Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-04-26
THE WAR. NEWS.
GENERAL sToNEMAN's EXPEDITION
SALISBURY, North Carolina, Captured.


man, which left Knoxville, Tenn, on the
10th of March, struck the East Tennessee
railroad on the l4th at Wytheyille, Chris
tiansburg and Salem Between these noints
33 bridges were burned and 25 miles of track
| totally destroyed, and besides many prison
ers were taken and considerable quantities
of corn and other stores destroyed. The
following detailed report of the expedition.
was sent to Maj. Gen Thomas, and by him
forwarded to the War Department
HEADoRTs EAST TENNESSEE, In THE
FIELD, Statewide, n. c., APR IS
To MAJOR General Thomas, Connsandtng
Department Cumbertdnd.
| have the honor to report the following
as the result OF our operations siuce my last
dispatch from Boone, n. c. From Boone,
it became necessary to cross the Blue Ridge
into the Iadkin river, in order to obtain
supplies for men and horses. There we
were detained three days by a freshet. From
thence we struck for Christiansburg On
the route, l detached Col Miller with por-
ton of his brigade to Wythevile, and Mai.
Wagner, with portion of the 18th Penn
sylvania, Palmer's brigade, to Big Lick
These three points were struck almost SIM
,ultaneously. Col. Palmer attacked, and af-
ter some fighting, captured Wytheville, de-
stroyed the depot of supplies at that point,
and also at Mair' Meadow. Mai. Wagner.
after striking the railroad at Big Lick, push
ed on toward Lynchburg, destroying on his
way the important bridges over Big and Lit
tie Otter, and got to within four miles of
Lynchburg. With the main body effectual-
ly destroyed the road between New river and
Big Lick, and then struck for Greensboro on
| the North Carolina Railroad arrived near
Salem, \. G., and detailed Palmer's bri-
,fx. To H. ths H.
vile and Greensboro and the Yadkin river,
and the large depots of supplies along the
road. This duty was performed with con-
siderable fighting, the capture of 400 pris-
oners, and to my entire satisfaction With
the other two brigades-Brown and Mil
Ter sand the artillery, under the command
OF Lieutenant Reagan, we pushed for Sails
bury, where we found about three thousand
troops, under the command of Major Gen
eral " M. NJ Gardiner, and fourteen pieces
of artillery, under command of Colonel (late
Lieutenant Generall Pemberton,
The whole formed behind Grants creek,
about two and half miles from Salisbury
As soon as proper disposition could be made,
| ordered a general charge along the entire
line, and the result was the capture of the
whole fourteen pieces of artillery, |, 364 pris-
oners, including 80 officers. All the artil-
lery and l,l64 prisoners are now with US.
The remainder of the force was chased
through and several miles beyond town, but
scattered and escaped into the woods. We
remained at Salisbury two days, during
which time we destroyed fifteen miles of
railroad track and the bridges toward Char
lotte, and then moved to this point.
From here we shall move to the south side
of the Catawba river, and be in position to
operate toward Charlotte and Columbia, or
upon the flank Of an army moving south.
The following is a partial list of the public
property captured north Of Salisbury and
destroyed by us. -FOUR large cotton facto-
ries and 1000 bales of cotton, four large
magazines containing 10000 stands of small
arms and accoutrements, 100000 rounds
small arm ammunition, 1000 rounds fixed
artillery ammunition and 20. 600 pounds of
powder, 50, 900 bushels of corn, 80. 900 bush
els of wheat, l60, 900 pounds of cured bacon.
100, 900 suits gray uniform clothing 250, 900
army blankets, 10000 pounds harness leath-
er, 10000 pounds of saltpetre, also very
large amount of sugar, salt. rice and other
stores and medical supplies valued by the
rebel medical directors at 100000 In gold
In addition to the arsenals at Salisbury, the
military prison was being fitted up, and was
filled with machinery sent from Raleigh and
Richmond, all of which was destroyed The
depots along the route traversed by our va
rious parties have furnished us with abun-
dance. The number of horses and mules
captured and taken along the road [ have
no means of estimating. | can say, howev-
er, that we are much better mounted than
when we left Knoxville, have a surplus of
lead animals, and sufficient besides to haul
off all of our captures, mount a portion of
the prisoners, and about thousand contra
bands; and this after crossing Stone Noun
tains once and the Blue Ridge three times,
and a march made by headquarters since the
Goth of last month of five. hundred miles,
and muclfmore by portions of the command.
The rapidity of our movements in almost
every instance caused our advanced guard to
herald our approach and make the surprise
complete. General Gillem, the immediate
commander of the division, who is entitled
to full share of whatever is due, will make
the detailed report of the expedition. The
only casualties in my staff was Captain Rob-
ert Morrow, A. A. g., who, while gallantly
assisting Major Keogh, my A. ID. c., lead
ing the l1th Kentucky cavalry in the fight
at Salisbury, was on his twentieth birthday,
severely but not dangerously wounded in
the left knee. These two young officers, as
well as Major Bascom, A. A G., my chief
of staff; Capt. Chamberlain, my chief quar-
termaster; and Captain Ammen, A A g.,
1 wish to bring to your especial attention
and through you to the attention of the
General-in- Chief
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