The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-04-27
slonsman,s Report.
HsADouARIERs DEPARTMENT or East TlNNlsszH,
IL THE FiELD, CAMP AT SJArERyibLE, n. o.,
= April l3, via JOSESbouo.

Major General Thomas:
l have thehonor to report the fol-
lowing as the result of our operations
since my last dispatch from Boone,
North Carolina. From Boone it be-
came necessary to cross the Blue Ridge
into the Yadkin River bottom in order
to obtain supplies for men and horses
there, but We were detained three days
by freshet. From thence we struck
for. Christains5urg. On the route l
detached Colonel Miller, with a por-
ton ofhis brigade, to Wytheville, and
Major Wagner, with portion of the
18th Pennsylvania, and Palmers brig-N
ade, to Big Lick. These three points
were struck almost simultaneously.
Colonel Palmer attacked, and after
some fighting captured Wythville, de-
the depot of supplies at that
point, also at Mair's Meadow. Major
Wagner, after striking the railroad at
Big Lick, pushed on toward Lynch
burg, destroying on his way important
bridges over the Big and Little Otter,
and got to within four miles of Lynch
burg, with the main body; etfectually
destroying the road between New,
River and Big Lick, and then struck
for Greensboro, on the North Carolina
Railroad When we arrived near Sa
lem, North Carolina, | detailed Palm
ers brigades between Danville and
Greensboro, and between Greensboro
and ladkin River, and all the large
depots OF supplies along the road.
This duty was performed with con-
siderable fighting, resulting in the cap
turo Of 400 prisoners, and to my entire
satisfaction.
With the other two brigades,
Browns sand Miller s, and the artillery,
under command Of Lieutenant Reagan,
wo pushed for Salisbury, where we
found about 5000 troops, under Major
General VIM. Gardner, and fourteen
pieces of Artillery, under Colonel Tite
and Lieutenant General Pemberton-
the whole formed behind Grants
Creek, about two miles and half from
Salisbury, AS soon rs proper dispo-
sitions could be made, ! ordered q gen.
eral charge along the entire line, and
the result was the capture of fourteen
pieces Of artillery and 1864 prisoners,
including titty-three officers.
All the artillery and /, ,l64 prisoners
are now with us. The remainder Of
the force was chased through and sew,
eral miles beyond the town, but scat
tered and escaped into the woods. We
remained at Salisbury two days, during
which time VIC destroyed fifteen miles
of railroad track and bridges, toward
Charlotte, and then moved to this
point.
The following is partial list of tho
public property captured north of
Salisbury and destroyed by us; Four
large cotton factories, and two thou
sard bales cotton, four large maya
zines, containing 10000 stand small
arms, 100000 rounds small arms am
munition, 1000 rounds fixed artillery
ammunition, and 1000 pounds powder,
$4,000 bushels corn, $4,000 bushels
wheat, 100000 pounds cured bacon,
1000 suits gray uniform clothing,
100000 army blan kcts, and 10000
pounds harness leather, 10000 pounds
saltpeter; also, very large amount Of
sugar, salt, rice, and other stores and
medical supplies, valued by the rebel
Medical Director at 100000 in gold,
in addition 10 the arsenal at Salisbury
The military work was being filled
up and was fitted with machinery sent
from Raleigh and Richmond, all Of
which was destroyed.
The depots along the route travers'
cd by our parties have furnished us
with abundance. The number oi
horses and mules captured and taken
along the road | have no means of es.
timating. | can say we are much bet
ter mounted than when we left Knox,
Vile We have very large surplus
of animals, and u sufficient number be.
sides to haul off all of our captives
mount n portion of the prisoners, and
about thousand contrabands and af.
ter crossing Stone Mountains once ana
the Blue Ridge three times, and a
march made by headquarters, since
the Goth of last month, Of five hun.
dred miles, and many more by portions
of tho command. The rapidity of oul
movements in almost every instance
caused our advance guard to herald
our approach and mako the surprise
complete. General Gillem, tho imme
date commander of the Division, who
is entitled to full share of whatever
sdue, will make the detailed report Oi
the expedition.
The only casualty in my staff was
Captain Morrow, A. A. e., who, while
galantly assisting Major Kcogh, my
aid.dc-camp, while leading the 1lth
Kentucky Cavalry in the fight, at Sal
isbury, was, on his twentieth birth
day, severely but not dangerously
wounded in the left knee. These two
young officers, as was also Major Bas
com, A. A. g., my Chief of Staff, Cap
tain Chamberlain; my Chief Quarter
master, and Captain Allen, A. A. G.,
wish 70 bring to your especial atten
tion, and, through you, to the Genera
in Chief.
[Signed] GEO, ST0NEMAN,
Major General.
Geo. II. Thomas, Maj Gen.
Arrest and Examination OF the suppas