The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-23

Cs~ts.
SHERIDAN'S RAIDERS A 4
SCOTTSVILLE.
A private letter from Scottsville gives
a sad account of the action of Sheridan
and his raiders:
The enemy we're in two columns -
one from North Garden, commanded by
Sheridan in person, passed on towards
Howardsvills and New Market; the re-
mainder, from Charlottesville, supposed
to have been about four thousand, went
to Scottsville. They entered the town
on Monday, about o'clock in the after
noon. The citizens were in the streets
at the time of the entry of the advanced
guard, who were somewhat disguised,
and were not sure that they were Yam
KEGS until they began to fire promiscu-
ously upon the citizens. They immedi-
ately broke open the bank, and were
greatly disappointed at not finding
anything, as all the effects had been
removed the week previous. None
Of the people were hurt but some
were made prisoners, and carried away
some distance from town, and then re-
leased. The stores were broken open
and their contents appropriated and in
discriminatory distributed by the Yam
KEGS to the degrees and low class of
whites, who led the robbers from place
to place and pointed out property to be
robbed. This was done nearly altoge-
ther by the white people and the loss in
this way is very heavy. On Monday
evening, they burned Brady's candle
factory and the stable of Mr.. j. o. Lewis.
On Tuesday morning, they burned the
mill, factory, company's shop, foundry
and many other buildings, which caught
fire from the burning of these. Twenty
five dwelling houses were destroyed, and
the people are in state of restitution.
On Thursday, Sheridan's force came
down the canal, and on Friday pillaged
everything they could find in town, and
then left for Columbia.
Some persons were treated in Most
shameful manner, and some with inhu~
manity. The Yankees entered the room
of young lady who was very ill, and
cursed her and other ladies of the family.
A drunken party went to the house of
Mr.. Charles Scott. who lives about six
miles from Scottsville, insulted his wife,
pushed her out of the house, and fred
it. Mr.. Scott had gone to the woods to
secrete some valuables, and returning,
saw his house in flames; he fell dead.
and was so found next day. When
Sheridan himself was in town, those with
whom the officers were quartered. and
also those who applied for guard, were
not molested.
We learn that the Yankees took Mr..
Turner, the President of the Bank Of
Howardsville, and whipped bin in the
of his family in order to CON-
pei him to tell the whereabouts of the
specie. 1t had been removed. The
damage done to the canal is, of course.
very great, but it can be repaired so as to |
be somewhat available in three weeks. |
The aqueduct at Columbia was not in
lured. The Yankees made a deep cut
through the embankment, and thus drew
Dtf the water from the canal otherwise.
the aqueduct is uninjurcd. The locks
IRE all injured to some extent. but can
soon be repaired. About q thousand |
negroes went off with tie -aiders.-|
Among them, women with young chill |
dren. On the second day, some of them,
tired Of their burdens, and the Yankees
not caring to help them, as many as
sixteen threw their babies into the canal.
The men were taken off whether they
we're willing to 60 or not, and forthwith
mounted and armed. Wherever Sheri-
aan's raiders went they took whatever
hey wanted, and did as they pleased.