Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-01-12

mcrcial gives the following details Of the
occupation and destruction Of Saltville du-
ring the recent raid Of Gems. Stoncman and
Bnrbridge:
OCCUPATION OF THE WORKS.
II was on the night of the 10Th that our
troops finally entered Saltville. The gar
rson made hut a slight resistance. Timid
and tottering old men, and frightened
boys. what could they do Thew scatter
ell like a flock of goats upon the side Of
the mount ain when the crack Of the hun-
ter's rifle hurtles among the rocks and
trees. Our men captured fully one half of
them. parolling them on the spot. The
18th Tennessee cavalry. Colonel Stacy,
performed a feat of singular daring. Dash
at full gallop mp the side of steep hill,
without taking the usual precaution to dis
mornt. they leapcd their horses over the
bitches. and up the parapets. and actually
rode into Fort Breckinridge /! Twas a
gallant deed. When was it ever heard
before that cavalry rode into fort? II is
true. the place was defended only by Mill
tia and they boys and old men; but of
this they could know nothing till they hal
ridden full into their faces. The crack Of
muskct is just as keen. and the bristle Of
the bayonet is just as ugly, when in the
hands OF an octogensrian as wien handled
by veteran OF many battles.
THE CONFEDERATION.
The town was occupied about 8 o'clock
p. m. and at the public buildings were
wrapped in flames. On top Of the high
hill where stood Fort Breckenridge. were
gathered Gen. Stoneman and his staff, eni
many others to behold the strange wild
scene that followed The darkness was
appall ng. The bleak wind shrieked in
Gttul blasts about them, scattering far anil
wiie the showers of sparks which rose
from the blazing ruins, and hurling the
columns of thi. k. black smoke. rilted with
glaring light. away into the somber black
ness of the night. The faces OF the men,
as they g.z,l in silence. gowed with an
unusual brilliancy. and a they moved 81
len,ly about among the scattered aud leaf
less trees, their shadows were projected in
TO the neighboring forests. like huge COB.
lins treading the murky air. The flames
leaped aud ian upon the buildings in the
valley like saiyrs. From a mill close al,
their feet. they communicated to the wood
work of the race, and seizing upon the
wheel, fed upon it until the gates were
burned and broken away, ana poured a
hpcd OF water upon it. thus mingling the
very elements in tumulrous wareiare.
THE SALT wOpKs
These were on the most extensive scale.
and capable of making a vast yield. 1t is
estimated that there were at the time they
seized them l40 90 bus. salt. ready to be
shipped to MAJ kct. 1t was of the finest
quality. This they could not destroy, ex-
cept to tramplc it in the mud and expose
it to the rain. They destroyed over 1000
great kettles uscl for evaporating it,
These were manufactured at the Tredegar
Iron Works, at Richmond. and were on
the bottom. nearly three inches in thick
ness. There are but tour wells, and these
all stand within a space of sixty square
feet. Repeated at'emps have been made.
on all sides of them. to strike other veins.
so that nearly the whole surface has been
bored over, but nothing has been found
The wells are $50 feet deep three OF them
are four and half inches in diameter, one
five and half These are lined with cop
per tubes. and into these were dropped
shell and shot which fitted closely, and the
spaces filled up with bullets and shrcds of
iron. Railroad iron was also dropped in.
The chief engineer Of the works, who was
A -
ion. that it will be easier to bore zew
wells than to clear these. The immense
loss which this will he to the Ooniederacy,
can be readily conceived.
RESULTS.
Our forccsscaptured. during the expedi-
ton. nineteen pieces OF artillery, twenty
extra caissons of ammunition. over so
prisoners, besides the militia paroled, and
DESTROYED $50 wagons filled with supplies
and ammunition. fifteen locomotives and
nearly 200 cars. about ninety two miles Of
track aud depots. BRIGGS. buildings. man.
ufactories, machinery, and military snp-
plies to the value of many millions of dol
lars. They discomitted and scattered two
armies numbering about 1900 men, and
with a loss TO themselves of not above $50
men.
NEWSPAPERS.
Another item, not the least By far. is
the squelehng of five rebel newspapers
one at Bristol. one at Saltville. one at
Abingdon, and two at Wvtheville. The
one at Bristol was the old Knoxville Reg
i,ter, which migrated thither with the reb-
els. and was still published by Sperry IL
Malone. the ancient rivals Of ParsoR
Brownlow. These precious WORTHLESS were
taken into custody and delivered to the
Parson at Knoxville. as a Christmas gift.
Fox. too. the notorious jailor OF Knoxville,
who had so often turned his back and shut
the door npon the miseries OF the in1om-
table Parson. was served in like manner.
MARCHING.
The record of this expedition will scarce
ly be parallelled in this war; Gen Stone
man led an army of overs. 900 men on a
march of 450 miles. an average Of 4255
miles per day. accomplishing the bill
liant and substantial results above emu
merated. and subsisted bis men and
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