The Portland daily press., 1865-01-16
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter Prom the Extreme South.

~ .a CAMP 2D Me. CAVALRY, q ~
BarrGncGs, Fla. Dec. 20th, 1854. {
70 the Editor ofthe Press:
An expedition consisting of the I'd Me. Cav,
1st Fla. Cav, SD, Seth and 9th us. c. T..
one section of artillery Numbering about 2000
men under command of Col. Robinson OF the
latter regt. left this post Tuesday, 18th inst.
and have just returned after very successful
raid into the edge of Alabama. The object OF
the raid was to destroy the large quantity OF
military stores andsupplies supposed to be at
Pollard, Ala, also TO burn or destroy the ex-
tension trestle bridge across the big Escambia
River OF the Mobile and Charleston r. R., and
do what other damage to the rebs Wa could
conveniently. Nothing of importance or in
terest occurred until the third days march
when the Cavalry was sent on ahead and sue
ceeded in surprising small rebel camp at
Bluff Springs, and capturing few prisoners.
The rest escaped in the direction of Pollard
We pushed on aud arrived at the Escambia,
where we found herebels on the opposite side,
behind breastwOrks and portion OF the bridge
Our cavalry dismounted and a portion pro-
ceeded down stream, forded across and came
up upon their flank and quickly routed them.
The I'd Me. under Lit. Col. Squirting was then
sentaup to destroy the railroad bridge, which
was about mile and half above. Major
Hutchinson, with one battalion was detached
to station about three miles distant, III have
forgotten the name, and would have captured
train, had it not been for the drunkenness O f
one of his officers Lit. Col. S. proceeded to
the bridge where he found a force stationed
to guard it, which he attacked, drove off, and
then set about the destruction of the bridge,
which he succeeded in doing in most thorough
manner, thus completely cutting off the rail-
road communication between Mobile and
Montgomery, and above.
This bridge cannot be rebuilt with the facil-
ities the rebels have at hand, in less than four
months, at the end of which time they will
not need it, for Mobile will then be in our
hands. This bridge was considerably damaged
aboutfour weeks ago, by the heavy freshet,
and had just been repaired, the first train hav-
ing passed over it the evening before -
While at work upon the bridge Col. Spur
ling received quite severe injury from fall,
which came near depriving us of the valuable
service he after rwards rendered US. -ig55S
The destruction OF the Bridge completed,
the 2i Me. rejoined the column which had ali
got up to the big Escambia Bridge, moved on
to little Escambia River with Cavalry and Ar
tillery, aud here found our progress disputed
by a strong force npon the opposite side, and
the planks of the Bridge torn up. They OPEN
ed severe fire OF musketry upon us. Capt.
Roberts, I'd Me. Cavalry, with his Battery was
then ordered to the front, to ahell them out,
which he promptly did, after throwing Is or
Il.
then dsmounted and charged over the bridge
passing the enemy at some distance, taking
several prisoners-the rebels flying in the di-
reetion of Pollard, two miles distant. 1t now
being night we remained at the River all night,
and at 6, A. NJ, the 10Th took up the march
again, marched into Pollard and found it en-
tirely destitute Of garrison or male population,
the 'chivalry" having gaLldrltty left their wives
daughters, and sisters to take care OF them
ne IN
las we expected,) large quantities of arms
requirements, ordnance stores, Quarter Mas
Wr and Commissary Stores, and at tn a Rail-
road Station, aboute 10000 bushels Of Corn
marked for Hoods Army" Tennessee. Ali
of which, together with the Storehouses and
Depots we burned, and also another Railroad
Bridge beyond the town. The work Of de-
struction consumed nearly all day, and just be-
fore night we took up our line OF march to
Camp, reached the little Eseambia, crossed
without obstruction and marched on TO big
Escambia, where we found force to obstruct
our further progress. We made no attempt
TO advance across the bridge until morning,
but consumed the remainder of the night In
bnilding Breastworks OF logs and timber, and
by day light we had quite secure covering
for our men and Artillery. EeasssarR
The earliest dawn revealed the enemy in
line of battle, and we Immediately opened up
on them with Artillery and Musketry, with
the 99Jh U. S. G. L., in readiness to charg
across the bridge to be followed by the Caval-
ry and Artillery. So unexpected was our
attack made that the enemy did not recover
from the shock until the Infantry was hall
way across, when they opened heavy fire
upon the head of the column, wounding Col.
Robinson who led the charge, and several
others, killing Lit. Bolan and one colcred sol
der; this staggered the column for few
moments but they went on again, and com
pletely routed the enemy, who mounted their
horses and went on in front Of u.s. Our col
umn then took up its march, and proceeded
about three miles, when the fleeing rebels
meeting with reinforcements made stand
Lit. Col. Squirting being in command since Col.
Robinson was wounded, ordered the battery
to the 'front.' when few well directed shells
set them to flying again. c1 4oii '4lo
Z A heavy line of skirmishers was thrown out
with one regiment OF Infantry marching in
line upon each side Of the road. Il should have
mentioned before this that we had a train OF
40 army wagons and 10 ambulances, which
was great mistake to the planners of the ex
pedition.)
The enemy made several stands during the
early part of the day, but were every time
quickly shelled out. Finding they could do
nothing with Us in front, they changed their
base, sent on small force in advance to tear
up or burn the bridges, and moved their fol-
ces DacK SO as 10 allow US 10 pass tnem SO thai
they could try our rear. About noon we
reached 'Canon Creek" found the bridge par.
TALLY destroyed, set our pioneers and engi-
neers at work repairing it, and in half an hour
il was completed, and our train had lust COM
menced crossing when they attacked our rear
guard which was tbs 1st Fla Cav, and 82d
Iufantry (coIored. The I'd Me. Cavalry was
sent back to their assistance and held the
ground until the train was all safely across
when we withdrew the rear guard and in oui
turn destroyed the bridge but as the stream
was fordable for Cavalry, it did not retart
their advance much. dls + haa tatsa5
We had no further trouble until we reached
''Mitchell's Creek" about eight miles further
along when we found the pridge on fire. VIZ
however succeeded in putting out the flame
before the sleepers were injured, and RAJ
fence close by, furnished material for rebuild
ing it. In the mean time the rebels had re
s1 ceived additional reinforcements and agai
renewed the attack with about twelve hun
dred Cavalry.
At this point they made desperate sttemp
to capture our train but were handsomel
checked and held at bay until our trains haC
crossed the bridge, when we opened upo
them with artillery from the opposite sid
which thro wing them into some confusion, tn
S2d Colored Infantry charged them and drov
them back We were now about miles froI
Pine Barren Creek, and night was close
hand. We must cross this and then we wer
comparatively safe even though the enemy r,
ceived additional reinforcements. The enem
eupposine we should ATTEMPT to cross at III