The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-04-18
TcoRREsPoSDENcE TRI@wEEKt.Y NEWS.
n.1 Letter rom Camden.

ICoHRESf0NDENUE TM~WEEKi.f NEWS.
4sam Letter from Camden. o.,s I
atBsSAAg3 -, 1 No. l.. n, q. G53As -
An account Of the recent Raid of The
Epe'ny in Sumter and Clarendon
Distracts. .!ias, t4,, s,s d, a..
- CAMDEN Sc, Aprili4, 1866.
Mr.. EPIToR: lItako pleasure n. Civ,
ing to the public, through your columns,
an account of the march of the enemy
through the Districts alb ove, mentioned.
The enemy came up in gunboass to
Nelson's Ferry, in Clarendon, and land
ing about two thousand men, consisting
of one regiment of white and four regi.
ments of black troops, Infantry, and
about one hundred cavalry, they made
a rapid march for, the yillag. Of Sumter,
arriving there on Tuesday evening, the
llth.l On entering the town they i'm
mediately set. fire to the depot, which
they destroyed, together with one store.
Scouts report that this was all the pro,
|,perty they burned, a force Of militia
had been collected to dispute the occui
patton OF Sthe Town, numbering about
one hundred mem Lieut.! McQ Queen, on,
artillery officer, volunteering his services,
was put in command Of two pieces of
artillery, which he served. with about
twelve picked men. The enemy at.
tackled us with spirit, but were held in
check by this handful but gallant band,
for the space tof three hours. Every
man did his duty bravely, and did not
yield his position until the enemy's
cavalry had thanked them and charged
our troops from the rear, when we were
neeessitated to give way with the loss
of the gallant Mcqueen, who was killed
at his post refusing, to. abandon his
guns, which, however, were captured by
the enemy, and were used afterwards by
them in firing a salute, in the town of
Sumtet, in honor Of the fall ''of Rich
mond, Petersburg, Selma and Mobile.
d There was also another officer killed,
whose name. / have been unable to
learn. These were al the losses we sus.
tanned; some few others being slightly
wounded. The enemy acknowledges in
the Sumter Watchman. which they
edited for twodays their losses at thirty
five wounded and twenty five killed.
Their names even were given, not q
usual custom with that race of liars.
The inhabitants Were not molested as
far rs / was able to learn from our scouts
and very few articles taken from them.
On w ednesday they advanced on the
Manchester road, occupied Statesbarg,
burning the Claremont depot. with their
pickets at Beeche's creek. On Thurs.
day they fell back to Manchester, twelve
miles, and occupied it for the night,
burning the depot ,ontheir way to their
gmboats. .I'.]s,
l. Gen. Lewis brigade of cavalry went
in pursuit, md, ere this, we hope .have
come uppWith the enemy, l"s' IN !
The object of the seems ito
have been the staktg OF of negroes,
which our scouts, report to have been
thoroughly carried out, as large num.
sbers were seen on their way to the boats.
Eight steamers went up the river. ais far
as Fort Note and landed part Of the
troops OF. the expeditions these, how.
ever, have not advanced, into the coun-
try,r but confined themselves to, the
plantations in the vicinity, collecting
provisions and stealing generally :. lsT
/ haye given most Of the facts as re.
ported at headquarters in Camden by
Iicooriers, and scouts.ps u ...i',iS \ !
bSsFI hayts lf,iafla az l,,,s.,,,ad atoto,,,,