Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-01-11
The Late Raid into Virginia.

We have seen various newspaper accounts OF the
late successful raid into Virginia by General Stone
man, and in most of them, the credit of what was
done is given TO the Kentucky forces under General
Burbridge We were not with the expedition but
we are able TO state the leading facts in the case
and then We leave the reader to form his own opn-
ions
General Burbridge commanded 1000 mounted
men. General Gillem commanded /, 100 East Ten
nessee mounted men. Major General Stoneman
was chief in command. The first engagement was
at Klngsport, where Gillcm whipped and dispersed
Duke. forces. charging them through the river
capturing 100 and killing 10 men. Among the
captured was Colonel Dick Morgan, brother Of
John, and 'the last of the Mohegans,"
General Burbridge then took the lead, by direc-
ton Of the Major General, and at three o'clock be-
fore day the next morning, surrounded and cap
tured Bristol 200 prisoners. two trains Of cars five
engines and large lot of stores. Gillcm and his
men assisted in this capture but place the credit
to the account of Burbridge MS he was in command,
Burbrdge continued in the advance. and on the
night Of the 18th of December captured Abingdon,
one gun, large amount of stores-Gilems forces
assisting in burning the Jail and rebel printing Of
flee. Gen. Gillem pursued Vaughn and came up
with him at Marion, whcrc they fought off and
on to Mount Airy, whipping the rebels and captur-
ing lot of prisoners, say so men. Burbridge sent
a brigade to the support of Gillem in this fight
At Marion our forces destroyed large iron foundry
| the depot and stores and the rebel printing Office.
Burbrdge sent one brigade forward to destroy the
lead mines, which they did eifectually. Meanwhile,
Gillcms command moved forward on the salt works,
burned the village Of Salville, and destroyed the
works several hours in advance of the arrival of n
portion of Burbridges forces. Gilem then cap
tured Wytheyille, and destroyed most of the town
by setting fire to a large church filled with powder
END hhPlsnnHeG mr. cfhSRfwAP9r, 5SBFuTed dE Rs
seville, and the galows and rope were still there
Gem's forces took two rebel prisoners and hung
them on the same gallows, and left them hanging
This was exactly right. Gillems forces captured
nineteen out of the tce',ty guns taken Jointly the
force. Of Burbrdge and Gillem went forward be-
! yond Wytheville, destroying the Railroad and
bridges, ms far as Muck's Meadows. Both commands
did well, and jointly destroyed sl50ooOoO or $2O,-
100000 worth Of property.
! What we have said j. not intended to dsparage
Burbrdge and his men, but to do justice to Gillcm
and his noble Tennessee troops, who in proportion
to numbers did more service than any other set of
men in the expedition. -Four hundred of Giem
men have returned badly frost bitten, having en-
countercd the .everest weather we have had in a
raid Of twenty days duration. Both men and
horses are utterly prostrated-fghting and travelling
night and day-living off the ceuntry-encounter-
ing rain and mud, and snow, and. ice, and water.
equal to the hardships of Napoleons army crossing
the Alps. Gillems men are entitled to rest, and
they must have it. Their animals are entitled to
rest and double ration.. Men and animals have
done good work and deserve the thanks Of the
country
We might have said more-less We could not have
,aid in justice To our men. General Stoneman
speaks in high terms Of both commands and saws
he never had command u better set of men