| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| June 27, 1863 |
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| The Yankee Raid Near Richmond |
| Bridges Burnt |
| Capture of Gen. W. H. F. Lee |
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| The reports of the progress of the Yankee
raid from the White House yesterday came into the city fast and furious,
and it is remarkable to note that they were in very few cases
exaggerated, except with regard to the numbers of the foe. There was no
excitement, and we may safely assert that there never was a duller day
here. Everybody was cool, and everybody, except those who were in
militia organizations, were attending to their every day business as
usual. The day has passed when Richmond can be stirred up by the news of
a Yankee raid. |
| On Thursday evening a portion of the
Federal troops -- about 1,200 -- left the White House on the road to
Hanover Court House, and upon arriving camped for the night on Colonel
Wickham's farm. Thursday night, at a late hour, the rest of the troops
at the White House left in the same direction, and passed Old Church
about breakfast time. It is believed by some that both parties met near
Hanover Court House, and, on the other hand, it is supposed that the two
divisions took different routes. This latter supposition is strengthened
by the fact that our pickets at Mechanicsville, four miles from
Richmond, were driven in early in the day, and three of them captured. |
| Before leaving the White House they tore
up the track from there to Tunstall's Station, a distance of four miles.
The rumor yesterday that they brought two locomotives and cars with them
on their gunboats, and had put them on the road, is of course unfounded,
as they did not leave the track down to use. They also burnt the store
of Mr. Dabney, at Tunstall's Station, with a full stock of goods, which
the proprietor had only received the day before. The excuse for this
vandalism was that the building contained the Post Office. They did not
rob the money drawer of the store, something most remarkable for a
Yankee. |
| Late last evening a train arrived at the
depot from Dispatch Station, and we learn by it that a gentleman during
the day rode down to within 500 yards of the White House, and found
there were but two wooden gunboats lying there. Not a Yankee soldier was
to be seen. hose who say the troops land from the gunboats say there
were not more, and probably less, than 5,000. It is more than likely
that the Yankees will attempt to get through to Aquia Creek, and there
embark in safety on their gunboats. Yesterday afternoon there was not
even a Yankee picket to be seen from Tunstall's to the White House. The
two gunboats there are probably left to cover their embarkation at that
point, should they be intercepted in their way through by our troops. |
| There has been very little damage done by
the Yankees in the vicinity of the White House and Tunstall's Station,
they being restrained, perhaps, by the knowledge that our army is in
their country now. They burnt some straw at the White House before
leaving. |
| Between 12 and 1 o'clock the presence of
the enemy at Hanover Station, eight miles this side of the Junction, was
ascertained by the interruption of telegraphic communication. It then
became apparent that danger of the destruction of the South Anna bridge,
on the {Virginia} Central railroad, was
imminent, and the commandant at Hanover Junction was directed to
concentrate his forces -- one regiment being all that he had at his
command -- for its protection and defence, whilst troops from other
quarters were gotten together and hurried off in the direction of the
threatened point. At four o'clock a dispatch was received from Col. D.
J. Godwin, commanding the forces at the bridge, that the enemy had made
an attack, and the fight was then going on, and concluding with an
appeal for the reinforcements to be hurried up. |
| Trains were dispatched with troops both on
the Central and Fredericksburg {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR} Roads, and it was hoped they would
arrive in time to resist the attack of the enemy, and save the bridges
from destruction. The Central Road was regarded as being in the most
imminent danger, and the larger number of well equipped and thoroughly
organized troops were sent by this route, under the command of Colonel
Gilmer, 27th North Carolina regiment. The train bearing this force left
the depot in this city about 6 o'clock, but were too late to relieve the
small force contending with the enemy on the South Anna, which was
finally overpowered and compelled to yield the possession of the bridge
to the enemy, who at once fired it, and in a comparatively short time it
was completely destroyed. |
| Col. Godwin immediately telegraphed the
fact to the commandant of this department and in his dispatch stated
that the enemy were moving in considerable force on the bridge over the
South Anna on the Fredericksburg road; that their force consisted of
infantry, artillery, and much cavalry. This dispatch also concluded with
an appeal for reinforcements. |
| It may be well to state that up to 10
o'clock on Thursday night these bridges were protected by an ample
guard, consisting of an entire brigade. At that hour information was
received that a raid of the enemy's cavalry was threatened at
Gordonsville, and the brigade was sent from the Junction to that point,
leaving but one regiment, the 44th North Carolina, and a small cavalry
force, for the defence of Hanover Junction and the two South Anna
bridges. What may have occurred at Gordonsville, we have no means of
knowing, as no trains reached the city from that direction last evening.
Some anxiety is felt for the safety of the passenger train which left
this city yesterday morning, as well as the one which was due here
yesterday afternoon. There is not information of any train having been
captured, though the material train which reached the depot about noon
yesterday reported being fired into in the vicinity of Hanover Court
House. |
| The loss of the bridge on the Central road
will not be materially felt, if the bridge on the Fredericksburg road
can be saved. If both should be destroyed, however, it will result in
serious interruption to our communications. Up to a late hour last night
the result of the demonstration on the latter road was unknown, but
strong hopes were entertained that our reinforcements had reached it in
time to save it. |
| Still Later |
| The train which took out the troops on the
Central road returned at 11 o'clock last night. From the officers on
board this train we have some fuller particulars of the raid upon the
road yesterday afternoon. Before attacking the bridge over the South
Anna, the enemy destroyed the trestle work on the road near Hanover
Court House, and tore up the track for some distance. They then attacked
the bridge which was guarded by only 80 men, belonging, we are informed,
to the 44th North Carolina. Perhaps there has not been more determined
and desperate gallantry exhibited during this whole war than was
exhibited by these gallant men in defence of the bridge. For upwards of
an hour they contended with twelve hundred of the enemy's cavalry and
two pieces of artillery, and only yielded when completely overpowered.
The Lt. Col. commanding this guard refused to surrender his sword, even
after being overpowered, and it was not until he was ruthlessly knocked
down with the butt of a musket that it was wrested from him. According
to one account we had eight men killed in the action, whilst another
states that we lost but three. Our wounded, some half dozen in number,
were left at Hanover Court House. The enemy is known to have had three
killed and a number wounded. |
| After firing the bridge, the Yankees
started in the direction of the bridge on the Fredericksburg road, but
on being informed by a citizen, who was a prisoner of theirs, that we
had two brigades at that point and Hanover Junction, they turned their
course, and marched back in the direction of the White House, passing
Hanover Court House only a few minutes before the arrival of our
reinforcements. The gentleman who gave them the information with
reference to our forces at the Junction, says they told him they had a
cavalry force of 1,200, and a large infantry force at the White House
and neighborhood, and they boasted of their intention to take Richmond
last night or today. |
| While in Hanover they went to the
residence of Col. Wickham, where they captured Gen. W. H. F. Lee, who
has been there since he was sounded in the battle of Brandy Station, on
the 9th. They conveyed him away in the carriage of Col. W., which they
stole. They also burned the fine barn of Col. Wickham, and one or two
other out buildings. |
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