Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-06
THE GREiT sTONRKAN RAID.
where IL Went-..What II Destroyed
IsAmense Losses Indicted On the
Rebels.
LrxINoroN. X, Jan. I'd. 2S64.

coAIAr An0 spnr (lOr VIC must hiHHys
pack as lightly as possible for rsids) Gen
ecsl Burblidges Division left Crab Or
chard, Kentucky, November 22d. duringa
furious, freezing snow storm, for Cumber-
land Gap.
After thoroughly equipping ourselves
we left the Gap on the 2sth and arrived at
Beans Station, East Tennessee, after four
days march, during which we crossed the
Clinch river, by swimming our horses and
ferrying our men, under fire ofthree hun
dred rebels. Upon the night of our arri-
val the 18th Ohio Cavalry made q recon
noisance in force to Rogersville, twenty
three miles distant, and n General
Vaughn's rear, he being at Wilmington.
In going We chased his pickets fifteen
miles, capturing one Captain and four
men.
General Stoneman arrived at Beans
Station December I1th, with General Gil
len'z brigade, making our entire force
some six thousand, and We all started on
the 18th toward Virginia, Major General
Stsneman commanding. No one knew
the point of our destination, nor did We
surmise rightly until three days after
To this secrecy in grest part ia atlrib-
utsble the success Of this expedition, over
former raids of Gendral BurbFidge At
hingsport we encountered General Dukes
command, and killsd and wounded some
thirty, took one hundred prisoners and his
whole wagon train and, completely routed
his entire command without the loss of a
man,
The second night We entered Bristol
Rebel Military Post, on the line of the
Tennessee and Virginia-took possession
of the town in the middle of the night, and
captured railroad trains, with some
prisoners. 1t seems the scattered frag-
ments of Duke had fed hither, snd-mis-
erable towards that they were-we took
oTeE-fOaE hNAzAAE ID -laEisaASzs, -soattaraa in
houses thrOuhout the town without once
being fired upon. During the ensuing
day all the rebel stores and buildings were
destroyed, including the Paymssters Office
and fifty millions of Confederate money,
One of the boys who demolished the build
ing was seen walking throug the streets
with five millions in his arms A citizen
said "Ysnk what is you gwine to do wid
all that money" The soldier answered
by throwing q handful into the muddy
street and walking on it. This generous
soldier afterwards bought fifteen hundred
dollars worth of goods fOrs poor colored
woman, and gave her tWenty-four thousand
dollars beside, and indeed ministeFed tC
the poor Unfortunately
Near night we left for Abingdon, Viz
| ginia, cutting off VGughn's retreat and
leaving in our rear. In entering this city
Company F 18th o. Y. c. showed gallant
| ry worthy of them. They were the per
sonal escort of General Burbridge -Four
hundred rebels fred upon the advance,
another regiment, the General being close
behind. The advance were ordered to
charge, but falling, Lieutenant Nelson
Holt, commanding the escort ordered the
charge, They passed the advance and
routed the four hundred completely, al
though numbering only forty men. In
| the charge Lieutenant Holt and Orderly
Sergeant Sherburne were both wounded
| severely in the head. We were Obliged td
leave them at Abingdon, but it is hoped
both viii recover. This was also large
military post, and was destroyed without
formidable opposition.
The next dsY and night We travelled on
forced march for Wytheville, General
Gillian being in the advance. Arriving
st Marion the morning Of the second day
General 'Gillem encountered Vaughn
force which had passed US by another
road TO Join General Breckenridge. After
ten minutes severe skirmish general
charge was ordered which was wholly
successful. Vaughn retreated toward
Wytheville, and then began chase. The
first brigade including the 18th Ohio
concern ing which hope to keep you IN
formed, was ordered forward TO Gillen's
bsupport. We chased them thirty-three
miles in about six hours. As the LEADER
has said, "Gillem is trump" and his East
Tennessee boys are worthy Of their leader,
or, in your Yernacular, "good side cards"
In this pursuit he captured over three hum
dred prisoners and eight pieces of artillery.
We never fired a gun, but charged sabTes
upon them constantly. The rebels who
would not surrender, but took to the woods,
were left there with several heads. The
rosdsides we're streWn with the dead and
wounded, all showing wounds from the
sabre. Ssbres are Of use In the army,
Il had not been long since Gillem had
made such q retreat-in kind, but not in
magnitude Knoxville, before Vaughan.
Then the cry was constantly made to the
officer commanding Vsughsn's brigade,
IA noted guerrilla, whom we captured, too, J
"Give it to them, Major DayP Now, the
Tennesseas would cry when close upon
them, sure of their victims, "Ulose up,
Major DayPs and the poor scsmp7, with
iaded horses knew they could not Hclose
up" General Gillem captured their last
piece of artillery one mile from Wyth7ille,
where he halted, massed his two brigsdes,
and sent in a demand for the surrender OF
the town. This being refused, we moved
nlsjestically over the hills into the town.
The advanced regiments charged, and the
nJohnnies" fed in every direction, firing
no more than round to the man. This
was another military post, containing i'm
mense supplies, especially of ammunition.
We destroyed il, and having DESTROYED
tuc EdllfOdA Ou OuE SAklGo AndiSLj duu bSu
miles beyond this place, We had now nearly
one hundred and fifty miles demolished.
Having the facilities, subjoin an estimate
of property destroyed at Wythvilie-one
of four posts taken; 800 stand of arms,
100000 rounda of ammunition, pieces
of artillery, 55 esissons, 10000 rounds ef
fixed artillery ammunition, 100 harnesses,
l25 pack-ssddlez, 1900 Gotten comforts,
Z 600 blankets, $4,000 worth of medical
stores, 40 tons of hay, 5000 bushels Of
grain, 5000 rations, 60 Confederate States
wagons, railroad depot, ordnance depot IA
chnrch) sr d splendid railroad bridge Of
eight hundred feet spsn.
Wytheville was the farthest point reach
ed by the main force, and by reference to
q map it will be seen thst we had left Salt
| ViIle To our left snd rear. Thither now