NP, AC 7/8/1864

From the Augusta Constitutionalist
 
July 8, 1864
 
Damage to the Richmond & Danville Railroad
   We have taken some pains to ascertain the amount of damage done to the Richmond & Danville R. R. by the Yankee raiders last week, and in this, as in all other raids, we find that the accounts vary considerably, some thinking that the damage is not very great, and that it can be repaired in a week or few days, and others that it will require one or two months to get the track ready for the cars. After conversing with an officer of the company, who was the first to reach the scene of action, and who returned Wednesday night, we present the following, which we think may be considered reliable:
   The raiding party, supposed to be about five thousand strong, reached the Junction on 23d ultimo, and after burning all the buildings belonging to the company and to the government, and tearing up some of the track, started for Staunton river, burning all the property at the following depots, viz: Price's, Maherrin, Keysville, Drake's Branch, Mossingford and Roanoke, and the bridge over the little Roanoke river.
   The distance from the Junction to Staunton river, is about thirty-eight miles, and on that portion of the road, the light strap rail was unfortunately still in use, and as the weather was very dry, and the string pieces and sills were well seasoned, it required very little labor on the part of the miscreants to enable them to destroy the track very rapidly, for wherever they found wood or fence rails convenient, it was only necessary to scatter them along the track and set fire to them.
   The track was destroyed in this way, at various points, amounting in the aggregate to about fifteen miles.
   We understand that arrangements have been made to relay the road with heavy iron, which will be taken from the Charlotte and Statesville road {Atlantic,. Tennessee & Ohio RR}, in North Carolina, which will be a great improvement on the old frame rail.
   We have heard no estimate of the loss sustained to the company, and do not consider that of much importance, when compared to the great inconvenience of being deprived of the use of the road for four or five weeks.
   The company has gone to work vigorously, calling in hands and teams from the Piedmont road, which has just been completed, and we hope that, by the first of August at farthest, the trains will again be running through to Richmond.
   We have been informed that the enemy destroyed very few private residences, but that many slaves and horses were carried off, and that the injury sustained by the farmers, near the line of the railroad, is incalculable.
   It is some satisfaction to know that the enemy suffered severely at Staunton Bridge, where they were so handsomely repulsed, and, as W. H. F. Lee is in close pursuit, and other cavalry brigades have been sent to intercept them, we hope but few of the raiders will ever return to boast of their raid on the Staunton.
Danville Appeal

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