| From the Richmond Sentinel |
| |
| December 19, 1863 |
| |
| The Averill Raid |
| Lynchburg, Dec. 18 |
| We have various reports from Salem. The courier
who arrived at Bonsack's reports the enemy returning, but persons who
left Salem this morning, state that there was no enemy there. The
damage done to the railroad during their visit, was not considerable. |
| The track was torn up for one hundred
yards about the depot, and the bridge over Roanoke river and Mason's
Creek, two miles this side of town, and another small bridge, were
destroye3d, and a few telegraph poles cut down. Pitzer's large flour
mill, McClanahan's Store, and three small buildings were burnt --
also, seventy-five government wagons. Thomas Chapman, a citizen, was
killed; the prisoners in the jail liberated; among whom were a few
Yankee prisoners. |
| A number of citizens and some furloughed
and wounded soldiers were taken prisoners, but the citizens have
returned. A number of negroes were carried off. |
| It is said the enemy's force did not
exceed 1,500. Reports of their returning to Salem are conflicting. |
|