Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-18

PARTICULARS OF THE GALLANT DASH OF ou
CAVALRY.

CAVALRY.
letter in the Philadelphia Inquirer, dated
at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, yesterday,
says
'''The defeat of the enemy's rear guard on
Sunday drove it in confusion upon the divis-
ions OF the two major generals Hill, which
lay beleaguering Harper's Ferry on the north
side of the Potomac. jackson lay on the
south side of the river, and would have to
cross river difficult to ford near the ferry
anywhere with artillery and ammunition wag-
ons. He would have to make detour of at
least ten miles above or below the ferry to
cross.
This would give full thirty miles to march,
as his army lies five miles back of the ferry.
and he would have to cross the MARYLAND
Heights, over rugged roads, ere he could
reach the battle ground, which must have
been near Brownsville, hamlet six miles
above the ferry. He, therefore, did not get
up to the fight.
''Longstreet lay at Hagerstown, twenty-five
miles from Brownsville. One line of march
for him would be by Boonesboro' and Rohrers-
Vile But for fear he might be met and over
whelmed whilst isolated, he would march by
Sharpsburg, so that he might, if he arrived in
time, engage McClellan's right wing. and be
able to join his right flank to that OF his fell
low field marshaS. He could not have ar
rived in time to participate, as McClellan's
dispatch bears date full as early as 3 o'clock
to-day.
''Ihat he contemplated ultimate retreat is
evident from the fact that he began to move
his superfuous baggage over the river to-day.
LOngstreet, therefore, must be isolated and,
if vigorously pursued must lose all his bag
gage and munitions Of war, even if he saves
his men by a rapid retreat across the Poto-
mac. 1t is doubtless to hang upon his right
flank and attack it if opportunity offers, that
so large body of troops leave here tonight.
General Mcclellan has now splendid chance
to cut up these rebel army corps separately,
la Napoleon's first campaign in Italy,
HOW OUR CAVALRY CUT THEIR WAY THROUGH.
Another correspondent of the Inquirer,
writing from Greencastle, Pa, under date of
September 10th, gives these particulars of the
gallant dash of our cavalry, who cut Their way
through the enemy's lines.
Sunday evening Colonel Miles, being ig.
norant Of all that was taking place in the di
rectlon of Frederick, gave directions, or lib
| erty rather, to his cavalry, consisting of the
| twelfth Illinois, eighth New York, four com
panies Of the third Maryland, and a squadron
OF the first Rhode Island in all about sixteen
hundred, to cut their way out.
| They had been in saddle all day, exposed to
| the artillery fire of the rebels, but at eight
| O'Clock in the evening, pilOted by Il man who
knew the locality, they descended Bolivar
Heights, crossed the pontoon bridge, took I'M
frequented roads and circuitous paths among
the mountains towards Sharpsburg. The
cavalcade was two miles long. At Sharps-
burg they were fired upon by the rebel pick
cts, who Immediately fled upon giving the
ALARM frightened by the sudden appearance
OF such force, coming they knew not from
whence.
| Passing Sharpsburg they came upon level
lands, but avoided the roads and struck
through farms and corn fields towards Hagers-
town, crossing the Hagerstown and Williams
| port turnpike about three miles out of Will
Transport, where the road from Mercersburp
| joins it. 1t was about four o'clock in the
morning when the head of the column reached
the turnpike. They heard a rumbllng of ap-
preaching wagons. The column was halted !:
and in the darkness they waited for what
might appear. Soon the advance of the d.
VISION OF Longstreet's ammunition train came
in sight.
sit was stopped, and the drivers and guards
asked to surrender. 1t was done quietly, and
the wagons turned up the Mercersburg road.
FINDING out what the prize in their hands con-
sisted or the other wagons, one hundred in
|
taken and turned northward, the secesh driy-
ers holding the reins, guarded by our own
brave cavalry. The train passed two miles
west OF Hagerstown struck into the Green
castle road, and arrived here about ten
o'clock. Thus Longstreet lost his ammuni.
non' Thus the entire rebel army was thrown
into panic. ''i0"i
Imagine the CONSERVATION of the enemv
10 near OF several thousand Yankee cavalry at
oharpsburg on the rear, cutting off their re.
treat, with Gen. Burnside's command thun-
derng IN front Imagine them asking.
Where did they come from? What is behind
US Answering, with excited fears, rThe
Quakers are out in Pennsylvania; the great
army which we have heard of catherine at
Greencastle and Chambersburg has swent
down to cut off our retreat What other So
luton could they give? 1t would not occur
to them that it was Miles cavalry, for thew
supposed he was Theoretically sealed, with no
avenue for escape. No wonder they became
panic stricken, and fed, casting aside guns,
blankets, everything that was a hndrance to
their fight
HOWELL CoBB.-This distinguished finan-
| Cier under buchanan has bpan woundpd a AL