| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| August 9, 1862 |
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| The enemy's Raid upon Frederick Hall |
| Since the visit of a force of the enemy to
Frederick's Hall Station, on Wednesday last, very little has been known of the
situation of affairs along the line of the {Virginia}
Central Railroad. Beyond the fact
that such a circumstance transpired nothing had been positively
ascertained, nor was any one able to say whether the enemy still held
possession of the road at that point, or whether, after destroying a
considerable amount of property, they had gone to parts unknown
Yesterday, however, Mr. F. B. Smith the telegraph operator at Beaver
Dam, took a hand car and two negroes and proceeded up the road towards
Frederick's Hall, with the determination of learning the state of
affairs and terminating the suspense in the mind of the public.
Arriving near the station, and ascertaining that the Yankees had taken
their departure, he at once connected the telegraph wires, which they
had broken, adjusted his instrument, and communicated with the Richmond
office. It appears that the enemy came to Fredericks Hall with a force
of about 1,500, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. They
destroyed all the Government stores found in the depot, (which we
understand were of no great value,) cut down the water tanks, and
broke the pumps, but did not burn any of the company's buildings. A
good deal of property belonging to the citizens was destroyed, and
some thirty negroes were carried off. N. W. Harris, tobacco
manufacturer, estimates his loss at $2,000. The damage to the railroad
track was slight, and has been repaired. The telegraph operator at the
station left with his instruments before the enemy arrived. The
cavalry, which was the same that burnt the buildings at Beaver Dam,
said their next trip would be to Tolersville, about six miles beyond.
The party was led by a negro, who ran away from his owner, Mr. S. C.
Tally, at Frederick's Hall, and who took a very active part in the destruction of
property. Mr. Smith certainly deserves credit for his boldness in
making this trip, and for collecting the foregoing valuable
information. |
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