| From the Columbus (Ga.) Times |
| |
| December 22, 1864 |
| |
| [Appeal, 20th] |
| The following dispatch was
yesterday received by the superintendent of the Alabama & Florida
{(of Alabama)} railroad, dated Pollard,
Dec. 18, 1864: |
| The trestle at old Pollard was
set on fire, but only partially consumed; six stringers and twelve bents
required to reconstruct it. The railroad can be blocked up in a few
hours so trains can run over it The turn table is all right. Car shed
and freight depot burnt; also all government buildings, together with
the hotels of De Alembert, Wade Porter and Griffith's stores. Of
railroad men, Balmer, our agent, Roche, fireman, Lamb car inspector,
were captured; also, Capt. Pope, post quartermaster, Squire Welch,
Jordan, the postmaster, and about fifty negroes. The track through the
car shed to the south end of the long turnout was torn up, as also the
first little trestle south of the car shed. The switch was destroyed,
and nine cars, mostly refugees. |
| The enemy are said to have
numbered seven hundred white cavalry and eight hundred negro infantry,
with three pieces of artillery. The enemy left Pollard Friday evening at
dark, going towards Pensacola. Armstead's brigade is between them and
Pine Barren, and were fighting them at Bluff Springs yesterday. |
| Gens. Tyler and Clanton are in
pursuit with the force brought down. |
| The damage to the Mobile
{& Great Northern} road as far as
ascertained consists in burning the Howe truss bridge across the Big
Escumbia. |
| Thos. W. Garrett, Conductor |
| Note -- Under this condition
of facts, communication by rail with Mobile will soon be established by
making transfer of mail and passengers at Big Escumbia, while the bridge
is being rebuilt. |
| S. G. Jones, Sup't. |
|