Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-06-26

zzzz maining point of attack-the Staunton road
 our outposs were five miles in advance. and
 daily reconnoisances made for Q distance Of l2
 miles toward Woodstock.
 Under this interpretation ofthe enemy s plans, our position demanded instant decision and ac- tion. Three courses were open to us: lSt, re- treat across the Little North Mountain to the
 Potomac river on the west; 2d, an attack upon the euemt's flank on the Front Royal road; 3,l, a rapid movement di.ect upon Winchester, with q view to anticipate his occupation ot the town by seizing it ourselves-thus placing my com maud in communication with its original base of operations, in the line of reinortenentS by Harper Ferry and Maitinshurg, aud securing a sale retreat Ill case Of disaster Io renaIn at Strasburg was to be surruunded; to move over the mountains was to abandon our tram at the outset. aud to subj ct my command 10 fl tnk at
 lacks vii ihout possibility of fsuccor and to attack, l the enemy being in such overwhelming force, could only result n certain destruction. It WAS. l therefore, determined to enter the lists with the enemy in a race or baftle as he should choose. for the possession of Winchester, the key of the valley, and for us the position ot safety.
 1 THE MARCH.
 At 3 0 clock, a. m., the 24ih instant, the rein y oc'tN to Col Henley. were recalled, the advance guard, Col Donnelys brigade, were ordered to return to Strasburg, several hundred disabled men left 1 in our charge bv Shields division were put up- | on the march, and our wagon train ordered tor- ward to Winchester under escort Of cavalry and infantry. General Hatch, with nearly our whole i force of cavalry and six pieces of artillery, was charged with the protection Of the rear of the i column and destruction of army stores for which ' transportation was not provided, with instruc l ons to remain iu front of the town as long as ! possible, and hold the enemy in check, our ex 1 [ ectation of attack being in that drecton All these orders were executed with incredible alac- rity, and soon after o'clock the column was on l the march, Col. Donne!ly in front, Col. Gordon in the centre, and Gen. Hatch in the rear ! STAMPEDE.
 1 The column had passed Cedar Creek, about 1 three miles from Strasburg with he exception Of the rear guard, still in front ot Strasburg, 1 where information was received from the front that the enemy had attacked the train, and ill full possession of the road at Middleton. This report was confirmed by the return of tu itlves, I refu- ee5, and wagons, which came tumbling to the rear in fearful confusion.
 l. being apparent now that our immediate danger was in front, the troops were ordered to the head of the column, ana the train to the rear; and, in view of possible necessity Ot our return to Strasburg. Capt James W. Albert, topograph teal corps-who assoclated with him lhe IJu- ayes d' Atrique Ca It. C"liis-w4s ordered to pre- | pare Cedar Creek bridge ar the fl 4mca, in order l to prevent pursuit in that direction hy the | emy. In The execution of this order Capt. Al, | bert and Zouavps were cut off rom the column, whch they joined at Wlilam$port. They had | at Sra ,burg very sharp conflict with the enc my, in which his cavalry suffer severely. An i interesting report of this affair will he found in the report of Capt. Albert to Capt. Colis. l THE FIRST CONFLICT.
 i The head of the reorgauzed column, Colonel | Donmey commanding, encountered the enemy | in force at Midietown, about thirteen miles from ] Winchester 300 troops had been seen in town, | bat it soon appeared that the larger forces We're 1 in the rear. The brigade halted, and the 46th 1 enns,lvana Col. kuipe, Was ordered to pene- ! trate the woods on the right and dislodge the enemy's skrmi~hrrs. They were supported by a section of ( tthran'8 New York battery. Five companies of the cuem7's cavalry were discov- cred in an open field in tae rear of yne woods, and our artillery asked at first hy the inian' fry. opened fire upon them. They stood fire for a while but at leuElh rrtIe1tpd, pursued DY 0ur K rfnishers The 23h New ! urk, Lleul. Brown. was now brought up, and under heavy lire of i inta otry and artery the enemy were dnven ! back more than 40 miles from ine pthe Inc l Coy,el aoiig informed at ;a,t l.,.a.. <, ~ litt- zen. in great alarm, that I .pa3 meu WIT. .i ihe woods beyond, the men !. re anxious io conlHue | th4 fight, but as this wpul have deirat-d our object bg the loss of valuable fne. with ha eX c-prion of sm Il guard, they were ordered to resume the march.
 This aff ,ir occurred under my own observa' ion. and have great pleasure III youchlng for .l ,.,.,,tItltr .f ht4 We lost one man killed and some wpndel. 1 This episode, with the change ui ic tut, ucc.,> 1 pied nearly au honr but it saved our column. ] iI4d the enemy vigorously attacked our train while at ihe head ot the column, # would have been thrown into such dIre coulusIpu as 10 have ma le a successful continuation of our march imp ss iile. Pending this contest, Col. Broad head, of the lst Mississippi cavalry WAS ordered 10 advance. and possible. to cut his way through 1 and occupy Winchester. iT was the report o tn energetic officer that gave Us the first as> surance that our course was yet clear, ana he was the first of our column to enter the town.
 TIE SECOND COMBAT.
 i When 1t was first reported that the enemy had | pushed betwe en us and Winchester, Gen. Hatch was ordered to advance win all his available cavalry from Strawsburg, leaving Col. Drt"r rest to cover the rear and destroy stores not provided with transportation. Mai Vought, lat l New York cavalry, had been preylaas.y ordered l to reconnoitre the Front Royal road to ascertain the position of the enemy, whom he encountered
 in force near Mddetown, and was compelled to fall back immediately, folloned by the enemy's cavalry, infantry and artillery. Tn this affair five of our men were killed and several wounded. 1 The enemys loss i, not known.
 After repeated attempts to force a passage through the lines of the enemy, now advanced to the pike, Gen. Hatch satisfied that this res s,llt could not be ate1n piinhad WlJa0ut great loss, and suppoang our army to have praceetiel but short distance. turned 10 the Jeff and moved upon parallel road made several intellectual aftempts to effect junction with the main col umn. At Newtown, however he found Col. 1 Gordon holding the enemy in check, and joined his brigade Mai Collins, with three conpanes of cavalry mistaking the point where the main body of the cavalry left the road dashed upon the enemy until stopped by a barricade of va. uons. and the empestuoua tire ot Infantry and artillery His loss must have been severe.
 Six companies of the oth New York Col. De Forest, and con pan es ot the first beriSonL cavalry Coi. Tom pkins, after repeated aud drs-
 perate eharls effect a junction with the main
 body-the road now being filled with lnantry, artillery and cavalry---ell back to Strasburg,
 where they found the ZDuaves D'Arique. Inc
 5lh New Iork, iaiiIlg 10 eliect libcttDn ol
 M,,cbu.t.r and .,lSu at Maj hnrc ratna ,n