Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-03-14

t< - I0Vppu1AL1 49,
WAn DwfAnTlrKNs,
wAe.rse10ss March "A
he islloxl1g ssport q sAer!61a's opens
ticns ~ been receivcd " !h!s Depanmens.
mEApq'ns MnDr. pEr,I Mn DIV,
OOIUMBsA, Va, March ~
To Lswstnnsf- GDnww Qfs2t
General: In my last, dated waynesboro,
nr'y t w Cdsssr DIVISION ihe sasie r3Iebt
this Division was pushed across Blue RIDGE
and entered Charlottesville at p. m. next
day The Mayor and principal inhabitanfs
came and delivered up the keys Of the pub
lie buildhg I'D tqplc4iG4 Charlottes-
vile two days, the time was consumed in
bringing over from Waynesboro our ammu.
milton and pontoon trains. The weather
was horrible-it nined inccssnnt. The two
divisions were during this time occupied in
destroying two large iron bridges, one over
tnc itivaEnn nver, the other over Monescs
miles in thc direction Of Lynchlmfa ON
the 9th Of March, sant the First Division,
Gen: Devin commanding, TO Scotsyillc. on
the James river, with directions to send out
light nrtin through the country and des-
Nruy Al merchandise, mills, factories, bridges
on the kivanna railroad The parties to Join
the Division at Scotsvillc. The Division
tnen proceeded along the Cansl 10 Dugends-
vile, 10 miles from Lynchbtlfg, destroying
every lock, and in many places the bank Of
the Canal At Dugendsyille we hoped to
secure the bridge to gross the river, as our
pOntOons were useless, on account of high
water. In this we failed, as both this bridge
and the bridge ut Hardwicksville were burned
~ the enemy upon our approach. Merritt
accompanied this Division.
The I'd division started at the same time
from Charlottesville and proceeded down the
Lynchburg X X. to Amherst Court House,
destroying every bridge on the road and in
many places miles Of the Rad. The bridges
on this road are numerous and some OF
800 feet In length. We have found great
abundance IN this country for orr men and
animals. In fact the canal had been the
great feeder Of Richmond At the Rockfsh
nivcr the bank Of the canal was cut AT
New Canton, where the dam il across the
james, the guard lock was destroyed and
the James River let into the canal, carving
away the hank and washing out the bottom
Of the canal. Tho dam across the James at
this point was also partially destroyed.
| 4 have had no opposition; everybody is
bcwildercd by our movement. l have had
| no news Oh any KIND since lelt. Inc latest
Richmond papers are Of the 4th, but contain
nothing | omitted to mention that the
bridges on the mlroad from Swoop's Depot,
on the other side Of Staunton, to Charlotte
vile were utterly destroyed; also all the
bridges for ten miles on the Gordonsville X.
| X. The weather has been very bad indeed,
raining hard every day, with the exception
Of four days, since we started My wagons
have, from the state Of the roads, been de-
taircd.s Up to the present time We have cap
turcd fourteen pieces Of artil,cry-clcyen at
Waynosboro and three nj Charlottesville.
The party that sent back from Waynes
boro started with six pieces, hut they were
obliged to destroy two of the six pieces fol
want of animals. The remaining eight
pieces were thoroughly DESTROYED. l have
also captured IL canal boats ladened with
supplies, ammunition, rations, medical stores
&c.
] cannot speak in too high terms of Gems
Merritt, Gustav and Dcvin and the officers
and men of their command. They have
wadcd through mud and water during this
continuous rain and are in fine spirits and
health. Commodore IIOllins, of the rebel
| navy, was shot near Gor,lonsvillc while at
tempting to make his escape from our adj
vance in that direction.
p II. SHERIDAN, Maj. Gen.