The enemy's Raid upon Frederick Hall.
Since the visit of a force of the enemy to Frederick's Hall Station, on Wednesday last, very little has been known of the situation of affairs along the line of the Central Railroad.
Beyond the fact that such a circumstance transpired nothing had been positively ascertained, nor was any one able to say whether the enemy still held possession of the road at that point, or whether, after destroying a considerable amount of property, they had gone to parts unknown Yesterday, however,
Mr. F. B. Smith the telegraph operator at
Beaver Dam, took a hand car and two negroes and proceeded up the road towards Frederick's Hall, with the determination of learning the state of affairs and terminating the suspense in the mind of the public.
Arriving near the station, and ascertaining that the
Yankees had taken their departure, he at once connected the telegraph wires, which they had broken, adjusted his instrument, and communicated with the
Richmond office.
It appears that the enemy came to Fredericks Hall with a force of about 1,500, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery.
They destroyed all the
Government stores found in the depot, (which we understand were of no great value,) cut down the water tanks, and broke the pumps, but did not burn any of the company's buildings.
A good deal of property belonging to the citizens was destroyed, and some thirty negroes were carried off.
N. W. Harris, tobacco manufacturer, estimates his loss at #2,000.
The damage to the railroad track was slight, and has been repaired.
The telegraph operator at the station left with his instruments before the enemy arrived.
The cavalry, which was the same that burnt the buildings at
Beaver Dam, said their next trip would be to Tolersville, about six miles beyond.
The party was led by a negro, who ran away from his owner,
Mr. S. C. Tally, at Frederick's Hall, and who took a very active part in the destruction of property.
Mr. Smith certainly deserves credit for his boldness in making this trip, and for collecting the foregoing valuable information.
From another source we learn that the
Yankees arrested
Mr. Wm. Garrett, a merchant of this city, who was on his way to
Louisa county, and sent him to
Washington, and stole six negroes from
Alexander Garrett, his brother.
Direct communication with
Gordonsville having been temporarily cut off, we have no late intelligence respecting military movements near that point.
