Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-21
stoneman,s Rsport.
HEADoR's DEPT EAST TENNESSEE, !
In TaE FIELD, CAMP AT SLAYTERs.
VILE, N. G. }


April l3, via JoNEsBoRo.
Nojor General AGsmas
have the the honor to report the follow
ing as the result of our operations since my
last dispatch from Rome, North Carolina.
From Rome it became necessary to cross the
Blue Ridge into the Yaikin River bottom, in
order to obtain supplies for men aud horses
there, but we we're detained three days by a
freshet From thence we struck for Christ
iansburg On the route | detached Colonel
Miller, with portion Of his brigade to Wythe.
Vile, and Major Wagner with portion of the
10th PENNSYLVANIA, and Palmer's brigade, to
Big Lick. These three points were struck al
most simultaneously
Colonel Palmer attacked, and after some
fighting captured Wythville, destroying the
depot OF supplies at that point, also at Mair's
meadow Major Wagner, after striking the
railroad at Big Lick pushed on toward Lynch.
burg, destroying on his way important bridges
over the Big and Little Otter, and got to
within four miles OF Lynchburg, with the
main body, effeetually destroying the road
between New river aud Big Lick and then
struck for Greensboro, on the North Carolina
Railroad. When we arrived near Salem,
North Carolina, detailed Pamers brigade
TO destroy the bridges between Danville and
Greensboro, and between Greensboro and
Yadkn River, and all the large depots Of
supplies along the road.
This duty was performed with considerable
fighting, resulting in the capture of 400 pris
oners, and to my entire satisfaction.
With the other two brigades, Browns and
MilIers, and the artillery under command Of
Lieutenant Reagan, we pushed for Salisbury,
where we found about 5000 troops, under
Major General Wm. Gordner, and fourteen
pieces OF artillery, under Colonel Tite and
Lieutenant General PembeTton-the whole
formed behind Grants Creek, about two miles
aud half from Salisbury. AG soon as proper
dispositions could be made, 1 ordered gen
eral charge along the entire line, and the re-
suit was the capture of fourteen pieces of ar
tiery and | 1864 prisoners, including fifty
three officers
All the artillery, and | ,lG4 prisoners, are
now with us. The remainder Of the force
was chased through and several miles beyond
the 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 bridges, toward Char
lotte, and then moved to this point
From here We shall move to the south
side Of the CAtawba and be in position TO op
crate against Charlotte and Columbia, or up
The following is partial list of the public
property captured north of Salisbury aud de.
stroyed byu
Four large cotton factories, and two thou
sand bales of cotton; four large magazines
containing 10, 900 stand small arms, 900 000
rounds small arms ammunition, 1000 rounds
fixed artillery ammunition, and 1000 pounds
powder, 80 600 bushels corn, 10000 bushels
wheat, l60, 900 pounds cured bacon, 100000
suits gray uniform clothing, 100000 army
blankets, and 10000 pounds harness leather
10000 pounds saltpeter; also, very large
smonntof sugar, salt, rice, and other stores
and medical supplies valued by the rebel
Medical Director at 100000 n gold, in ad
dition to the arsenal at Salisbury. The mill
tary works were being filled up, and were
fitted with machinery sent from Raleigh and
Richmond, all Of which was destroyed.
The depots along the route trayersed by
our parties have furnished US with abundance
The number of horses and mules captured
and taken along the road / have no means
of estimating | can say we are much better
mounted than when we left Knoxville We
have very large surplus of animals, and a
sufficient number besides to haul off all o'
our eaptives, mount portion Of the prison
ers, and about thousand conlrabands, anC
this after crossing Stone Mountains once anC
the Blue Ridge three times, and march
made by headquarters, since the goth of las
month, OF Eve hundred miles and many NOR,
by portions of ths command The rapidity
Of our movements in almost every instance
caused our advanced guard to herald our ap
proaeh, and make the surprise complete
General Gillem, the immediate eommande
of the Division, who is entitled to full share
Of what is due, will make the detailed repor
Of the expedition.
The only casualties ia my staff was Captain
Morrow, A. A, g., who, while gallantly assist
ing Major Keogh, my aid-de camp while lead
ing the l7th Kentucky cavalry in the fight a
Salisbury, was on his twentieth birthday
severely but not dangerously wounded in ih'
left knee These two young officers, as wa
also Major Baseom, A. A G., my Chief o
staff, Captain Chamberlain; my Chief Quar-
termaster, aud Captain Allen, A. A. g.
wish 10 bring to your especial attention, and
through you, to the General in Chief
[Sigued.l GEo. SroEEMAS,
Major General
GEo. H. THOMAS, Major General.