Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-05-12
GENERAL WILSON'S ExPEDITIoN.

New York, May 4.-The HerGld'S Savannah
correspondent of the 18th says:
General Wilson's famous raiding expedition
arrived here yesterday from Macon. The fol-
lowing is a condensed history of the trip:
General Wilson left Chickasaw, Alabama, on
the 22d of March. 1t is not proper To give any
statement of the number of his force.
Ebenezer Church, near Plantersyille, Ala,
was taken after short engagement with For
rests cavalry, and three hundred prisoners and
three guns were captured. Forrest s forces were
driven To the west of Cahawba River and sepa-
rated, aud column was sent To Tuscaloosa,
which captured and destroyed much rebel gov
eminent property.
Selma 24l miles from the base, was captured
on the I'd of April with 2,700 prisoners 80 guns
in position and IS in arsenal. We destroyed
three rolling mills with fixtures, very large
naval foundry, an arsenal, second in importance
in the COnfederacy, powder works, magazines,
and large number of ears We remained at
Selma eight days. The Alabama River was
bridged $50 feet, the operation requiring five
days, from the 5th to the 10th. The next place
attacked was Montgomery, fifty miles distant,
destroying all the bridges ON the Alabama and
Tennessee rivers. The railroad to Columbiana
WAS destroyed. The enemy destroyed 81 600
bales of cotton Montgomery surrendered with
We destroyed two rolling mills and foUndries,
two magazines, one locomotive, sixty three cars,
and five steamboats, were captured on the river,
near Wetuplka, and nitre works. The rebels
burned $4,000 bales OfcottOn before evacUatiDg.
Columbus, georgia, eighty five miles distant,
was taken by assault after dark, on the 18th,
and 300 prisoners were captured, fifty-three
guns, seven large cotton factories, 100000 bales
of cotton and immense quantities Of ordinance,
qusrtermaster and cOmpissary stores, large
arsenal, pistol factory, an accOutrement factO-
ry naval foundry, a rolling mill and foundry,
an arsenal foundry, thirteen locomotives and
over 100 cars.
Dupont's machine shops were captured and
destroyed.
A guuboat monting SIX inch rifed guns,
now called the Jackson, but the name of which
has been recently changed, was captured
A detOur to West Point was made by La
oranges brigade, who attacked the works and
carried them by storm capturing the garrison,
$50 in number and guns, and killing the rebel
General Tyler in command. Fifteen locomotives
were destroyed, 300 cars, two bridges and two
large factories in the vicinity. We destroyed
large quantities Of quartermaster and Commissa-
ry stores at Griffin, and the railroad bridge on
the Selma and Motgomery railroad.
Macon was taken without opposition. We
captured 6eneralS dOWeu OOOD, 6usLaVuS w /.
Smith, formerly Street Inspector Of New York
City, Robertson, Mercer and Mccall. The
The captures are 132 guns in position in the field
and by assault, and 300 guns in arsenals, with
immense amounts of ordinance, quartermaster
and commissary stores, cotton, machinery, rail-
road stock, dc.
New York, May 4-The Herdlds special
says: In the assault on Selma, Brig. Gen. Eli
Long, of the I'd division, had command of the
right, and Brevet Mai Gen. Emory Upton, of
of the left A preliminary assault by the escort
was unsuccessful The second division charged
over the works in splendid style, carrying ev-
eything before them.
The enemys force was from 5000 to 1000,
mostly militia, and our assaulting force was on
ly 1850. Gen. Lsng was wounded and has ar
rived here en- route for the north.
Our losses were $50 and the enemy officially
state their loss to have been between 400 and
500
The result of the campaign may be summed
as follows. The capture and occupation of four
of the most important cities in the Confederacy,
5000 prisoners over 300 guns and large sup
ply of small arms the devastation of the country
and destruction of at least $780, 600, 0O0 worth
of property directly or indirectly belonging to
the rebel government.
Our whole loss in all the expedition was on
ly $50. A total of 48I miles was marched IN
80 days averaging over 20 miles per day during
the time.