After the skirmish at Greenbrier Bridge, noticed in our paper yesterday, in which
Gen. Echols was defeated, and retreated into
Monroe county, the enemy under
Averill, about 4,500 strong, consisting of 3,000 mounted infantry and 1,500 cavalry, pushed on to the
Sweet Springs, in
Monroe, some fifty miles from
Salem,
Roanoke county.--
Gen. Echols, in the meantime, fell back to
Union, Monroe county, twenty-three miles from the
Sweet Springs, where a portion of the command of
Gen. Sam Jones was stationed.
Averill, finding the way open and his course unopposed, moved on to
Salem, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, which point he reached yesterday morning.
Here they burned the court-house and one or two other buildings, including the railroad depot.
Information received last night states that the rolling stock of the railroad was saved by being run off on the approach of the enemy.
The force under
Averill started out from
Beverly, in Randolph county, a distance from
Salem of nearly 170 miles, and the only force which made a show of opposition to their progress was that of
Gen. Echols, at Greenbrier Bridge.
In their route they travelled through
Pocahontas on the
Huntersville road till they struck the Marlins Bottom road, by which they approached
Lewisburg.
After leaving
Lewisburg they took the road leading direct to
Salem, by way of the
Sweet Springs.
The statement, therefore, that they came, in from
Kanawha is incorrect.
The force which engaged
Gen. Imboden's attention at
Shenandoah Mountain, west of
Staunton, seems to have had no immediate connection with
Averill's command.
The latter moved up the
South Branch Valley from
Hardy county.
After their check on Monday it is believed they fell back to
Moorefield.
These movements of the enemy would seem to have a double object.
First, to prevent our forces from reaching the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with a view to conceal the transfer of troops from
Grant's army to that of
Gen. Meade, on the
Rappahannock; and, second, the interruption of railroad communication between
Gen. Lee's army and our forces in
Southwestern Virginia and
East Tennessee.
Salem, in
Roanoke county, which has been reached by the enemy, is not immediately on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, but about one mile distant therefrom.
It is about sixty miles southwest of
Lynchburg, and is the county seat of
Roanoke.
The country around is rich and productive.
