Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-20

Itorrspondence of the 1nliaoeipfoa inquirer
BOLIVAR HEIGHTs, H.dr Hdrper's Ferry. o..
l6.-This evening We were an conversation
with a dts-rter from the rebel cavalry, who
CorrohCTates what H. said in refersnce 10 ibe
organization and comparative indeprndence of
all The cavalry in the rebel service under Gen.
Hampton. This drserter was at one time a
lieutenant Ia Col. Whites Maryland cavalry.
and came into our lines lasi evening.
He states that Col. Whites cavalry were
roaming about in the valley between South
MoIintain and the Rloe Ridge, their principal
ocI upatlon being the ssixug Of every descrip-
tioR oi foragr and subsistence they can dis
coN'r, and sending Il of TO Charlot;es vile and
GordCnsville.
He states. too, that all their cavalry in yir-
gnia are now engaged I'm the same occUpaton,
and ihatat. leasI so men are constantly em-
plo,ed in transporting TO the places above
n-mCd the plumber which they are able 20
collect. The cavalry who last week made the
raid into Pcnnsylrania. bcang independent. did
NOT Confne ibcr plundering operations 10 NiT-
.lnla alone.
In speaking OF the rebels present position
and operations, he tells us that there are some
400 men under Stuart, who are principally
engaged an this business, and they now have
their h' adquarters a; the base OF South Mouns
al Smokers Gap.
AT Martinsburg there are but 5000 troops. and
al Winchester but a di vision. composed OF every
arm of tLe serN ice, and under Jackson. This
brigade and division, together with the cavalry,
act as a rear guard TO protect the main body,
who are now. our informant says, well through
Thornton and Chester Gap, ON their way to
GordoRsyille and Charlottesville.
He also saws thai there are some 1900 partisan
cavalry, who are at one time nnder one COM
mano and at another under sone other. These,
too. arr engaged IN gathering plunder and des-
patching IL South A. fast as practicable, and
their field Of operation extends throughou; the
entire extent of country bounded by Martins
burg, Blue Ridge Mountains, Strasburg and
Little North Mountains. These partisan cav
airy are citizens. who have about them some
distinctive mark Of a military character, by
which they are known TO each other and which
they may assume or not as circumstances sug-
gest now fine mounted cavalry men, and i'm
the next instant Transforming themselves into
staid. sober, peaceable citizens, and perchance
good out-and-out Union men, II the occasion
should require il. And until to-day these
same said, sober and peaceable citizens were,
without let or hindrance, permitted 70 pass
within and without our lines at their own
pleasure, doubtless some one or more OF these
partisan cavalry men have paid us a visit, and
have reported 20 Jefferson Davis all that came
under their observation and within their hear
ing
The Sanitary Commission is doing an i'm
mense deal Of service. There is enc point 10
which their hberality has not vet extended,
and we trust no offence may be taken al our
thus calling attention 10 it.
1t is, that after a battle there are thousands
Of men who, though not tncapacitated by
wounds, are 30 worn out by fatigue and en-
those who are wounded, and TO whom some Of
the many delicacies so literally provided by
this same Commission would be not only in
strumt ntal in restoring to active duty, but in
some cases, perhaps, save life.
General Howard has been for some time all
much worse as to absolutely require his reno
val 10 his home tomorrow, in company with
his brother, Lieut. Howard. He leaves for
Maine. His leave OF absence is for thirty days.