NP, RD 5/11/1864

From the Richmond Dispatch
 
May 11, 1864
 
Speare's cavalry Raid
   The notorious Speare, who was so successfully driven back at Broadwater Bridge on Friday, by Sturdivant's battery and Col Ratcliffe's regiment, immediately turned his course towards the source of the Blackwater river, and crossed at a point several miles higher up, where the stream is so insignificant as to be easily forded. Here he met no opposition, and made a detour which brought him to Wakefield Depot, on the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad, where he stopped Friday night. He did not burn the depot, nor interfere with private property further than to steal horses, corn, and provender. He seized four negro men, hired by the Railroad Company, but afterwards released them, and told them they were at liberty to remain or accompany the expedition. Three decided to stay where they were, and a fourth left with the raiders. At an early hour Saturday, the raiders started for Stony Creek Depot, on the Weldon Railroad {the Petersburg RR}, proceeding by way of Littleton and Sussex Court-House.
   They reached Littleton, Sussex county, about 11 o'clock. *****
   They searched all the houses, stole horses, and broke open the Post Office, and destroyed all the letters. Mrs. Stevens, Dr Parker and his father, were the heaviest losers in horses. At Littleton they also captured four wagons belonging to the 7th cavalry, two of which, filled with bacon, were burnt. Two others, containing ammunition, the invaders carried off with them. Mr. Huddleston, the mail driver, being informed of their coming, drove his horses into the woods, and returned near enough to the road to see them pass. He estimates their numbers at 1,800 or 2,000, although others say they numbered at least 3,000. They had six pieces of artillery.
   The entire party reached Stony Creek about two o'clock, where they encountered a bridge guard of city South Carolina troops, who offered desperate resistance. After a short fight the guard was captured, having lost ten in killed and wounded. Seven of the enemy were killed, and one terribly wounded by a gash in the thigh.
   They did not burn the depot nor the tavern at Stony Creek; they did burn the bridge, wood sheds bridge timbers, lumber, and other articles belonging to the company. Such corn as they did not feed to their horses was burnt. They tore up but little of the track. A shell passed through the depot, and another bursted in the second story of the tavern. The bridge guard, sixty in number, got into the pit of the turn-table, and for two and a half-hours offered most gallant resistance. They were finally entirely surrounded and forced to surrender. Seven of the Yankees were killed and several wounded. Among the killed was a Lieut John Mayes, whose death Speare deeply lamented, saying that he was the most efficient officer in his command. But one of the bridge guard was wounded, and he not fatally. The dwelling of Mr. Gee, near the creek, was burnt by the enemy.

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