| From the Wilmington Journal |
| July 6, 1863 |
| |
| The Raid on the W. & W. Rail
Road {Wilmington & Weldon RR} |
| Early yesterday (Sunday)
morning, it was announced that the Yankees had reached Kenansville,
about 60 miles from Newbern, at 11 o'clock the night previous, in
force of from 3000 to 4000. It is reported that they consisted of
cavalry and infantry, about half of them whites the balance negroes.
On yesterday morning a detachment of some three or four hundred
Federal cavalry were sent to Warsaw on the Wilmington & Weldon
Rail Road, ten miles from Kenansville, where they arrived about half
past nine o'clock, cut the telegraph wires, burned the Rail Road Depot
and Warehouse containing about 20,000 pounds of government bacon, and
perhaps some ordnance stores. They also tore up about one and a half
mile of the track, and then proceeded towards Magnolia, on arriving
within about 2 1/2 miles of the latter depot, they are understood to
have changed their course to the Eastward, in the direction of
Kenansville, their place of departure in the morning, and where it
would appear their main body had encamped. |
| ***** |
| Since writing the above, we
have received the following dispatch from Col. Fremont, Chief Engineer
and Superintendent of the Road: |
| Magnolia, July 6th, 1863 |
| The Yankee raiders reached
Warsaw about 10 o'clock yesterday forenoon. They burned the warehouse
with 15,000 pounds bacon, one passenger car, and tore up about one
mile of the track, and left in a hurry in the direction of
Kenansville. The promptness with which troops were brought here made
them in a hurry to leave. I hope for good news today from our troops.
The estimated force of the enemy is 500 to 800 mounted men, and four
mountain howitzers. |
| The
track will be repaired today, as I have a large force. The train will
pass as usual tomorrow morning. |
| ***** |
|