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columns of cavalry came in on both sides of the colored brigade, drawn up to receive them, the mutual cheers were deafening.
This incident is marked from the fact that heretofore the army of the Potomac, and particularly the cavalry, have entertained a marked dislike to colored troops.
After resting awhile they resumed their march down the peninsula.
General Davis, who led, had several men shot by guerillas, and General Kilpatrick and his attendants chased a body, capturing a lieutenant and two men.
The force picked up on the way one of the escaped Richmond prisoners, a Colonel Watson or Watkins, of an Ohio regiment.
The troops went into camp a few miles from Fort Magruder on Thursday night, and yesterday were to move to Williamsburgh for the purpose of procuring forage and rations, and resting the command.
This raid has been one of the most daring of the war, and but for the two fatalities mentioned would have proved a complete success.
The men and horses have borne the hard marching remarkably well, the saddles not being removed during the trip, and but little sleep being given to the men.
The men made themselves quite at home with the inhabitants, and the stock of poultry, hogs, etc., has somewhat decreased.
The people generally were given to lying, none of them having any thing to eat, either for man or horse.
Among other acquisitions large piles of confederate money were secured and squandered with a recklessness befitting their easy acquisition.
One party paid eighty-odd dollars for a supper for eight, comprising the best the house afforded.
The ratio with the people was four dollars graybacks for one of greenbacks.
A large number of horses also found their way along with the command, and many a soldier has mementoes of Richmond, gathered inside the fortifications.
Over five hundred prisoners were taken, but from the nature of the expedition it was impossible to bring them in.
The casualties have not yet been ascertained.
Colonel Dahlgren, Major Cook, and Lieutenant-Colonel Litchfield, with about one hundred and fifty men, are missing.
The latter is known to have been wounded.
Too much praise cannot be awarded Colonel Dahlgren, nor too much regret felt at his supposed capture.
Not fully recovered from the loss of his leg in the charge upon Hagerstown, he volunteered his services to General Kilpatrick, and was assigned to the most important command in the expedition.
The greatest consternation prevailed in Richmond during the fighting, as well it might.
The men who have been baffled of their prey — the rebel capital — feel that they would have been gloriously successful if the authorities at Washington had permitted General Butler to cooperate with them, and keep Pickett's infantry employed down the Peninsula.
Another account.
The following letter was written by a member of the Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry, who participated in the raid:detachment Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry, Yorktown, Va., March 5, 1864.dear Captain: Before this reaches you, you will have read in the newspapers the full account of “Kilpatrick's great raid;” but, notwithstanding all that, I may be able to give you some facts and incidents which the newspaper reporters have no knowledge of. On the twenty-seventh ultimo a detail of five hundred men was made from our brigade, proportioned as follows: one hundred of the Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry; one hundred Sixteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and three hundred of the First Maine cavalry. We reported to General Kilpatrick the same day. We bivouacked near his headquarters, and the next day, a little after dark, we started on our expedition with a force of between three thousand and four thousand men. About three hours, however, before starting, an advance force of five hundred men was sent ahead to clear the ford, and draw the attention of any small parties of “rebs” who might be straggling around. We crossed Ely's Ford at one o'clock in the morning, without opposition, and pushed forward rapidly, passing, in our course, Chancellorsville, of historic fame, and at daylight we entered Spottsylvania Court-House. The numerous campfires around the place indicated that the “Johnnies” were around, but upon our approach they had fled precipitately, too much frightened to offer any resistance to our advance. On we went, stopping only at long intervals for a few moments' rest and refreshment for ourselves and horses. We proceeded rapidly, passing through Mount Pleasant, Markham, and Childsburgh. Up to this time we had followed up the trail of our advanced five hundred, but at Mount Pleasant we diverged from the main road to go to Childsburgh, whilst our advance had taken the road leading to Frederickshall, with the understanding that they were to join us at Hanover Junction. At Childsburgh we struck for Beaver Dam Station, on the Virginia Central Railroad. When we had proceeded about two miles from Childsburgh, we suddenly came upon a rebel engineer train and captured the whole thing, engineers and all. They were going to Fredericksburgh, and had much valuable apparatus with them. About three o'clock P. M., we dashed into Beaver Dam Station, captured. the telegraph apparatus and operator, and in less than ten minutes the whole station, with all its buildings, etc., was in flames. We ascertained that a train from the Junction was due in a few minutes. General Kilpatrick despatched a party from the First Maine to attack it when it came up, but we were a little too late. They saw the smoke and flames of the burning station and stopped just before the party sent out to attack them came up. The trainguards fired a few shots at our party and then they reversed motion and rushed back to Hanover
