The Daily Dispatch: July 6, 1863., [Electronic resource]

---

---

The movement on Richmond.
raid on Ashland.

The Yankees continue their movement on Richmond. They did not, however, attack the South Anna bridge, on the R, F. & Potomac R. R., Friday night, as was reported.--They came up through King William county, on the other side of the Pamunkey, as far as Littlepage, which is three miles from the bridge above named, but did not cross the river. The "heavy firing" heard in the direction of Hanover Junction by citizens here Friday night, turns out to have been a thunder storm which visited that place.

The force at the White House, or a great part of it, has gone to Barhamsville, about two and a half miles from New Kent C. H. This is a movement to the rear. On Saturday night they sent forward a small force and drive our pickets in at the Cross-Roads. Barhamsville is about 28 miles from Richmond, on the stage road. Two or three gunboats are still at the White House.

To ascertain anything reliable with reference to the operations of the enemy in the vicinity of Hanover, is exceedingly difficult. All we know is that they were in King William and Hanover counties, in heavy force, on Saturday and yesterday, and that they were unsparingly destroying the recently harvested crops in those counties, appropriating what stock was left from their former raids, and running off the negroes.

On Saturday night, about 12 o'clock, a small body of their cavalry, not over one hundred in number, made a raid upon Ashland, where they burned the station-house, wood-house and water tank, and tore up a small portion of the railroad track. This feat was accomplished without meeting any resistance, our military authorities not regarding that point of sufficient consequence to be provided with a guard. The raiders remained till nearly daylight yesterday morning, when they left, perhaps making their way back to their main body without meeting with a Confederate soldier.

The whole demonstration of the enemy is now beginning to develop itself as a reckless raid, to destroy what they can and inflict all the mischief possible on our lines of communication.

---

Later.

A gentleman who left this city as an independent scout, on Saturday afternoon, and who left Hanover Court-House at half past 12 o'clock yesterday, has furnished us the following: About 7 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, he arrived at Hawes's shop, in Hanover, about 7 miles distant from the Court House. Upon inquiry, he could hear of no Yankees being in the county, save two who had crossed the river at Hanover Town Ferry, and who returned to the King William side without venturing very far. From Hawes's shop our informant went to within 2½ miles of the Court-House, where he received information from a reliable source that the enemy were in some force at the Court-House during the afternoon — their force consisting of infantry, artillery and cavalry. He also learned that they had taken the road leading to Ashland, leaving a picket force at the Court-House, and stationing a heavy picket about a mile distant, in the direction of Hawes's shop.

Finding it impossible to get to the Court-House, and being advised in the neighborhood stay at any house our soul and two associates bivouacked for the night in a woods, about half a mile distant from the first line of the enemy's pickets. Between 9 and 10 o'clock they heard heavy firing in the direction of South Anna Bridge, which continued at intervals until after 2 o'clock yesterday morning. He could not distinguish anything but artillery firing, though he thinks there may have been infantry engaged.

On Sunday morning, ascertaining that the pickets had been withdrawn, with his party he cautiously proceeded in the direction of the Court-House; upon reaching which he found the enemy had left; and, also, that the force that had taken the Ashland road the evening previous had returned and recrossed the river at Littlepage's bridge. On their return they were heard to remark that they had not found the capture of Hanover Junction as easy a matter as they had anticipated. Along the road they asked for milk for their wounded, from which it is inferred they sustained injury by the firing the night before.

Leaving the Court-House, our informant went down to Littlepage's bridge, which he reached in time to see it enveloped in flames, the enemy destroying it after them. From a prominent position he could see, on the King William side of the river, a train of wagons, extending, he thinks, over a mile in length.--This train, he was informed by citizens, had been there a day or two.

At Hanover Court-House he was informed by a reliable citizen that the force of the enemy that passed that point on Saturday afternoon consisted of eight regiments of infantry, four companies of cavalry, and two pieces of artillery. He is confident that at 1 o'clock yesterday there was not a Yankee in Hanover county, unless as a prisoner.

Information received in the city from other sources, states that the enemy attacked South Anna bridge at 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, killing two of our men, wounding several, and taking eleven prisoners. They were repulsed, but with reinforcements renewed the attack at 1 o'clock yesterday morning, when they were again repulsed and driven off, with what loss is not known.