The Daily Dispatch: June 26, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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The Exploit of Stuart's cavalry.
Another Federal account.

A letter in the Philadelphia Press, dated White House, June 14, gives the fullest Yankee version that we have yet seen of the recent cavalry reconnaissance in the rear of McClellan's army. After staling that the daring ‘"rebels"’ crossed the Pamunkey ‘"from Prince William county to Garlick's Landing"’ four miles above the White House, where they burned the vessels and captured and destroyed other property, the writer proceeds:

The precise knowledge which the rebels possess of the character of the roads and situation of the country must have been of great service to them on this occasion, and so adroitly did they avail themselves of this knowledge, that before any one here was aware of the fact, they had proceeded as far up the railroad as Tunstall's Station, some five miles from this place.

About the time the rebels arrived at Tunstall's Station, one of the trains happened, unfortunately, to be on its way down to White House, and having been in the vicinity, and doubtless apprised of its coming, they awaited on the brow of a hill, through which the road has been cut, the approach of the train. As it approached, the rebels appeared and hailed the engineer to stop the train. By a sort of intuition he suspected at once the character of the abrupt intruders, and refused to comply with their demand. In an instant a volley was poured into the train, and its passengers, consisting chiefly of laborers, civilians, and sick and wounded soldiers, made a general effort to jump off, and, if possible, elude the deadly fire of the rebels on the hill, Some succeeded; others, especially the sick and wounded, were unable to get off, and took their chance on the train.

The engineer, surprised and frightened, and ignorant as to the number of rebels he might encounter on the road, resolving to run the train in, crowded on the highest pressure of steam, and the train almost flew over the remainder of the road to the White House. Here the news of what had occurred spread like lightning, and the utmost fear, panic and consternation spread throughout the departments stationed here. This was entirely owing to the fact that everybody was ignorant of the numbers and force of the rebels, and their fears at once magnified a few hundred cavalry into the entire rebel army, which they alleged had left Richmond and come around to cut off McClellan in the rear.

Another unfortunate circumstance here was the very small number of effective troops at this place, and, under an impression of immediate attack, Col. Ingalls, in command here, mustered whatever there was to muster, and, in addition, armed all the laborers and civilians to be found. In connection with a few cavalry, these were formed in line of battle to receive the rebels. In the meantime, the various steamboats schooners, &c., at this point, prepared to drop down the Pamunkey. The mail boat from Fort Monroe had just arrived; the mails which she had brought, together with those remaining in the post-office, and other Government documents and property, were hurried on board, and the boat prepared to start. There was of course, an immense panic among the sutlers and others engaged in the mercantile profession, every one awaiting with dread suspense the expected attack.

But the rebels, whether unaware of the advantage they would have obtained, or more probably through fear of meeting our army in force at this point, failed to make their appearance, but, in the meantime, had proceeded to the accomplishment of business, which was doubtless more immediately connected with their mission. The country over which the railroad runs is interspersed with various cracks, small runs, and swamps, each of which is spanned with bridges of various sizes and styles of engineering skill.

One of these bridges, a little this side of Tunstall's Station, which spans a small steam some twenty feet above its level, was especially selected by the rebels for destruction, with a view to the demolition of any trains that might be coming or going, and for the purpose of cutting off communication for a time, at least, between our army before Richmond and their supplies at the White House. They also tore up one or two rails from the track, but before they had succeeded either with the bridge burning or tearing up the track they were compelled to leave, by what means I have not been able to learn, but I presume by the approach of a regiment of the Pennsylvania reserve, (the Bucktails,) which, upon information received, had been ordered to proceed down the road to White House. The Bucktails arrived just in time to put out the flames and save the bridge — on half hour, or even less, of delay would have enabled the rebels to accomplish their purpose on the bridge and track.

From the bridge the rebels proceeded through the woods to the road which leads to Richmond, and which lies to the left of the railroad. Here they continued their infernal business, killing, plundering, and destroying every person and thing that came in their way. Two trains of some thirty wagons each, on their way from White House to the army, laden with grain, were overtaken, captured and destroyed by fire. The teamsters, escaping safely, came running into camp greatly frightened, having lost everything in their flight. As the rebels crossed the Pamunkey at Garlick's Landing, a train of wagons, in addition to other Government property, was captured and immediately destroyed. Several sutlers on the same road as the Government teams lost their wagons and stores. I neglected to mention in its proper place that the rebels also fired a railroad car containing grain at Tunstall's Station, which was completely destroyed.

Your correspondent was coming down the railroad in the train immediately following the one on which the attack was made, and had a very narrow escape, our train being saved by the appearance of some of the fugitives, who had escaped the rebel bullets and the mishaps in jumping from the running cars. Breathless from running and fright, they called to the engineer, who stopped the train, and remanded on the road the remainder of the night. It was now about 12 o'clock midnight, and we were in a very uncertain, and for aught we knew a critical position. The rebels were known to be scattered over the country in different directions, but in what numbers we not any other person seemed to know anything about. It was uncertain what minute they might appear upon the brow of the hill near which we stopped, and fire upon our train as they did on the one preceding us. Accordingly, a few persons started to bring down the Fifty-second Pennsylvania, Col. Dodge, which was known to be in the vicinity, to serve as a guard of protection to the train. The men had generally retired to rest for the night, but were soon aroused, put under arms, and marched down the road to where the train had stopped.

After giving a partial list of the casualties resulting from this ‘"wonderful raid of guerrillas,"’ the writer adds:

Early next morning after the occurrence, regiments of infantry were thrown along both sides of the railroad to act as a guard, while several companies of cavalry were dispatched on scouting expeditious through the woods and surrounding country. Every effort was made by our men, who were enraged beyond measure, to capture the daring and desperate rebels. They have succeeded in capturing six of the rebels; among them are Capt. Garlick, whose father lives at the landing where the rebels crossed the river, and Dr. Harrison, a rampant secesh, who lives near this place, and whose property has been constantly guarded by Union soldiers since this place fell into our hands.