The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-06 00:00:00

"Yesterday Captain Duncan made a reconnais-
sance to Hedgesville with two squadrons of the 4th
Pennsylvania Cavalry,numbering 140 men. Hedges-
ville is seven miles north-west of Martinsburg, and
one mile from North Mountain, on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. Capt. Duncan drove the rebel
pickets into the town, and then charged the main
body of the rebels, taking 19 prisoners, including
three officers. They all belonged to the 10th Vir-
ginia Cavalry, except a lieutenant from the 2d
South Carolina Regiment. None of Capt, Duncan's
men were hurt. Refugees state that the rebels left
Martinsburg on Tuesday. It is believed that a por-
tion of them went to Williamsport and a part to
Shepherdstown. The destruction of the property
belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has
within the past few days been made complete.
While Gen. M'Clellan is compelled to keep his army
scattered along the river for a distance of 30 miles,
it is evidently impossible for him to move on the
rebels in force, Should he attempt to mass his army
for this purpose, the rebels would cross again into
Maryland above, and be back again to Virginia by
the time he reached them. So soon, however, as we
have a heavy rainstorm, sufficient to add two or
three feet to the depth of the current, no doubt the
commanders of both armies will show their heads.
The recommendation of Governor Letcher to destroy
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has, as far as I
can learn, been carried out to the full extent from
Harper's ferry to a distance of 10 or 12 mils beyond
Martinsburg. One entire track has been broken
up between Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg, and
carried off towards Winchester, beyond Martins-
burg."

" On the Potomac, opposite Shepherdstown,
Oct. 24.

" Rumour has it that the rebel Generals Jack-
son's, Longstreet's, and Hill's divisions are massed
between Martinsburg and the ziver. Already our
picket force has been doubled. The 2d District of
Columbia Regiment, Col. Alexander, left to-day for
Washington, as the terms of their enlistment do not
compel them to come out of the district of Columbia.
They have availed themselves of their prerogative,
and left this section of the army to complete the
period of their enlistment at home. Since leaving
Washington the regiment has been attached to
Gen. Griffin's brigade, and the men have performed
their duties with soldierly alacrity and cheerfulness.
An unexploded shell, one of the relics of the Antie-
tam fight, burst to-day in the 18th Massachusetts
camp. The explosion resulted from the shell com-
ing in contact with a camp fire, but, fortunately,
did no injury. Gen. Morell returned to day from
Washington and assumed command of his division.
Quite a number of the 2d New York Militia took
French leave of their regiment last evening, with a
view to join the regulars. They fell into the cus-
tody of the Provost Guard at Sharpsburg, and will
be sent back to their regiment this morning."

" Contrabands from B
thesotloi vunatertwellra
leldiegjshtartcusktostOoi
destruction
8.
02cf4om the.
mand report that after
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad west of Martinsburg
the entire rebel army commenced falling back yes-
terdaymorning, and that rebel
officers believe
Lee's intention to be to winter near Gordonsville.
ported falling back is corroborated by un-
usually e
strong picketing in our front yesterday and
to-day This morning a squad of rebel cavalry
came by oar videttes unperceived and dashed into
our infantry pickets, who were driven back, with
This
considerable firing on both sides. We had no
casualties."
__

,I Pleasant Valley, Oet. 24.

" Orders have been issued in Burnside's command
to issue no more new clothing than the men can
carry comfortably on forced marches. It is reported
here that Hooker rejoins the army on Monday."
The following general instructions from Secre-
tary Welles to the officers of our blockading squad-
rons clearly show that if the circumstances of the
Montgomery Blanche case are as represented the
Government will repudiate Captain Hunter's ac-
tion :

" Navy Department, Aug. 18.
"Sir,—some recent occurrences in the capture of
vessels, and matters pertaining to the blockade,
render it necessary that there should be a recapitu-
lation of the instructions heretofore from time to