The Nashville Daily Union

An expedition to co-operate with Gen. Averill, consisting of two regiments of infantry, four hundred artillery, and a battery of six guns, the forces numbering one thousand four hundred in all, under command of Colonel George D. Wells, of the 24th Massachusetts infantry, returned to Harper's Ferry without the loss of a man. After penetrating to Harrisonburg, where Averill had finished his work, after Wells had accomplished his diversion strictly according to orders, he found himself confronted by from 7,000 to 10,000 of Lee's forces, with Gen. Rodes' brigade and part of Stuart's cavalry in his rear at Front Royal. By clever strategy and forced marches, he escaped the former and averted the latter forces, reaching his post with his men and munitions unharmed. So desperate at one time seemed the chances of the expedition the rebels in Winchester offered to bet that not a man would return. One hundred rebel prisoners were safely brought off.