Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-02

vance. pushed forward four batteries,
having them placed in strong position to
support the infantry. placed SulliVan's
brigade on both TANKS to prevent surprise
and to keep my flank from being turned,
and held Tyler's brigade in reserve. to
operate against any point that might be
assailed in front. In this position await
ed and expected the enemy's attack next
morning, Ny advance brigade was two
miles from the town, its pickets extending
perhaps mile further along the turnpike
About O'Clock in the morning, sent
forward two officers to recOnnoitre the
front and report indications of the enemy.
They returned in an hour, reporting no
enemy in sight except Ashby's force of
cavalry, infantry aud artillery, which by
this time had become familiar and con-
temptible to us. Gen. Banks, who was yet
here in person, upon bearing the report,
concluded that jackson could not be in
front possibly, or be decoyed so far away
from the main body of the rebel army. In
this opinion ], too, began TO concur, con-
GLIDING that Jackson was too sagacious to
be caught in such a trap. Gen. Banks
therefore left for Washington. His staff
officers were directed to follow the same
day, by way of Centreyille.
Knowing the crafty enemy, however, 1
had TO deal with, omitted no precaution.
My whole force was concentrated, and
prepareu to support Kimball's Brigade,
which was in advance. About lOI o'clock
it became evident we had considerable
force before us; but the enemy still con-
cealed himself SO adroitly in the woods
that it was impossible to estimate it.
ordered portion OF the artillery forward
to open FIRE and unmHsk them. By de-
grees they began to show themselves
They planted battery after battery in
strong position, on the centre and on both
TANKS. Our artillery responded, and this
continued until about 81 o'clock in the
afternoon, when l directed column of
infantry to carry a battery on their left
flank and to assail that flank, which was
done promptly aud spIendidly by Tyler's
Brigade, aided by some regiments from the
| other brigades. The fire of our infantry
was so close and destructive that it made
havoc in their ranks. The result was the
capture of their guns on the left and the
forcing back of their wing on the centre.
thus placing them in . position to be rout-
ed by general attack, which was made
about . O'Clock by all the Infantry. and
succeeded in driving them in flight from
the field
| Night fell upon us at this stage, leaving
us in possession of the field of battle. two
/ guns and four caissons, three hundred
prisoners aud about one thousand stand of
small arms.
Our killed in this engagement cannot
exceed one hundred men wounded two
hundred and thirty three. The euemyis
killed and wounded exceed one thousand,
| The Inhabitants of the adjacent villages
carried them to their houses as they were
1 r,aV Id Sal
| between the battlefield and Strasburp.
and even far beyond, have since been
found filled with the dead and diving of
the enemy. Graves have been discovered
far removed from the road, where the in
/ haoitantS of the country had buried them
as they had died. Gen banks, in pursuit
of the enemy beyond Strasburg, after
ward, found houses on the road, TWENTY
two miles from the battlefield, filed in
this manner, and presenting the most
CHASTITY spectacle. The havoc made in the
ranks of the rebels has struck this whole
region with terror. Such a blow had
never fallen on them before, aud it is more
I crushing because wholly unexpected
Jackson aud his stone-Wall brigade, and
(! all other brigades accompanying him, will
never meet this division again in battle.
During the night, they managed to carry
]
opened upon them By early light NEXT
morning, and they commenced to re,reat
I Gen. Banks returned from Harpes's Ferrv
between and 10 o'clock A. n, and pla-
ce1 himself, AZ my request, al the head of
the command ten miles from the battle
( held, Pursuing the enemy. Reinforceueu;s
which We had ordered back from Williams
diTisicn, aud which had ordered forwSr,3
during the night, now came pouring in.
aud WiIh all these we continued the nur.
suit, pressing them with vieer and with
lrPested and destructive attacks, As far as
/ woodstock, where We halted iron mere
exhaustion
The enemy's suferinss have been terri
Die, and such as they have nowhere else
endured since the commencement of this
var and yet such Was their gsllantry and
high state OF discipline that At no time
during the hallIe or pursuit did tbev ziTs
way 20 panic. They fie6 TO Mount Jack
son, and are By this time, no doubt, in
communication With the main boiy of the
rebel army hope to be able in a few
dAES 20 Slde ia buggy, aud place myself
81 Tue head of NY command, bus / have
neither SuheieEC force nor sufficient rank
to do that service 30 the eouutry that I
nope and feel am capable Of. No msn
could be better treated than an bv Gen.
baakS, and YET if he and his command
| had been here on The 1Sd, you would have
heard nothing Of tight because our uilv
enemy Eould not have been eatrapped. I
want az e6eieat eAvalry reginent-tbe
Third United States cavalry, Tor instance
-aad additional Infant<y- wish ron
would see the SecretArT of War. fof IN.
stance, IN relation to The natter. eanto
the eo0ntsy service If they Cire me a
Chance. JANIs SzlEtps.