The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-08
WAR MOVEMENTS,

WAR MOVEMENTS.
- special Correspondence of the DqiIy FrcI1nos
mr. hAfE SkiRMISH IN BERKELEY
NIf' VIRGINIA. &C., tSc.--DARISC:
EXPLOIT OF CAPT. ROBERT SWAN
BRILLIANT FEAT OF sAMRO
HAGERSTowN, July L.
observe you have had the Government version
OF the late skirmish at Hanesville V, bou
General Robert Patterson is said to have .srou,ad
ten thousand rebels and put them to FIGHT" This
report is like all the one-sided news c3nveved
through the same channel
There was no determined stand taken bv tbo
Coniederates, nor was it so intended Three reo;
ments ot infantry and company of cavalry wero
between Martinsburg and the Potomac Tho %.
vary company were stationed on the road to
lle"gesvl!le, and two of the infantry regiments
were stationed at Hainesville, while a third 49,
turther advanced on the road to Martinsburg
-" men the Federal troops advanced to Haines
Vile, where portion Of the two Confederate regi
inehts lay IN ambush, the slaughter would have
been fearful, but for the timely notice of Mr. Por-
terheld, who ran and informed the enemy where
the Contederates were concealed. The skirmish
was a briskiy-cOntcsted on, and resuI,ed in Tho
killing of five Federal troops and wounding fr,aa
three mortaIly. The Confederate loss was two
Killed and eight wounded two seriously Five
lhnaSand troops were engaged on the Federal side,
ana about hive hundreG in all of the two regiments
OF The Conederates Col Aliens regiment tba
one in reserve, did not fire gun The Confada.
rates had M available artillery. So much for the
Hight, 900 strong"
The most brilliant, daring and dashing exploit of
me dAv was the caaturing of between forty and
fifty Federal prisoners by a body of horsemen-
Alter the army had crossed the river at Williams
port General NegleyS brigade diverred from the
main road on the road leading to HrdgesviIe
Company A, of the 18th Pennsylvania regiment,
were sent in advance OF the main body as scouts
1t consisted OF sixty-three men. At the residence
OF William McGarry, Esq, farmer, they called a
halt, and hailing OF the daughters inquired for
her father, whom tnry said they had account to
rebel troops.
The young lady said she did not know where
her tather was, when twelve OF the party started
out to hunt him up. Several of the remaining
troops now grossly nsuited the young lady, and
said to her if she did not reveal where her father
was that they wond put her to death, and pointed
'helr bayonets at her heart. At this stage of the
proceedings a body OF twenty five horsemen gal
Ioped up, under Capt. Robert Swan. They were
on the point of baiaZ fired upon when CaDt Swan
shouted ''my God, men, don't fire on your friends!
Down with your muskets." Upon which they,
lhinklng 1t was some Of their troops, obeyed
the order As quick thought, Swans men were
oil of their horses, and with swords and pis-
lois demanded their surrender, which they did
without hesitation.
They then disarmad them. and taking the straps
off their canteens, tied their hands behind their
! backs, and In TINS manner marched them of
| through Martiusburg to Winchester. The men
were ordered to march at "douhe-quick :" which
! thew complained they could not do. as they were
much wearied; but Capt Swans orders were i'm
| peratiVe, ami forward they we're pushed with all
! possible dispatch. The captain of the company
| captured was in town this evening, appea ing
| much depressed about the matter; the remaining
| twelve men refusing to march under him, blaming
MN Tor their mistor tunes. Swans party each took
tW" muSketS IN front ot them on their horses, and
made these men throw away their haversacks, &c.
| rms was daring feat, and was performed hy a
Marrlander, aud citizen of Washington county.
Another feat, and one more humorous, that
OF slave or Mr. MUG drry's, who captured a Lien.
tenant o. the same company, disarmsd him and di
Vesting him OF bis ''res smentas," sword snd niStn
donned them himself and marched him ..prisoper
OF Waf OF to winchester. 'Nigger as good as a
| white man. that time.
We have call sorts" of Muuchausen stories at
present about what Gen. Patterson is doinr in
Dixie" but nothing that can vouch for That
we are on the eve OF grand battle, Is foregoue
conclusion. Yours, X.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
From the Winchester Republican,
Nartinsburg.
On Monday last, the Federal rorcss nnaar cor,
mand Of Gen. Patterson, numbering Is 600 crossed
the Potomac river at Williamsport ford. and ad
vanced in the direction of Martinsburg. On Tues-
day morning, about 10 O'Clock, the 5.h Virginia
| regiment under command Of Col Harper which
had been sent out bv Col. Jackson as a scoatino
party, suddenly and unexpectedly came into COLI.
slDH Win u large iOlct OF the enemy, estimated to
be at least 3 600 strong. A sharp roInict at once
enSued. Our farces had but one piece of artillery
wbich became useless after two three rounds had
peen hred- Although the strength of the enemy
was greatly superior to ours in numbers, our men
lought with great GOODNESS and bravery The enc
my, being well provided with artillery threw she'll
among our forces, which compelled them to retire
| which they did in perfect order. From psrsors
who were engaged in the fight we learn that not
more than 400 or 500 Of Colone! Harper's regiment
were in the action.
The Continental Morgan Guards, of our town,
| commanded bv Capt. Avis, and the West Augusta
| Guards, Of Stauuton, were in the thickcst of the
| DattIe from first to last, and it was only in these
| companies that any casualties were sustained. AS
well as we can learn, there were but two of our
men KILLED; their names We learn are Parrish and
| Snapp, of Capt. Avis company; whilst there were
| eight or ten wounded, but none of them seri,usIy
| so. Five or six of the wounded have been brouoht
to town, and receiving every necessary atten-
ton. company which had been detached from
the main body, were captured by Capts. Patrick
and iardesty, companies Of cavalry. Forty-three
OF the prisoners were brought to town Wednesday
morning and lodged in Jail. They state that when
they volunteered it for only three months
and under the condition that they to cross
the Potomac. They say that their term of service
would have expired on she 9th inst, and that they
were forced to into Virginia. They speak in
grateful terms of their treatment since their cap
ture. The officers of this company have not yet
arrived, but are hourly expected.
After the engagement Colonel Jackson, with his
brigade, retired two miles south of Martinsburg
Last evening General Johnston, with all the forces
stationed in and around Winchester, marched to
his aid, and we may expect 10 hear of a battle at
any hour.
Later
We learn that more prisoners have been cap
tured by our forces. The nBmber is said to be
twenty-seven Among thp IN is a lieutenant-colone,
captain and a surgeon. They may be expected
! here by the time our paper goes to press. They
all Pennsy ylvanians. We have also Just received
information that the Yankees have taken posses
sion of Martinsburg and are estimated to be from
r $4,000 to $4,000 strong. General Johnston is at
Darksville, seven miles this side of Martnsburg
and at the time of writing, is preparing to ad-
vance upon the enemy. His command Is about
l3 900.
The militia of the county have been ordered cuf,
+ and are rapidly collecting in town, eager for
shot at the minions Of Lincoln.
Want of Cavalry.
The absence from the Capital of a suitable rro-
portion OF cavalry is now iel in It's iul! toIce The
necessity OF having here the dur proportion oi cav
:. airy to sixtv-Gve thousand Infantry, was plainly
set before the Secretary Of War tw" months as".
Had he taken thrproper measures then had be- "peh
less taken up with conracf, and more occupied with
the nublic yeai-he might have now had fifteen
regiments Of cavalry here. II the war goes
on, many will be needed and should be raised
| forthwith. Bat whenever the Offer was made to
raise a cavalry regiment, If the proper encourage
ment given, the Secretary always found it
convenient to waive the subj - Washington Cor
respondent PhiiadeiphiG hq"irer
a CRACK CAVALRY COMPANY.
gentleman who has lately been travelling over
parts of the extreme South sends "A letter to the
Louisville Courier, in which he thus speaks of
fine cavalry company which lately entered the Con =
lederate service from Mississippi:
Mississippi has now nineteen regiments in the
| Confederate army, and has twelve more organized
and drilling, ready to obey the tirst summons to
march. Some OF her corps are the finest troops in
the field. The Adams Troop, from Nachez, the
most spendidly equipped body OF cavalry ever seen
In this country, passed on to Virginia by the way
OF our city, lew days ago. IL is C rps formed
among the gentlemer of Nstcbez and Adams c"un-
ty, and drilled by General Quitman wheh ne was
in the prime of his military ardor. 1t was kept up
in its full efficiency till the present revnlu'lon when
II resolved to take part in the conflict, and since
| thsp II has been under the instruction OF an expe.
riancad French cavalry officer. On parade their
Am was "a perfect that OF veterans. There was
not an ordinary horse iu the troop of one hundred
and their splendid chargers seemed as thoroughly
drilled as the The outfit of each member cost
ever 81 900, and there was not private in the
ranks who had not a fortune of at least $50 OO6-
They have equipped themselves and bear their own
expenses, and ask no pay from the Cover errrnient.-
They Will exhibit in soldierly bearing and by their
knightly prowess to Northerners what is meant by
| southern chivary.
Gen. Patterson's Headquarters at Martins
burg.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
| MARTINsBURG, VA, July ). leol J
General Order Until further orders the Head
quarters of this Department viii be at Martlnsburg,
!, | Va and the Pnst-otlce at Hagerstown, Md.
| Bv order of Major General Patterson.
F. j. PoRrER, Assistant Adutant- General.
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