Year: 1864

letter from an Irasburgh boy who went
with Gen. Sheridan on his late raid in
the rear of Lees army. He writes from
dismounted camp near Washington, un-
der date of May 28th. He lost his horse,
and with other cavalrymen in like dis
mounted state are sent there to be re-
mounted: s ....


"On the morning of the 9th. Gen. Sher-
idan concentrated his whole corps of cav
airy and we started on raid to the rear
of Lee. cannot tell exactly how strong
we were; but should think from IL to
$4,000 men with thirty-six pieces of ar
tillery.s ..... ...o5i


1--WE moved in the direction of Fred
ericksbuYgh, then toward Beaverdam Sta
tion. We soon met with opposition and
had to fight all the way to Mechauicsville.
They brought all the force they could
muster against us We we're attacked on
every side, often with great fury but in
every case we whipped and punished them
se,erly. We took number of guns from
them and lost none ourselves; whenever
they would bring out a gun to bear on
us, we were sure to have it. Our loss
was small, for the column moved slowly
so that all dismounted men could easily
keep up. We brought away all prisoners
and all the wounded that could be brought
capturing teams and wagons of all kinds
for that purpose as we took but few with
u.s. The accounts you see in the papers
of the destruction of property and the
damage we did to the rebels is pretty
nearly correct. Our hardest battles were
at Ashland and Meadow Bridge on the
Chichahominy. .....


"At Ashland the rebel General Stewart
thought to stop us; he was there ahead
of us with strong force. but he was
most signally defeated and he was him,
self mortally wounded 1t was there that
we made one of the most terrible charges
that ever witnessed. Our regiment with
two others. led by Gen Custar, formed un-
der heavy fire from the rebel artillery,
and with shout from every throat we
charged near three fourths Of mile over
fences. streams and bitches till we came
upon them and scattered them They
fought with desperation, but it was of no
avail large number were killed and
wounded on both sides. Sergeant Perry's
horse was killed, the only damage to our
company. That night we marched all
night (for the first time) in the direction
of Richmond-our brigade in advnace


Our guide proved to be traitor and led
the advance right up to the fortiications


within close range of their guns. We
have been near enough to Richmond to
see the gas lights. They had placed tor
pedoes in the road to give warning of our
approach. some of which we sprung, and
they were all ready for u.s. The first in


timation that VIC had that we were near
their works, was charge of grape and
canister. This scattered the advance


and if they had come out of their earth
works and followed up their advantage
they could have taken some of us prison
ers; but they did not not dare to come
out. The main column soon came up and
got in position, strong one too. 1t was
new .daylight-we could hear the cars
bringing out troops from Richmond. and
we we're soon attacked in the rear with a
heavy force. A strong force had destroy
ed the bridge in our front and held the
other side of the Chickahominy. Our
division was lighting stubbornly out on
! the right flank, where we were first open
I'd upon. The first charge of grape had
wounded my horse, so moved slowly back
to near where General Sheridan's head
quarters were where could see the stu
. alton of things. and must confess that
it looked dubious to me, and the rest that
| noticed were iu about the same fix.
: went down to near where the General was
!, with his staff staff officer expressed
his opinion that we were in tight place
$ and he doubted about our getting out
The General told him if our men w"uld
hold The rehels in our rear In check fol