Still Later
The train which took out the troops on the
Central road returned at 11 o'clock last night.
Front the officers on board this train we have some fuller particulars of the raid upon the road yesterday afternoon.
Before attacking the bring over the
South Anna, the enemy destroyed the trestle work on the road near Han over Come House, and tore up the track for some distance.
They then attacked the bridge which was guarded by only 80 men, belonging, we are informed, to the 44th North Carolina.
Perhaps there has not been more determined and desperate gallantry exhibited during this whole was then was exhibited by these gallant men in defence of the bridge.
For upwards of an hour they contended with twelve hundred of the enemy's cavalry and two pieces of artillery, and only yielded when completely over-powered.
The
Lt. Col. commanding this guard refused to surrender his sword, even after being overpowered, and it was not until he was ruthlessly knocked down with the butt of a market that it was wrested from him. According to one account we had eight men killed in the action, whilst another states that we lost but three.
Our wounded, half dozen in number, were left at Hanover Court-House.
The enemy is known to have had three killed and a number wounded.
After firing the bridge, the
Yankees started in the direction of the bridge on the
Fredericksburg road, but on being informed by a citizen, who was a prisoner of theirs, that we had two brigades at that point and
Hanover Junction, they turned their course, and marched back in the direction of the
White House, passing Hanover Court House only a few minutes before the arrival of our reinforcements.
The gentleman who gave them the information with reference to our forces at the
Junction, says they told him they had a cavalry force of 1,200, and a large infantry force at the
White House and neighborhood, and they boasted of their intention to take
Richmond last night or to-day.
Whilst in
Hanover they went to the residence of
Col. Wickham, where they captured
Gen. W. H. F. Lee, who has been there since he was wounded in the
battle of Brandy Station on the 9th.
They conveyed him away in the carriage of
Col. W., which they stole.
They also burned the line barn of
Col. Wickham, and one or two other out-buildings.
