The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-09
SPECIAL ooRREsPospKscE OF rHx DIsPAroH.

CHARLEsTCwN, VA, July 6, 1861.
our citizeus have been greatly disappotn ted
during the present week at not receiving the
Dispatch regularly. Its eagerly sought here,
ana read with great In terest. It's failure to
reach rs IL n matter of much regret
You have doubtless baen arpri9ed of the
engagement on Taes"ay, at nr near Hanes-
vile, in Berkeley county, where a portion Of
the gallant fifth Regiment, of Virginia IN.
Ter Col Harper, encountered ia,ge Federal
force, under Gen. Patterson. Gen. Patter-
SON report OF this engagement las publis he'd
in the Baltimore SUM has elected no little
amusement here, where its untruthfulness Is
SO well known. Gen. =. says his men ''rout-
ed and put to flight ten thousand Of the rebels, j"
when the truth is that only about four hun
dIed and fifty OF our men were engage1.---
ihat this lying report OF the Hesatan General
should have been SEM to Neaaq uarters is not
at all surprising, as it is in perfect keeping
With other reports which have been rendered
OF incidents Transporting In this region OF coun-
try. Our loss in the engagement referred to,
amounted TO two killed and six wounded
The loss Of the enemy in killed and wounded
was certainly much greater; and it is asserted
on quite rs good authority as General Patter-
son himself, that not less than three hundred
killed and wounded were hauled into Hagers
town on Tuesday night. Besides this, some
eighty prisoners were taken, who are now in
Wincheste ter. The principal loss sus tanned In
this fight, was suffered by the Winchester
Continentals, commanded by Capt. John
aot wear sword in defence uf :he Southern
Contederacy. His Goodness and galiantry en-
Tuesday are highly commended.
For several days exciting reports have been
circulated here OF the presence of a large
Federal force near Harper's Ferry, on the
Maryland side; and yesterday morning we re-
celved Intelligence from an unques tionnble
source that some twenty of the enemy had
cross sd over and were attempting the hosting
# Federal flag on the staff in the Armory
yard Acting npon this inforIna ton, Lieut..
Henderson, of the Eirg inia Rangers, with
twenty-five men, repaired to the Ferry, with
Il view OF capturing the flag. The Hesslans,
however, had become alarmed, and flea
across the river without accomplishing their
purpose, and only succeeded in carrying away
4 small portion of The Confederate streamer
which was left floating there when our troops
evacuated the Town. Lieut.. Henderson re-
manned at the Ferry several hours, when the
enemy again appeared on the maryland SIDE
OF the river, N Il force supposed 10 number
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred.
fire was at once opened upon them by our
boys, which was res pended 10 by the Hes
slams, supposed to be Il detachment OF
the Ninth Regiment of New York.
lively skirmish was then kept up for over
Eour, during which une three OF the hire
lings were observed to drop from the ranks.
Our men fought under cover, and conse-
qmently came off without injury. They left
their positions only when they mad exhausted
their ANN unition, and Lieutenant II with
several OF his men, visited our to WA last night
TO obtain Il supply. with the in ten t,on of open
irS the fight in the morning, should tha enemy
present hIru self. You may rely upon it,
attempt to cross there to-day will -ubjecL old
ab1s boys to no little annoyance, as Lieut..
Henderson and his men determined To
dispute every inch of ground, w hich they
can do successfully, with very little risk, un
der cover OF the bridge, abuLmeuts and stone
tressle- work of the Baltimore and ohio rail
road. Yesterday evening, after Lieut.. Hen
derson left Harper's Ferry, Mr.. Roeder, Il
quiet citizen, bat staunch Union man, was
walking on The platform of the railroad III
front of the Wager House, when fire was
opened upon him from the other side, and one
Of the balls str king him, he was almost in
stantly killed. In this instance they were
guilty of the assass nation OF of their
own friends
Nothing certain is known here Of the move
ments OF Gen. JohnstOn's army. They are
within striking distance of the Hessian forces
now pos led Il. Martinsburg, and Il big fight is
daily expected. Should ything occur, l
will write you again. Fox.