Revelation of a Mammoth scheme of operations.
--A
Yankee Major, of seeming respectability and considerable intelligence, has revealed to a Confederate officer a most extended programme which had been chalked out by
Grant, but which, through the energy and vigilance of our troops, was happily frustrated.
It is thus summed up by the Petersburg
Express:
‘
This officer states that
Wilson and
Kantz were to effect a most thorough destruction of the
Southside and
Danville railroads, but were to part company this side of
Danville.
Wilson was to come down through the rich counties of
Charlotte,
Lunenburg,
Brunswick,
Mecklenburg,
Greensville, and
Sussex, stealing all the horses and negroes which could be found in his way, and again enter
Grant's lines by way of
Stony creek; and if this point proved impracticable, to come out where he entered, at Reams's Station.--
Kantz was to proceed to
Danville, from thence to
Greensboro', then on to
Raleigh, and thence along the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad to
Weldon.
At the latter place, the bridge was to be burned, and
Kantz was then to make for the
Black water, and come around through
Southampton,
Surry,
Sussex, and Prince George to
Grant's headquarters.
This officer states that the combined forces numbered all of eight thousand; that they were splendidly armed and equipped; well mounted; had picked men, and that, in all respects, it was intended to have been the grandest raid of the war, far eclipsing all similar expeditions, either East or West not excepting
Grierson's great tramp through
Mississippi, and
Sheridan's contemplated march to
Gordonsville,
Charlottesville,
Lynchburg, etc.--Our readers can now form some idea of what has been accomplished by the defeat of this multitude of land pirates, and
Central North Carolina has especial cause to be thankful that she has escaped an irruption of vandals which would have proved more destructive than the locusts of
Egypt did to that much afflicted country.
’
