| From the Columbus (Ga.) Times |
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| August 25, 1864 |
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| Special Correspondence of the Times |
| Wheeler and Kilpatrick's Raid ***** |
| Atlanta, Aug. 22 |
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| ***** |
| The raid of Kilpatrick upon
the West Point and Macon roads -- thanks to the energy displayed by our
gallant commanders -- has turned out a complete failure; I say complete
failure, inasmuch as he failed entirely in the programme he had
doubtless marked out, although he inflicted some little damage upon both
roads in question, and destroyed a small amount of other property. |
| Starting from the extreme
right flank of the Yankee army, with some 2,500 cavalry, he crossed the
river at Campbleton, supported by infantry, and struck the West Point
road near Fairburn {Atlanta & West Point RR}
Friday morning about 3 o'clock. Stopping only long enough to tear up a
small portion of the track, he cut lose from his infantry support, and
directed his course over to the Macon road, reaching Lovejoy's station
{Macon & Western RR}, twenty miles from
Atlanta, the same evening. |
| Detaching a small working
party, with instructions to proceed down the road in the direction of
Griffin, and tear up and burn the track, Kilpatrick move up his main
force in the direction of Jonesboro. En route he encountered Ross'
brigade of Texas cavalry, who skirmished with him, but being unable to
hold him in check, the latter fell back through Jonesboro, which town
was soon afterwards in the possession of the Yankees. |
| The torch was soon applied to
the depot buildings, the Provost Marshal's office, and some ten or
twelve unoccupied tenements. The reflection of the fire could be seen
plainly in Atlanta, illuminating the southern horizon. |
| Leaving Jonesboro' the Yankees
moved down the road and were joined by the working party from below, who
had, in consequence of a heavy rain, been unable to burn any portion of
the road, and only succeeded in turning over about a mile and a half of
the track. They captured and destroyed, however, sixteen box cars, being
a portion of the construction train, two of the cars being loaded with
wheat. ***** |
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