The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-12
TRs sFONEMAN RAID.
Details OF the Exped tfOn-PrOpeEty
z FestrOyed---WOVemen Of the
TroODs. Ake., dc.

HsoTCt0sI HIlbiuk lEOm tuo WOush VI
Rosne's Greek, Carter county, Kentucky" 7"
gives detailed account of General Stone
mau's great raid into North Carolina and
Virgins, from which we extract, below:
l PLAN OF THE RAID.
The plan of General Stoneman, when
he was placed in command Of the District
of East Tennessee, was to occupy the
mountain passes of Carter county, with
infantry and artillery then, at the head
OF his cavalry division, Brigsdier- General
A. Q. Gillem commanding, to dash rapidly
forward, threaten Salisbury, N. O., and,
having caused concentration Of the rebel
forces st thHt point, TO turn towards
Greensboro and Danville, everywhere Civ
ing the impression that he was intending
TO cut the North Carolina Railroad, and
then effect q junction with Sherman +;
while, in reality, he would march upon the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, snd
effectuslly destroy it, SO that Lee could not
use it as 8 means of retreat when he should
be freed to forsske the protecting forti6-
| cations of Richmond. At the same time,
all depots of provisions, the lead mines at
WythevilIe, and all the munitions of Wal,
would be taken care of. This accomplish
ed, he would return to North Carolina, and
cut the railroad between DanVille, Green's
boro, Salisbury and Charlotte, and, if pos
sible, capture Salisbury, which had been
made large depot of supplies, machinery
SC. -...5 ...r. ....Hs.I
The movement was soon put into sue
cessful execution. On arriving at Christ
iansburg our force immeditely took posses.
sion of the telegraph office The General
took possession, and succeeded in "oAlling"
the Lynchburg operator, who st first WAS
little suspicious and answered back, allow
sre you, Yanks2" The reply was made,
You must be drunk, there are no Yanks
any where about here"
Lynchburg-"Whsth has become of the
Yankees you kave been telegraphing about
all day a. spPeosching"
ChristisH61g-H0h that was nothing
but country fumors, and were found to be
false" .-
Lynchburg was soon satisfied and then
proceeded to give the Christiansburg ope-
rstor lecture for sending rumors over
the line, as they generally turned out
during the day it has been reported
this way, but no one believes it now" He
then sent several messages, military and
civil, one of the military messages Of con-
siderable interest to the General, as it
informed him Of the intended movements
west of him. The liue refused to work
soon after, and it was judged it had been
cut, and, as all supposed, it sfterward
proved true, that Msjor Wagner had ar
rived near Salem, and was tearing up the
road and burning bridges. At daylight
parties were sent in both directions along
the line of the road to burn the bridges
and ties and destroy all stores they might
find.
&C. Still advancing, after several important
movements in North Carolina, 3 division
of the command was sent into Virginia,
and Colonel Miller entered
wYTHEvILLE
al dsybreak. After sharp skirmish with
the garrison, he Immediately detached par
ties TO Max Meadows to destroy the large
depot of supplies, and on the railroad, in
both directions, to burn the bridges and
ties. These detachments were successful,
and during their absence the main force
were engaged in similar dut es in the town,
their lAbors resulting in the total destruc-
ton of the large railroad depot, which was
crowded with supplies of various descrip-
tions, four cars laden with salt, and in vsri-
Gus parts of the town large quantities of
harness, tobacco, powder, corn, hay, cotton,
cloth, and a great number of wagons
Hundreds of bales of fine Kinnikinick to-
bacco were broken and scattered in the
streets. About three o'clock P. NJ, General
Echols advanced on the town with a con-
siderable force of infantry and cavalry,
and, as the destruction of property, rather
than of life, was Colonel Miller's role, he
fell back to Porter's Ford, on New River,
where he successfully resisted the further
advance of Echols, who finding that further
advance wss impraeticsble, retired, leaving
Colonel Miller to rejoin General StoDeman
without moloststion.
THE OTHER DETAcHMEETs
We're similarly successful. Major Wagner
proceeded from near Salem to within four
miles of Lynchburg, burning every bridge
and for miles rendering not only the road,
but the rails, entirely useless by burning
thu ties and bending the rails; while Col.
L. S. TroWbridge, with the 10th Michigan
cavalry, performed like service from
WytheVille to Salem. The plan had sue
ceeded. Stonemsn's force had struck the
road in three different places, more than
eighty miles apart, and within twelve
hours time of one another, had destroyed
the read and all stores, and as they had
finished their work, the morning Of the 9th
saw them en- route for their
RETURN 10 NORTH CAROLINA,
Which was continued through. Jackson
vile and Tsylorsville, Virginia, and Dan
bury, Germanton, and Mocksville, toward
Salisbury, North Carolins. From German
ton Colonel Palmer with his brigade was
sent to cut the North Carolina railroad,
which wAs done in the most complete man
ner, burning several large bridges, and
tearing up and destroying miles of the
track. The Deep River bridge, which
was one of the bridges destroyed, was Of
great length and hight, and competent en-
ginners state that even with the best of
facilities, it could not be rebuilt in less time
than four weeks. This bridge alone COM
pletely severing the communication be-
tween Raleigh, Greensboro and Salisbury.
SALISBURY.
The main body approaching within about
three miles of Salisbury, found the enemy
strongly posted on the opposite side of
Grants Greek, with about 5000 infantry
and cavalry, and with fourteen pieces of
artillery in position, which were under the
command of Colonel Pemberton, formerly
Lieutenant General. As fast as the column
came up, the troops were put in position,
and the attack commenced, as StonemAn
has great confidence in the theory of "get-
ting in the first blow" The creek had
steep banks, and was only psssable in two
Or three places.
Parties were sent to cut the roads lead
ing to MorgAntown and Charlotte and the
attention of the enemy well engaged in
front. General Gillem directed the 1Ith
kentucky Cavalry to the extreme right,
% Cross over and take possession of the
road to Morgsntown, and Msjor Keogh,
accompanied them. Soon
after they had started, General Stonsmsn,
regarding their success as essential, ordered
Captain Rs Morrow, Assistant Adjutant
General, to go and sea, in person, 70 the
sXecution of the orders given to the llth
Kentucky Cavalry, and overtsking them,
1e and Major Ksogh led the regiment
iharply forward, and made an attempt to
,1oss the creek. Major Keogh rode boldly