NP, RD 5/5/1863

From the Richmond Dispatch
 
May 5, 1863
 
The Yankee cavalry raid
   We gave yesterday such reports of the operations of Yankee cavalry upon the railroads above Richmond as were then in our possession. It appears that after having destroyed some portion of the track of the {Virginia} Central road, a detachment of the same party moved on towards the Fredericksburg railroad {Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}, near Ashland, reaching there on Sundaymorning. There they remained in ambuscade, to wait for the trains which they knew must soon arrive. In the afternoon an ambulance train came on from the direction of Fredericksburg, and the engineer was somewhat startled by a sudden salute of fire-arms, while a number of bullets passed in unpleasant proximity to the locomotive . The engineer fell as if wounded, when the Yankees approached, and finding him unhurt compelled him to proceed on to Ashland with the train; but soon after arriving there he effected his escape, and came on to Richmond the same night.
   Besides the sick and wounded on the ambulance train, there were a number of citizens of Richmond, including Col. S. Bassett French, Aid to Gov. Letcher, and a few ladies. They were treated with comparative kindness by the marauders, who were commanded by one Col. Davis, claiming to be a native of King George county, Va. It is stated that they did not disturb the invalid soldiers, but left the ambulance train unharmed, though they destroyed a wood train and the locomotives "Thomas Sharp" and "Nicholas Mills." We are unadvised as to the extent of the damage to the track; but since the raiders seemed to be in a great hurry to depart, it is presumed to be inconsiderable.
   From Ashland they proceeded to Hungary Station {on the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac}, nine miles from Richmond, and passed the night in that vicinity. Here they destroyed some railroad property. It is believed, however, that the connection through by this route will be very speedily re-established.
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   At Hanover Court House {on the Virginia Central RR} they destroyed a considerable quantity of Government stores, a train of freight cars, and some buildings. At Peake's Station, on the Central railroad, they cut the telegraph wires, and probably inflicted some damage upon the road.
   They proceeded on yesterday morning to the famous Meadow Bridges, on the Chickahominy, a locality which their army evacuated in great haste on a former occasion. The Chicahominy it here crossed by the Central railroad, and it happened that about the time of their visit yesterday, the locomotive "Augusta," with Conductor Phillips and Engineer Crone, was approaching the spot on a reconnoitering expedition. The Yankees had the locomotive nearly surrounded before they were discovered, but the conductor and engineer succeeded in effecting their escape through the swamp. Two negroes remained with the locomotive, but afterwards escaped and got back to the city. The Yankees sat fire to the bridge, which is an inconsiderable structure, and as it burnt the engine was precipitated into the water. The "Augusta" is an old engine, of small size.
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   We hear that they attempted to strike the {Richmond &} York River railroad at Tunstall's yesterday afternoon, but were met and driven back by a portion of Wise's brigade. Their damages to the railroads are by no means so extensive as at first reported, but that it should have been permitted to progress so far is a matter that puzzles everybody.

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