NP, RD 5/16/1864

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch
 
May 16, 1864
 
The raid on the Danville railroad -- Destruction of property
   A force of Yankee cavalry, under Spears, the same that made the raid on the Weldon railroad {Petersburg RR}, struck the Richmond & Danville Railroad on Thursdaynight at ten o'clock, at the Coalfield Station, thirteen miles from Richmond. Here they remained at night, destroying the depot, wood shed, water tank, and five box cars loaded with On Fridaymorning at daylight they took their departure from Coalfield, back to the road again within a mile of Tomahawk Station, and reached Powhatan about eight o'clock. Here they burnt the depot, freight house, water tank, and twelve cars loaded with forage. They also tore up the track for a distance of three or four hundred yards on one side of the road, and about one hundred yards on the other, twisting the roads and rendering them useless.--The raiders left Powhatan about three or four o'clock on Fridayevening, and reached Appomattox bridge at Maltoax Station, where they came upon a body of Confederate soldiers, placed there to guard the bridge. Our men threw one shell at them, when they turned off, crossed Bevill's bridge, and proceeded to Chula Station, about thirty miles from Richmond. The Yankees having misplaced a switch, the locomotive Waynoka, on the way back from Appomattox bridge, ran off the track and was abandoned by the engineer and conductor. The locomotive was subsequently destroyed by the Yankees. At Chula they burnt all the railroad buildings, the residence of the agent — in fact every house at the place, making a clean sweep.
   On Saturdaymorning the raiding party returned to Appomattox bridge, where a small skirmish took place, resulting in their repulse. Shortly before noon they attacked our forces at Flat Creek bridge, on the farm of Lewis E. Harvie, President of the road.--A sharp fight ensued, in which the enemy are reported to have lost twenty seven killed and nine prisoners, two of whom were wounded. Our loss was only two killed and two wounded. The Yankees were driven off, and retreated, leaving their dead behind — After this repulse they left in the direction of the Southside railroad, between Petersburg and the Junction, where they are reported to have burnt three depots — Wilson's, Blacks and Whites, and another. ***
   A telegram from Mr. James L. Morrow, Superintendent of the telegraph line, confirms the above, and gives substantially the same particulars.

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