Reference has been made to the fact that the
Yankees visited the (distant by canal about 50 miles of
Richmond) their intention being to blow-up the aqueduct at that place, and inflict when damage they could on the canal.
From a gentleman just arrived from
Columbia we have the following particulars of their visit to the place:
The
Yankees, to the number of several hundred, appeared at the villages at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning, and immediately commenced sending out men to bring in all the horses and mules they could find.
Others in the village proceeded to destroy the several top of the aqueduct wall.
They gave this up after sending the drill about six inches. They then put two legs of powder in the canal at the aqueduct and ignited a base leading to them, but it went out and no explosion took place.
They did not cut the canal banks.
At
Mrs. Allen's farm, one mile below
Columbia, they burned a barn and destroyed all of the bridges spanning the canal between
Elk Island and
Columbia save three.
They also burned the bridge on
Mr. Harrison's farm, leading over the canal, and two bridges at
Columbia, and one above it. They took possession of the canal boat
Isabella,
Capt. Snoddy, and burned her. She was owned by the
Captain, and loaded with his furniture and effects.
They afterwards said they would not have burnt it had they been aware it was private property.
They sawed off the wooden beams of the canal locks below
Columbia.
Six negroes of
Mr. Galt left with tee Yankees. --They took all the good horses they could find; stole four from
Mr. Elsom.
and shot one because it was too fat to travel.
The
Yankees had been in
Columbia about four hours, and were busy committing their depredations, when one of their couriers dashed into the village and told his comrades that
Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry was after them.
They were soon in the saddle, and took the route towards
Goochland. --Later in the day
General Lee appeared, and, continuing the pursuit, came up with the
Yankees the next day (Monday) at
Hadensville, Goochland county, 15 miles cast of
Columbia, when a skirmish ensued, and the
Yankees rapidly retreated.
Our informant does not think there are any Yankees this side of the Three Cropped road. Whole at
Columbia they broke open a warehouse belonging to
Mr. Hodgson, and distributed its contents — sugar, rice, bacon, &c — to the negroes.
A part of the goods were afterward recovered.
