| From the Richmond Dispatch |
| |
| April 17, 1862 |
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| The Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel, of
Monday, contains the following account: |
| Sergeant E. E. Pritchard, of the
Washington Artillery, arrived here last evening, and gives us further
particulars of the occupation of Huntsville. He was on his way to join his company at
Corinth, but was turned back at Stevenson by the intelligence that the
Federal had possession of
Huntsville, and had cut off the railroad communication {by
way of the Memphis & Charleston RR} with Corinth. Mr. P. informs us that he had a conversation with an engineer who
succeeded in running the "gauntlet," and who gave him the
following statement: |
| He said that early on Fridaymorning he
came up the road from Decatur, that on arriving at
Huntsville
he found the telegraph operator in waiting, who threw his apparatus on
board and informed him that the Federalists were just coming into the
town. The engineer then started his train, but before getting through
the town, he was fired upon by the Federal force, and a shell was also
fired at the train, but did not succeed in hitting it. His brother,
also an engineer, was just behind him, with a long train of empty cars,
which was returning from carrying troops to Corinth. The Federal infantry fired a volley into the cab on the engine,
and it was supposed killed the engineer, as the train was stopped and
had not been heard from at Stevenson. The Federal force could not be
under trained, but consisted of cavalry, infantry, and one piece of
artillery. They have possession of the city and have effectually cut
off all communication by that route. The 5th
Georgia
regiment had passed over the roads short time previous, and were all
safely beyond Huntsville, except some few who were detailed to bring on baggage. |
| Passengers by the Georgia railroad last
night report that Huntsville has been occupied by eleven thousand
Federal troops. Two locomotives and trains of cars, loaded with
troops going to reinforce Beauregard, were captured. All
communication, except by way of Mobile, is cut off, if the report is true. |
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