* amuse themselves, instituted a search of the different houses in the vicinity. * "At six o'clock we resumed our march in the direction of Louisa Court House, where we arrived about midnight. "This place we expected to find defended, as the Virginia Central Railroad, connecting Fredericksburg with Gordonsville, passes through it. We halted about a mile from the town, and at once made preparations to destroy the railroad. One squadron of the Tenth New York, under Colonel Irwin, was sent five miles above the town, and another squadron, under Major Avery, of the same regiment, five miles below, who were to cut the road, while Colonel Kilpatrick with the Seventh New York (Harris Light) Regiment charged through the town. Colonel Kilpatrick charged into the town about two o'clock in the morning, his boys yelling like demons, but not a single 'grayback' did they see. The inhabitants were much terrified at such unusual proceedings, doubtless expecting that the Yankees were about to murder them all in cold blood; but nothing was disturbed in the town. Guards were stationed upon all the avenues leading to the town, and the work of destroying the railroad commenced. The track was torn up a distance of two miles, the ties burned, and the rails so warped by fire as to be useless. The bridges, culverts, switches, water tanks, and everything appertaining to the road of a destructive nature, were thoroughly destroyed. It was the opinion of our engineers that it would take at least three weeks to get the road in running order with all the force they could put to work. "In order to give our horses some rest after their long march, and the men an opportunity to catch a little sleep, we did not resume our march till two o'clock the next afternoon (Saturday). Intelligence was then received that a large force of rebel cavalry were approaching on the Gordonsville road, and were distant about four hours' march. General Gregg at once got his division out, passed through the town and formed Colonel Wyndham's brigade in line of battle on the brow of a hill about half a mile south of the town. Here he posted two guns, supported on either side by the First Maryland and Twelfth Illinois regiments, while the First New Jersey was drawn up behind the hill as a reserve. He waited here till the time had expired when the enemy should have made his appearance, and hearing nothing of him resumed his march, leaving a portion of Companies B and I of the First Maine Regiment, in all about fifty men, five miles from the Court House, on the Gordonsville road, to watch the movements of the enemy. "Soon after our departure a regiment of the enemy appeared in sight, when the Maine boys gallantly charged them, driving them back some distance; but losing in the charge one man killed, one wounded, and twenty-eight taken prisoners. * ** "Our route still continued in a south easterly direction, and a few hours ignorant of our presence in that vicinity, their looks of wonderment and surprise can be better imagined than described. As many of our horses had given out, and the best of them were in but a sorry Upon condition, the Colonel detailed a squad of men to scour the country and take every horse fit for service, and to leave in its place one of ours, provided they could not get it any farther. Very many valuable horses were obtained in this way, and as General Stuart set the example and established the precedent when he made his raid into Pennsylvania, they can find no fault; but still it did seem rather hard to go into a man's yard, take his horses before his eyes and ride off without as much asI thank you for it. "We were now in the heart of the enemy's country, and what was to be done must be done quickly, as the enemy were known to be concentrating all the force they could scrape together to effect our capture and prevent the accomplishment of our plans. "On Saturday morning, May 3, Colonel Wyndham, with two regiments of his brigade the First New Jersey and First Maryland-was directed by General Stoneman to proceed to Columbia, on the James River, cut the canal and destroy as much as possible everything that could give aid and comfort to the емету. The party got off in high spirits at two o'clock in the morning, having had only two hours' rest, with an intelligent negro boy for a guide, and was expected to go there, a distance of twenty-five miles, accomplish their mission and return by three o'clock in the afternoon. "The country through which we passed was inhabited mostly by wealthy farmers, who had never before had the pleasure of seeing any of the detested Yankee army, and as they were totally As we "We arrived in the vicinity of Columbia about nine o'clock. approached the town, horsemen were seen hovering about, watching our movements, and one of our vedettes reported a large force of cavalry about a mile ahead. Captain W. R. Robbins, of the First New Jersey, was sent out with six men to ascertain the facts in the case. He scoured the country for a distance of five or six miles, capturing two prisoners, but discovered no force of the enemy. Colonel Wyndham now made a disposition of his forces. He stationed the First Maryland outside of the town. and charged through it with the First New Jersey, under Lieutenant-Colonel Broderick. As we entered the town, the rebels could be seen leaving on the opposite side in great haste. Chase was immediately given them by Captains Kester, Lucas, Gray, Boyd, and others, but they only succeeded in capturing a few of them. to capture a very valuable imported "The inhabitants were much terrified at our presence. One lady came running out of her house as I was passing up the street, and asked if we would be kind enough not to murder the women and children. I assured her that the only object of the expedition was to destroy government property. As far as I saw, no house was entered, or citizen insulted or molested in any way, and the object of the expedition having been accomplished, the troops quietly left the town. The only part of the "Parties were at once detailed to cut the canal, destroy the locks, burn the bridges, tow-boats, etc. In ten minutes after we entered the town, flames were issuing from five bridges and three canal-boats loaded with forage, bacon, whiskey, and other stores; and two parties, under the supervision of Major Russell, of the First Maryland, and Lieutenant-Colonel Broderick, were engaged in cutting down the bank of the canal and destroying the locks. While this was being accomplished at the canal, another party, under Captains Thomas and Hick, of Colonel Wyndham's staff, were in the town destroy-expedition which they were unable to ing an immense storehouse filled with supplies of every description for the rebel army. A large quantity of whiskey, nicely bottled, labelled, and boxed, from the medical purveyor's office in Richmond, and what we could not carry away, was demolished and thrown into the canal. accomplish, was the destruction of the weeks. having marched between fifty and sixty ment to destroy a bridge over the miles. James River at Cartersville, some twelve miles south of Columbia. He started late on Sunday night, and arrived at Shannon, or, as the inhabitants call it, 'Flemming's Cross Roads,' at two o'clock, and bivouacked till daylight. Two "While this was in progress, another party, under Captain R. S. C. Lord, commanding the First Regiment of regulars, was sent to Tolersville to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad at that point. Tolersville is situated hundred picked men were then selected about six miles from Louisa Court and placed under the command of CapHouse. They tore up the track for tain Drummond, with instructions to miles, burned the ties, destroyed bridges, proceed to Cartersville and destroy the switches, culverts, etc., rendering the bridge at all hazards. Captain Harriroad impassable for weeks. A portion son, with the balance of his command, of the command, under Captain Eugene remained at Flemming's Cross Roads to Baker, then went six miles farther, to protect him from attack in that direcFrederick Hall, and cut the railroad at tion. that point. They also destroyed the telegraph instrument, cut the wire and destroyed government property. At sunset, Captain John Feelner, of the same regiment, with thirty men, proceeded on the road toward Fredericksburg some six miles, where a bridge eighty or ninety yards long crosses the North Anna River. This bridge was guarded by rebel infantry. The Captain charged across it, driving the enemy from it, and succeeded in burning it, without the loss of a man, and captured five prisoners. Shortly after sunrise, as Lieutenant Hastings, with fifteen men, was patrolling the road in the direction of Gordonsville, he discovered a large party of rebel cavalry approaching. He at once perceived that the safety of Captain Harrison depended upon his prompt action. He immediately charged the advance guard, driving them pell-mell back upon their main column, thus gaining sufficient time to rally upon his reserves. Captain Harrison only had thirty men all told, the remainder being stationed on the various roads as pickets. IIe drew them up across the road, pre "The length of time the regiment was absent caused much uneasiness at head-pared to resist to the best of his ability quarters, and General Stoneman, fearing they were in trouble, sent out a squadron of the Sixth regulars, under Captain J. W. Claflin, to communicate with them, which he did, and returned. with the command. * * "Captain Harrison, commanding the Fifth regulars, was sent with his regi the charge of the rebels, who were seen approaching in solid column. He stood their charge, checking them, and escaped with all his men. "The rebels captured the pickets, consisting of Captain Owen, Lieutenant Buford (a nephew of the General), and fifteen men. Word was at once sent to |