The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-24
LATER FROM TIE NORTH.

LATER FROM TIE NORTH.
We have received New York papers o
Monday, the Goth instant There i:
little of importance in them. Gold was
quoted 4; 1G5 Is.
sHERIDAN'S RAID.
The New. York Times has long &C
count of Shcridan's raid and the damag,
done to the farmers along the route, rail
roads, canals, etc. Custer moved upon
Ashland with his division. The account
says:
Custer received information that Early
was lust ahead Of him with about one
hundred and fifty men. Lieutenant
Colonel Whitaker was Immediately or
dered to advance as rapidly as possible,
with detachments from the First Con-
nccticut and Second Ohio. AS the men
gallopcd past Custer he announced that
the man who captured Early and the
commander of his company should re-
ccive thirty days furlough. The boys
pushed on with cheer, and every staff
officer asked and obtained permission to
ioin in the chase. The chase commenced
when within about six miles Of Ground
Squirrel bridge, and SO unexpected was
the approach Of our troops in that direction
to Early, that he was sighted and his
command forced to dispersc for safety
when within two miles Of the bridge. This
movement caused corresponding move
mcnt on the part of our men, and each Sc
parate detachment was followed through
the dense pine woods, over streams and
marshes, until q late hour in the night.
Captain Burton, on the staff, having the
fastest horse, at one time ordered Early's
Acknowledgement to surrender, under the
supposition that he was the General
himself; Early was in three yards OF
the Adjutant at the time. Burton being
alone, the demand to surrender was re-
sponded to by shot which wounded his
horse, causing him to fall, fastening the
Captain by one leg to the ground. This
opportune moment was improved by
Early, and he again plunged into miro
and the pines, this time closely pursued
by Captain Hazleton, of the First Yer
mont Early was finally forced to ford
the South Anna, two miles below the
bridge, at point where, under different
circumstances, no man would have ven-
tured to cross. Here, too, he was so
closely followed that, to distract his pur-
suers, he divided his companions into
three parties, and made his escape on
fo,t, accompanied only by an orderly
The pursuit was kept up, however, for
ten miles further, but night coming on
the hero of the Valley; by the merest
accident, escaped.
Colonel Whitaker kept the main road
to Richmond and struck the Frederlcks-
burg railroad near Kilby's station, and
then followed it up to Ashland, where
the Second New York was met and both
parties returned to camp. .
By this time it was known in Rich
mond that the northern defences of that
citv were threatened, aud troops we're
hastily brought back from Lynchburg
and Charlottesville, Amherst Court
house, Louisa Courthouse and the South
Anna. and between Chesterfield station
and the Chikahominy river. Every
bridge, nearly every culvert, and scores
OF. miles of the rail itself have been com
pletely destroyed. One Of these bridges
was one thousand fcet another seven
hundred and fifty feet, another four hun.
drcd and twenty feet in length, and quite
. number between one hundred and two
hundred. These structures were made
in Alexandra, and no duplicates arc on
hand to replace them.
Longstreet, with the whole of Pickett's
division, and some other troops moved
up to within five miles Of Ashland. On
the following morning, when a detach-
lncnt of the fifteenth New York entered
Ashland as an advance: guard, the ad-
vance of L0pgstreet's column was en-
countered and driven back. Several
staff officers entering the place at the
same time, succeeded in cutting off .Ad-
jatant Auguste, Of the Ninth Virginia
infantry.
Custer Immediately prepared for
action, SO as to compel Longstreet to
show his face. The Second New York,
Colonel Fitzhugh, was thrown out to-
ward the Brook pike, and the First Con.
necticht Colonel Whitaker, was moved
down the railroad. During the day, the
Second drove the enemy's line back upon
the reserve, and in turn was forced to
retire, With the loss Of one man, named
James Swafaman ki11ad .ni &L..l