Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 37.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[199]

The Yankees, in desperation, charged through by mere weight of numbers; with a loss of several killed and wounded, and about thirty prisoners remaining in our hands. They then pursued their way towards the Piping Tree Ferry. We had two men wounded, of whom, we are pained to say, Lieut. Ditty was shot in both eyes.

Thus has passed away Kilpatrick's second attempt at raiding into Richmond. He has been pretty well hackled by our forces, having lost, probably, at least one-tenth of his force in killed and captured. As far as the grand objects of his undertaking were concerned, he has reason to feel very foolish. Prisoners say it was the design of the Brooke Turnpike column to attract our whole force, and leave the river-side column to make a dash at Belle Island, and liberate the Yankee prisoners there. They have failed in everything, except some temporary damage to our railroads, the burning of some barns and mills, the seizure of some horses, the hanging of one negro, and the stealing of some spoons. For these he has paid, probably, two hundred and fifty picked men, and he has thoroughly broken down the rest, both men and horses, for a time.

Of the damage to the railroads the extent is not yet known. The Fredericksburg road has had one of its engines re-burnt; it was burnt in the former raid—and three or four small gondolas. The Central road is thought to have suffered considerably.

As if waiting for Kilpatrick to get through, Butler is understood to be moving again. Some of his cavalry appeared yesterday at Tunstall's Station, it is said; and it is alleged that a heavy co-operating column of infantry (twelve regiments), are at the Burnt Ordinary, in New Kent. Perhaps it is well he should come while our hand is in.

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Skirmish on the Western road.

We have obtained some particulars of the skirmish with the enemy to which we referred on yesterday, on the Plank Road, about three miles West of Richmond, on Tuesday evening. The troops engaged on our side were composed wholly of our city