The movements around Petersburg.
Capture of Rev Dr Pryor by the cavalry raiders — interesting account of their progress — they carry ten days Rations.
We copy from the Petersburg
Express, of Saturday, a narrative of the operations around that city, and some interesting particulars of the progress of
Wilson's cavalry raid:
Another flank movement.
Rumors came to the city
Wednesday, thick and fast, that the enemy had again occupied the railroad, six miles from
Petersburg, in large numbers, torn up the track, and were busily engaged in fortifying.
General Mahone was speedily dispatched, at the head of a body of troops, to drive the reseals off. Upon approaching the spot about one hundred and fifty of
Grant's horsemen were discovered displacing rails and removing sills.
They fled precipitately upon the appearance of our forces; but it was soon ascertained that there was a heavy body of infantry in the woods east of the track, massed for the purpose of supporting the cavalry.
Another flank movement.
General Mahone threw forward a heavy line of skirmishers, engaged the attention of the blue coats, and then put into execution one of those flanking movements for which he has become somewhat noted during this campaign.
About twilight,
Perry's brigade, now commanded by
General Finnegan, succeeded in swinging around and brought up in rear of the enemy.
A volley or two in their rear put the enemy to thinking, and another volley or two brought about a very lively double quick on their part.
We succeeded in securing only 483 of the invaders, the remainder running so swiftly that it was found impossible to overtake them.
Arrival of the prisoners.
The prisoners were marched into the city yesterday forenoon, about 10 o'clock, and turned over to
Major Bridgford,
Gen. Lee's
Provost Marshal.
There were ten commissioned officers among the number, but none higher than the rank of
Colonel.
These prisoners, in point of appearance or morals, are no improvement upon former instalments.--They seem to have been collected from every quarter of the globe, both civilized and uncivilized, and elicited from a special or in our vicinity, the remark, that "
Grant had scraped all creation with a fine tooth comb for men to reinforce his depleted ranks.
The enemy still near the road.
We learned yesterday afternoon that the enemy were still hovering in the vicinity of the Six Mite House, more for the purpose of deterring us from rebuilding the road probably, than to engage in battle.
They are closely watched.
A Serious Cannonade.
Yesterday morning the most profound quiet prevailed along our entire line until a few minutes before seven o'clock, when all of a sudden there opened a bombardment from a heavy battery of Confederate artillery, stationed in
Chesterfield, upon the enemy's extreme right.
The firing was the most rapid that has been heard here during the war, and soon attracted to the house- tops and surrounding hills a great concourse of spectators — From the roof of a five story building we could see the discharges of our cannon, and it really seemed that such a shower of shot and shell ought to have annihilated every Yankee invader in the county of
Prince George.
In the meantime there was a brisk musketry fire opened in the vicinity of
Jordan's farm, on the
City Point road, and the uninitiated at once came to the conclusion that a general engagement had commenced.
The firing Ceases.
The cannonading ceased at a quarter past 8 A M, and the musketry fire was stopped about the same hour.
We made diligent inequity in various quarters likely to be informed, but could get no satisfactory solution of this demonstration.
One officer informed us that it was made for a purpose, but that purpose could not be known until a future day. Very satisfactory, truly.
We regret to learn that about 400 of
Hagood's South Carolina brigade, who were thrown forward as skirmishers to ascertain the strength of the enemy's title pits, allowed their zeal to get the better of them, and not only carried the pits, but charged up to the enemy's breastworks.
They were received with a severe musketry volley, and suffered considerable loss.
None estimate their loss at less than 150, and some put it down as high as 300.
This brigade was among the first to rush to the rescue of
Petersburg, and our people feel a peculiar interest in its welfare.
They have suffered heavily, but not so heavily, we hope, as has been reported.
We heard of no other movements during the day to the time of this writing.
All appeared quiet.
It is supposed that matters will not long remain thus.
We are probably now witnessing that profound quiet which always precedes the storm, and it may burst upon us at any moment with unexampted fury.
More prisoners.
prisoners were brought in from the fight of yesterday morning.
They were all from York State, and tired of the war of course.
This is the statement of every one who is captured.
A couple of
Sergeants were the highest officers in this batch, and they were rather good looking, but the very personification of impudence.
The raiders.
The last we hear of the raiders, they had burnt the
Junction at
Burkesville, and then, to the surprise of everybody, moved off towards
Danville, instead of the
High Bridge.
The
Junction, as is generally known, is at the intersection of the
Richmond and
Danville and
Petersburg and Lynchburg roads. Here there were a large number of buildings, several turnouts, side-tracks, turn-tables, etc., all of which we fear have been destroyed.
A gentleman who was there a few days ago, informs us that he saw a very large quantity of rolling stock, including many locomotives, but we hope the railroad authorities had taken the precaution to remove these to a place of safety.
We do not hear that
Wilson's band met with any opposition at
Burkesville, although it is known that
Gen. W. H. F. Lee was in pursuit on Wednesday, at the head of a very formidable body of cavalry, so far as numbers can be considered formidable.
They encountered the rear guard of the bandits at two points on Wednesday, near Dinwiddie Courthouse, and at the
Five Forks, on the
White Oak Road, about seven miles from
Ford's Depot, but did not inflict a great deal of damage.
We hope that they have succeeded in heading the raiders, or will do so, before they reach
Danville.
Our citizens were greatly surprised to learn yesterday morning that
Wilson's raiders had captured
Rev. Dr. Pryor on Wednesday, but were much relieved upon hearing subsequently that the
Doctor had succeeded in effecting his escape and returning to
Petersburg.
We had a long conversation with the
Doctor yesterday, during which we elicited many facts which will be found highly interesting.
The
Doctor was riding leisurely along the Boyd ton Plankroad on Wednesday, about 2 o'clock,
enroute to see a near and dear relative in
Brunswick county, now prostrated by sickness.
When 12 miles from the city, and within two miles of
Dinwiddie C H, he was suddenly halted by three of the enemy's pickets and ordered to dismount.
He told them frankly that he was a Chaplain in the Confederate Army, on an errand of affection to the sick bed of a dear child, and requested that he be allowed to proceed on his journey.
This was refused, and he was at once conducted to
Wilson's
Provost Marshal, who after a brief examination of his letters and papers, carried him before the
commander in chief.
This officer received him with marked courtesy, and invited him to partake of lunch.
This the
Doctor politely declined, and proceeded to state that he was a Chaplain and a non combatant, and according to the usages of all civilized belligerents, entitled to a discharge on his parole.
Gen Wilson heard the statement with patience, regretted exceedingly the
Doctor had fallen into his hands, because of the embarrassment which he alleged it caused him, but stated that his orders from
Gen Grant were imperative, and that he would be compelled to produce him at Headquarters.
Dr. Pryor describes
Gen Wilson as a fine looking man, about thirty years of age, of pleasant countenance, and most urbane manners.
He says he is a graduate of
West Point, and claims
Illinois as his home.
He spoke freely of Confederate officers, said many of them were personally known to him, and dwelt particularly upon the fatality which had attended them during this war.
Gen. Wilson was very jauntily dressed in black velvet pants, polished high top boots, a neat fitting jacket, and wore and elegantly trimmed cap. After insisting upon the doctor's giving him a copy of a Petersburg paper of Wednesday, and speaking in terms amounting almost to contempt of the inefficiency of the Confederate cavalry, he turned him over to the
Provost Marshal's guard.
The
Captain of the guard overhauled the doctor's saddle-bags and haversack, and read all his correspondence, but returned him his letters and papers, and a so his saddle-bags and haversack, with their contents.
Dr. Pryor informs us that
Wilson is in supreme command, and he is accompanied by Col
Speare, but the men informed him that
Kautz was not along.
They claim to number 4,000, but
Dr. Pryor did not see more than half this number, which he was informed was only one column of the expedition.
When reaching
Five Forks, on the
White Oak road, a courier rode up and informed the
General that his rear guard had been hotly engaged at Dinwiddie Court-House with the advance of the rebel column.
Gen. Wilson received the communication with much apparent
nonchalance, and coolly inquired if only cavalry showed themselves.
Upon being informed that no other branch of the service was seen, he smiled derisively, and rode on, with the remark that he did not regard the Confederate cavalry in the least.
The party are reported to have twelve pieces of artillery, but
Dr. Pryor did not see a gun. They have a train of forty wagons, in which they carry all their ammunition and such commissary stores as they have.
The horses became much jaded before reaching
Ford's Depot, and the teamsters several times informed the captain of the Guard that they would be forced to stop, their horses then having the "" and being scarcely able to put one foot before another.
The
Captain told them that stopping was out of the question, and that they must apply the whip freely.
By following this advice the wagons reached
Ford's Depot about 9 o'clock.
The expedition left its rendezvous in Prince George at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning, and traveled over forty miles the first day. The heat was very oppressive, the dust intolerable, and
Dr Pryor thinks that the wagon train could have been easily captured, if it had been encountered.
Upon reaching
Ford's Depot the raiders were highly exhilarated at the rich harvest which was spread out before them.
Here was a Depots containing 8) or 90 sacks of county salt.
On the track were three first class locomotives, and some twenty or more cars.
The cars and two of the locomotives belonged to the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad, and many of the former were filled with valuable machinery, etc. All hands dismounted, the guard pitching their quarters some distance to the south of the railroad, and picketing their horses at a fence close by.
The thought now occurred to
Dr Pryor that he might make good his escape, and the immediate departure of the
Captain of the guard, with the remark that he was going in pursuit of food for the horses, resolved him on the attempt.
Leaving his favorite mare, which, being a present from the citizens of
Petersburg, he deeply regretted, and throwing down his saddle bags as an additional "blind," he groped his way through the darkness about a hundred yards, when he struck a dense body of undergrowth.
He had not proceeded more than a quarter of a mile before he heard an exultant shout, and immediately there burst through the darkness a great blaze of light.
This through the darkness a great blaze of light.
This he knew was the depot in flames, and by its light he was enabled to direct his steps with more accuracy, as he kept his back in that direction until he had proceeded probably a mile.
Here he suddenly plunged into a marsh, and in his efforts to extricate himself suffered smartly from severe falls, and lost his hat. Finally getting upon hard ground again he lay down in the woods, and there remained until 5 o'clock Thursday morning. He heard the raiders when they departed, which was at two o'clock in the morning; but knowing that there are always many stragglers,
Dr Pryor did not venture to find his way to any house until the hour above mentioned.
About nine o'clock, his bare head exposed to the rays of a scorching sun, and suffering greatly from loss of sleep and undue exertion, he reached the house of a friend, and was hospitably entertained.
He was then provided with a hat and horse, and reached
Petersburg late Thursday evening.
The raiders made a great many inquiries of
Dr Pryor about the roads, and particularly of that which would take them to the
Junction.
They had ten days raucous, which would indicate a long journey, and as they have diverged from the
Junction towards
Danville, we shall not be at all surprised to hear of their extending the expedition to a section never before visited by raiders.
Unless met by determined resistance, we have no doubt their destination is not only
Danville, but even
Greensboro' and other portions of
North Carolina, where the people have never dreamed of a visit from Yankee marauders.
We would advise the people of that State to prepare at once for an irruption of these vandals.
Arm themselves and give the invaders a bloody reception.
Should
Wilson extend his expedition to that section, it is in the power of the people to exterminate the entire party, and they should see to it that not a man survives.
Further from the raiders.
A gentleman who reached here last night direct from
Ford's Depot informs us that the destruction of the vandals in that vicinity was very great.--From the 14 mile post, six miles below, to some distance above the depot, the telegraph poles have been cut down, the wire destroyed, the railroad track torn up and the iron burnt and bent.
Several citizens in the vicinity suffered heavily.
Mr. Wm H
Beasley was stripped of every article of value; M Ed H
Osborne lost thirteen horses and mules, six negroes, all his bacon, and half of his corn
Mr. John D
Pool and
Mr. Thacker were also robbed of nearly everything.
In their march towards the
Junction the
Yankees swept the country, burning the depots and court building at
Nottoway C H.
A dispatch received last night from
Rice's, via
Lynchburg and
Richmond, states that when last heard from the raiders were moving up the
Danville road, and were within a few miles of Meherrin Station.
