. While Lee
and Imboden were on the road TO Covinston, in
striking distance Of that place, word sent the
| Yankees are marching towards Buchanan, instead
| Of Covington. No man ought TO have put credence
! in statement so utterly absurd as that the enemy
were going from Salem to that place. Such state
ment pre- supposes Averill deliberately placing him.
self past escape, and, therefore, run raving mad
| Such improbable rumours should never be enter
| tanned moment much less made the basis of i'm
portant military movements. The order was obey
ed. The troops turned and marched back, and st
night were neither at Buchanan or Covington.
The story is told in a few words. The Yankees
passed through Covington and to their great amaze
ment escaped. The rumour about Buchanan was
the tale of some frightened fool. The enemy, in
terrour and Generalization, fled from Salem at full
! speed-destroying their train and artillery. Jack
son knocked some in the head the citizens beat the
brains out of others one farmer in Allegheny killed
| six some were scattered in the the mountains and
are being picked up here and there the rapid
streams drowned many; but the main part have
gone whence they came, wondering how they did
get away. 1t is hardly necessary to add, the hum.
DleSC private III Sdiinss IL ue pOsSSSScu StIiSc
enough to eat and dring, not only could but could
have managed better. Old Stonewall would have
marched on, caught and killed the Yankees. What
Lee thought. this writer don't know. They who
know say 1mboden begged to go to Coving.on. He
made it plain to the dulest mind that the Buchanan
story was past belief What's done is done.
+ No language can tell the suffering Of our men.
They were in saddle night and day, save few hours
between midnight and day. They were beat up by
their officers with their swords-the only means Of
arousing them-numb and sleepy. Some froze to
death-others were taken from their horses sense.
less. They fcrded swollen streams, and their
clothes, stiff frozen ratified as they rode TRAINED
in torrents, and frozs as it fell. In the mountain
paths the ice was cut from the roads before they
ventured to ride over. Che horse slipped over the
precipice-the rider was leading him-he never
looked over after him. .,-
The whole matter is summed up in a couple Of
sentences. Ayeril was penned up. McCauslaud,
Echols and jackson at one gate, Lee and Imboden
at the other. Some ass suggested he might escape
by Jumping DOM the wen and coming out in Japan
g., go to Buchanan. Early ordered them to leave
gate open and guard the we'll. He did not Jump in
Meanwhile, the Yankees coolly came I'D the Val
ley, through Edenburg, New Market up to Harri
!. sonburg, within twenty-iv miles o. Staunton-
"these headquarters This was boarding the lior
in hisden Jubal took the field, at the head ofcom
pany Q, and party OF substitute men, farmers snt
3 splew boys called ahome gusrdp The Yankees
~ after him and the 9 major. generateommand
-