New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-25


he was strongly ntrenched With superior force To
our own. Nothing definite WA known, and IL wss not
until Sunday morning that Gen. Patterson knew that
Johnston bad quit Winchester and gone 20 Manasss,
Junet'onl On Saturday evening came into our
lines and gave himself up deserter FROM Winches-
ter aud on being taken 70 headquarters said that Gen.
Johnston had made q movement towards I.eesburR,
Loud"n County, 10 attack US that side, AID upon
this fase and degnedy deceptive information, it
proved 10 be, Gen. Patterson ordered Gen. Wilsmss
brigade 10 move, as stated above, at midnight.
II Gen. Johnston was too strong for IN attack upon
bis forticstions there would seem to have been but
one eoarse for Gen. Patterson 10 take which was 10
menace him 10 actively and energeti ally as to draw
him ont 10 field fight or hold him in cheek in bis posi-
lon and prevent his Reinforcement of Bsauregsrd II
the campaign had any other object than 70 divert
strength from Manassas Junction, beyond the msinte-
nance Of the line Of the Potomac then the promenade
into Virginia and to this place only sham and
farce, for the wonderful exhibition of four M.or-
Genersls-Patterson, Cadwalader, Ksim and Sanford
- Tor the ediication il not the pecunary advsn,ase
OF Die dhloysl citizens Of Virginia. among whom our
Quartermaster has spread gold and silver 80 lavshly
for forage at high prices and rent aud damages Of
traitors houses and lands occupied by the Generals
and the army. But until know moro Of the results
OF our campaign shall withhold criticism.
When the camps broke up ut Chsriesown, yester-
day. rode 10 MsrtinsbnFg. returned from thai place
Ibis morning. There IL prsa, alarm ibere for fear Of
the return Of Col. Stuarls sroopsrs and number Of
Uoion men have again 1ed 10 Maryland. I met with
few men who had iust come from Winchester; they
bad been pressed into the service OF the Reb.s and
were r.tu uing TO their homes. Fr N them gathered
many interesting and reliable particulars about the
strength and poiron Of the enemy at Winchester and
the retirement Of Gen. Johnston.
| Gen. Johnston's whole force at Winchester was
about ~ 900 men Of Gil srms--infantry, cavalry, and
artillery.
In artillery he was particularly strong, having 81
guns Of various caliber 10 the fortlHcstions There
were 100 cavalry-SO0 being Virginia light horse,
| aud 800 from various Southern States.
Gen Johnston LETT Winchester with 81 900 troope 81
p. Thursday last 10 60 direct to The port Of
Besuregarl at Manassas junction, and by bis express
order. he took the road through wildwood N Barrys
Ford on Tire Shenandoah and thence 10 Piedmont Sta
ton, on the Manassas Gap Rsilroad, q distance Of
twenty-eight niles This wond 10 u march Of two
days at leIs ncurrbered ar he WIS with heavy artl.
lery. From Piedmont Station 70 Manassas Juucton by
rail il about forty miles Provision had been made for
this movement by TAXI the freight and passenger carr
from the Winchester branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad 70 strasburg the terminus Of the Manassas
Gap rOad they were hauled there on TIER cVA rkecls
over the turnpike.
Gen. Johns,on took with him 50 pieces of artillery
and 800 cavalry. The Virginia cavalry, under Col.
Stuart remained to observe the movements Of Gen.
Patterson, and ten i2-pounders or colunibiads were
lelt at Winchester.
OF the 900 troops lef NJ Whichever when Gen.
Johnston retired abou, 9, 500 men were militia from
the neghboring counties, who have been disbandod
and returned home; the rest remained til Saturday
when they went 70 Strasburg also intending 70 20 70
Manassas Junction.
The situation Of Winchester 10 remarkable ~ afford.
ing opportunity Of nearly complete decentralization II
foriiGc iJns on high grund bills about the town
which command completely the valleys for many miles
around. The town lies in basin or trough open only
on tie south side. Upon The high grounds Gen Johns
ton had erected strong Qualifications, with great skill
and sagsicity. nearly surrounding the place, II dis
lance Of two and half mies from the rubur,s. They
have ali been made since the 6th Of the presen. month,
the whole army having been kept constantly work,
no 70 the last day Of occupation, Heavy bresstvorks
formed in part With logs, snd barrels filled with earth
protectedbe baere and part OF them were dug deep
trenches or riHe-ps the infanry the trenches
communicated with the inside OF the forifcatons. The
guns were all masked by planting evergeeus and Arti-
fetal thickes, which in places extended INTO ibe
fields some distance 10 cover sharpsbooterS.
Beside The i2-pounders left at Winchester, there
were some very heavy rihed pieces. very foruiida-
BILE part Of he artillery detashment Of one
halls the Washington Artillery from Nsw-oresns
with eight gins four OF which enormous IN size
sui weight as 70 require % horses each 70 haul tbemi
They were taken 10 Msnassss Junction by Johnston.
Among the troops was one regiment Of over 900
Keutuckians, armed with rifles and bowe-kniyer.
They refused take but round Of cartridges 70 go
into the contemplated 6ght with Gen. Patsersons col
umn intending 70 lie hid the ground 10 the artificial
hickets until our troops should spprosch and then
make at thom with their bowie-knives. This might
have msdo come desperate dgbtiDg bnt our bsyoneIs
would probably have beon overmatch for their |
knives. The men Of the Kentucky regiment arc de \
scribed rs savage and desperate set, who exhibited
heir ferocious dispositions on the sghiest preext ahd
kept evory one in terror Of them they coEsider il
pleasant diversion 70 chop mp with an Arkansas
toothpiok The wife OF one Of them Is the yiyandere
of the regiment; she ID . thorough soldier, and sets
also m lieutenant of company which she drills bsr-
sell She il said 10 be very handsome, and perfect
amazon. Her dress IL vey gay aud conspicuous.
Her ruAan comrades take greai pride IN their herce /
and dashing heroine; and she is anxicus 70 spii
Yankee with her bowie kuie the boodiee.- minded I
wretch among thom. The King Of Dahomey might |
be proud Of such an acquisition 10 command his savage
female Body Guard.
For several niles around the Notifications the fences
Ind been loyeled 70 prevent our men from finding
cover aud TO give clear field 10 the charge Of their
cavalry There IL no soo, ssihls high ground the