| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| May 11, 1864 |
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| 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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