Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-01-06

capturing 90 rebels, and taking their wagon
train. They we're pursued to Bristol, which
place was attacked at 8 o'clock in the morn
ing, and captured with 25 prisoners. trains
Of cars, engines, and immense quantlries Of
stores.
learned that Vaughn was at Zollicofer,
IL miles below, and marched to attack him,
but he slipped away in dense fog and made
for the salt works. / discovered his fight
in time to head him off at Arlington, which
place | captured on the night of Dec. IA.
taking one gun, large amount OF stores and
an engine with rolling stock. Gen. Gillem
continued bis pursuit of Vaughan, coming up
with and driving him from strong position
and capturing so prisoners. sent Col.
Browns brigade to the support of Gen. Gill
lem, who again came upon the enemy at
Mount Airy and drove him in confusion, cap
turing svme prisoners, pieces of cannon,
and large wagon train. Col. Brown with
his brigade, later in the day, charged the
home guard at Wytheville, capturing pieces
of cannon and caissons.
Major Harrison of the 18th Kentucky
who had been detached by order of General
Stoneman, with 800 picked men and horses,
struck the Virginia railroad on the 18th near
Glades Springs, cutting il and capturing two
trains Of cars. He then got in Vaughan's
fsont and continued along the line of the road,
destfying all the bridges and depots as far as
Wythevllle and large amount of rolling
stock and the great iron works near Macon.
Col Brown destroyed the bridges for ten
miles above Wythevlle, when the expedition
started on its return, the men and horses be-
ing nearly worn out. / came on Breckin-
ridge, who was following, and an engagement
Of SO hours ensued, at the close Of which
Breckenridge retreated toward Saltvie, but
Col Buckley with his brigade having got in
his rear, forced him in confusion toward
North Carolina. Col. Buckley efectually
destroyed the lead mills near Wytheville.
On the night Of the goth, after some resist
lance, our united forces captured the sal
works and eight pieces Of cannon. The ex-
petition has been entirely successful and will
be more felt by the enemy than the loss Of
Richmond The salt works and lead mines
are in ruins and cannot be repaired during
the war.
My forces are now at this place and safe.
(Signed) S. T. BURBRIDaE.
Brevet Maj. Gen.
NASHVILLE. Dec. 80.
The first train through from Chattanooga
arrived this evening Railroad communities
ton will be regularly kept up. Gen. Thorn
as headquarters we're at Pulaski last night.
Our advance is closely following Hood, who
tits believed is trying to cross the Tennessee
river. He feif'
Maj. Gen. Stoneman who arrived in this
city last night from his great raid in East
Tennessee and South Western Virginia fur
nishes the following account of the expedi-
tion. The force consisted of Gen. Bur-
bridges troops and Gen. Gillen's East Ten
nessee force all under command of General
Stoneman. They left Knoxville on the 18th
inst. The movement was unknown TO the
rebels and was not discovered until after three
days. At Kingsport, the rebel Gen. Jones'
force which consisted of 500 of Morgan's old
command was attacked and the rebels killed or
scattered. The rebel force (vaughn's) discov-
cred st Papertown near Bristol trying to
effect ajunction with Breckenridge at Saltville
Our forces pursued them to Marion where
an ebgsgemen. occurred resulting in loss to
the rebels of all their force and artillery ex-
cept about 200 men who retreated towards
Lynch burgh. Va. Breckenridge followed
Gen. stoneman with the forces OF Galtner.
Crosbr and Withers and the balance Of
Dykes command who had been on the from
tier OF Kentucky waiting to cooperate with
their cavalry. sHf
Gen. Stoneman attacked Breckenridge at
Marion aud drove him over the ntain in
to North Carolina. His command then at
tackled the salt works which we're defended
by about 700 men who were either captured
or dispersed. The loss by this raid to the
rebels is immense. All the railroad bridges
from New River to the Tennessee line were
destroyed. Thirteen railroad trains with To-
com0tives. Several trains and extra cars
without engines were captured and destroyed.
Depots of supplies in South Western Virginia,
founderes mills factories, store houses.
wagon and ambulance train, railroad and turn
pike bridges we're destroyed. In addition
we captured $500 rounds of artillery ammu-
milton, 1000 pack saddles, large amonnt OF
harness and great quantity Of small arms.
2000 horses and 1000 mules. Among the
captured are two rebel editors and four se-
cession printing Offices. The greatest loss to
the rebels was the destruction Of the salt and
lesd works, both Of which were rendered
useless. Our losses were very small, not
exceeding 200 killed. wounded and missing.
We captured "a officers and S45 men. o.sf
East Tenn. is now free from any body of
rebels. Gen. Stoneman had possession of
he rebel telegraph line aud held it for i8
nours, during which time he discovered all
their plans and movements. f..
eg ide New YORK, Dec. 81.
The New York Herald has advices from
Savannah to the 26th ult., which state that
efforts were being made to intercept the re-
treat of the rebel army under Hardee before
il could reach Broad river. Cannonading was
heard in that direction but the result Of IL
had not been learned. The day before Hsr-
dee evacuated the place he kept up terrible
capnonading on our lines, but did little ipju-
ry 1t seemed as if his object was simply to
waste all the powder he could so that II