The National tribune., 1885-12-03
THE LYNCHBuRG RAID.
Running Sketch of Gen. Hunters Disastrous
Expedition.

| a huHEiuS SketCH Vi NeH. DisastfOus
| Expedition.
To THE EDITOR: Some time ago noticed a
request in your columns for a history of the
Lynchburg raid, under the leadership of Gen.
David Hunter and happening to be one of the
survivors of that illstarred expedition, / will
| endeavOr to give as concise and detailed state
ment as possible Hoping to escape the criti-
cism which such written narratives generally
provoke, will state that in essence it is cor
rect though in minor points it may be defect
i've.
Gen. Crooks soldiers had returned as far as
Meadow Bluffs, II miles north of Lewisburg,
| w. Va, from their victorious assault on the
heights of Cloyd Mountain and the burning of
New River bridge, on the line of the Virginia
& Tennessee Railroad. The condition of his
troops at this time was distressing. Many of
them were almost barefoot, their clothing was
in tatters, and they were attenuated from hard
| marching and starvation-living at this time
on less than half -rations. The order for move
on Lynchburg was not received with the great
est eclat, but Gen. Crook rank and file was
| made up of material "that would not murmur
| or complain" where honor led or duty called.
The line of march led by Lewisburg and
White Sulphur Springs. and early in June,
| 1864, junction was formed at the city of
| Staunton with the troops of Gen. Hunter, who
had but a few days prior gained the battle of
Piedmont. Here the united column, number
ing about 1900 men, was granted but a very
| limited period for rest and continuing its
| march to the south, appeared before the city OF
Lexington, located on the south bank of the
north fork of James River, the home of Robert
E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Here it may
| be proper to state that, according to rumor,
| Gen. Hunter transcended his orders, in not
moving by Charlottesville rather than this
| point; but in justice to that officer it may be
| inferred that he had the welfare of his coun-
try and his army at heart and had he gone in
with his brave army at the back door of Lynch
! burg, as he evidently designed in this move
ment, he would undoubtedly have been the
beau-ideal of the Nation at this hour. But his
project was not crowned with success, and, as
a Generals military glory usually depends
| upon his success. a sacrifice was demanded, and
Gen. Hunter had to fall.
We found Gen. McCausland's rebel brigade
| of cavalry and body of cadets disposed to con-
| test the fOrding of the stream at Lexington
| Several heavy pieces of artillery were also in
position here, but the most of them, being used
| for target guns, could not be made available
| for execution on our column, it being impossi-
! BILE to train them except in one direction. The
bridge spanning the stream was in flames. The
rebels had sharpshooters posted advantageously
| at ell points along the bank of the river, and
what few pieces of artillery they had were
| playing on the regiments and brigades as they
! filed into the positions assigned them. The
| ceeding up the stream for a mile or more sue
| ceeded in finding q suitable ford, and before
| the rebels hardly had time to say Jack Robin
son" their position was turned and brigade
of Yanks hung heavily on their left flank.
There was but the choice of two things left
them to do-surrender or retreat. They
cepted the latter alternative, and stood not on
the order of their going, but went at once.
At this point the residence of Gov. Letcher,
of Virginia, was burned as well as the Military
Institute and the Lexington College All other
private property was respected. Gen. Stonewall
jackson, who had been slain by mistake by his
| own men at the battle of Charlottesville, was
buried here. When Hunters army entered the
city, Confederate flag foated over his grave
from the top of tall staff. This flag was torn
down and the staff almost carried off piecemeal
by relic-seekers. A Federal soldier not very
prudently, inscribed on his headstone in pencil:
"A good man and brave soldier, but traitor
to God and his country"
1t also may be proper to relate, in connection
with other incidents, that just before the Fed
eral column reached the city rash, fo0lhardy
Virginian declared that he would kill the first
Yankee passing his door. As the vanguard
came up two men of the 36th Ohio approached
him standing at his gate and one of them asked
him for drink of water "Oh, yes" said he;
Il will give you drink" and stepping back
into the hail. brought out fowling piece and
him almost instantly. His enraged comrades
perforated his body with bullets until his skin
looked more like pepperboX than that of
human being
The advance of Hunters army from Lexing-
ton was more or less contested day by day until,
on Sunday evening June II, it was halted for
dinner and rest within heavy forest of tim
Der, seven miles from the city of Lynchburg.
At o'clock p. m. the Second Brigade was
marched out on the turnpike. As each regi-
ment marched by the General, who was splen-
didly mounted on a beautiful stallion, it was
critically viewed. As our own regiment filed
by he asked the name and number of the regi-
ment
"The 91st Ohio, General" said one of the
privates.
"Well, boys" said he, "you have had good
rest l hope you will do some good fghting!"
"We are the boys to do it, General" con-
tlnued the private, who was evidently deter
mined to have the last word, and which brought
a broad grin to the Generals face.
The ominous boom of cannon in our front,
and the irregular rattle of musketry as we drew
closer, assured US that the Generals words were
not without their significance. The Second
Brigade of Crooks Division was assigned a
position to the right of the turnpike and
another brigade, following Immediately in our
rear filed to the left of the pike just mentioned,
the movement being concealed from the enemy
by wooded activity in our front held by a
regiment of cavalry and a section of artillery,
and which was hotly engaged with the enemy
just beyond. The loud neighing of horse
which had both fore legs taken off by cannon
ball, as we passed by excited the compassion of
some kind hearted officer, who put an end to its
misery by shooting it through the head
The order having been given to move for
ward, the 9lst and 18th Ohio led the advance
at rightshoulder shift, followed at the usual
supporting distance by the 9th Va and 34th
Ohio. As the column emerged from the woods
at a double-quick a rebel battery on the op-
pOsite range opened with deadly effect, at first
using shell, and then, at short range, grape and
canister. Down On the rebel left Confederate
force concealed in the timber opened at short
range, doing terrible execution, but the bri-
gade, without wavering for a moment, swept
everything from its path though it were
but chaf, carrying every gun on the nights
Everything in gray was in the widest flight
Lynchburg was ours, and fairly won. The vic
tor had but to stretch out his hand and grasp
the prize.
At this juncture, which was about sundown
Gen. Hunter came onto the field and ordered
halt and bivouac for the night The curses
that greeted this order were long and deep and
loud.
The dawn of day on Monday, June 1s, re-
vealed force in our front equal to our own
while long line of rife-pits had sprung up in
our front as II by magic; while the enemy's
force was continually being augmented by fresh
arrivals of Gen. Earlys troops from Richmond.
The rebel soldiers in the intrenchments could be
heard MAINLY cheerinp their comrades thav