Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-18
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Another ReConuOisSauce-Adv Of GeH.
Woodbury. in the Direction oil Bunker
Mill-The Enemy Eound i'm Force.

HEADQUAETPRs ARMY or THE PoToNAC,
Friday Evening, Oct. l7th.-Yesterday morn
lnS y hen Gtn Hancock adj anccd his division
10 Ch2rlestown, Gen. Woodbury's division
crossed the Potomac al Shepherdstown ford
taking the road leading 10 Smithfield, a small
village half way between Charlestown and
Bunker Hill.
Gen. Woodbury. encamped last night between
I,rctoTn and krrDCy Cysyillr, about miles from
Smithheld. Has troops met with hut slight
sistance during the day from the enrnys
mounted pickc This morning he advanced
his cavalry towards Smith1eld, miles from
Bunker Hill, whrrr he met The cavalry belong
ing 10 Gen. HANCOCK diS vision. Before reach
ing this point the enemy Were found 10 he in
very large force. The reconnaissance here
ended, its object being TO ascertain where the
main body of the rebel army lay.
There is no doubt but what the rebel generals
intend TO give battle at their present To-
cation. The indications that they will not
have to wait long before they again meet the
Army of the Potomac
The Reconnaissance to Charlestown-Rr-
turn OF our Forces 10 Bolivar Heights.
TDispntches to the Philadelphia Inquirerl
I HARPBR's FERRY, Oct. 1fl-To-day, at noon,
the forces that started from herc ON a recon-
noissance towards Winchester, and W HON our
last dispatches left quietly encamped az
Charlestown, returned TO Bolivar Heights, the
object of expedition having been fully, faith
fully and successfully carried out.
II was to fully examine the topography of
the country bordering the turnpike. 20 drive
hack 10 their main body any stray rebels that
We're there located, and finally to learn posi-
lively the position. condition and numbers of
the enemy. The following are the particulars
since our last:
During the afternoon of Thursday, General
Mcclellan rode up 10 the front, and discoN ering
that less than a mile from our advance line The
rebels had three pieces OF artillery planted, and
that an indefinite number OF their infantry and
cav airy Were roaming through the woods, he
al once ordered Gen. Caldwell, with his brigade,
composed Of the 7th New York, 5th New Hamp-
shire and lst Pennsylvania, 10 take the right of
an advance, and the SD Pennsylvania, 51th
New York, ist Minnesota, and the Glst and
tith New York the latter consolidated into one
regiment. detailed from Gen. Caldwell's bri-
gade, under the command OF Lieutenant Col.
Miles all the latter 10 make mp the left wing.
ane to be under the command Of Colonel
Brooks
These were 10 advance and capture tAe bat
tcries, if possible, and drive the rebels from the
woods. The line was soon formed, spreading
cut for a mile moro and covering the entire
open space i'm front of the woods where Secesh
was located. SkiTTnslrrs were thrown out
under the Immediate command of Major Stur-
Ievant, OF the 9TH New Hampshire, and they ad-
vancPd, As also did the main line.
As the skirmiSherS reached the edge of the
woods. they found the battery there located had
lrtreaied, and at the same time got bat glimpse
of tlie retiring infantry and cavalry which had
been there stationed. JuSt after the skiTmish-
crs, who were well III ad vance had entered the
woods, and while the main body Of our troops
were some distance of, sIN OF the transpo por;atioa
wagons were discovered making their way out
OF the woods INTO the road, 1t least half a mile
from the extreme night of the line.
Gen. Caldwell, having no cavalry near al the
time. sent ut once 10 headq uarters for a squad
ron, designing 10 employ them in capturing the
Wagons, bat ere the cavalry sent for reached
The spot where they Were wanted. the wa Sons
We're Vell on their way sonthward.
The column, following the skirmIShers, con-
tTued on their way through the narrow belt Of
woods in front of them. into an open field,
through another belt OF woods, and again out
into another open field, where they drew up in
line, being some two miles and half from the
place from which they had started, where they
renamed until after eight o'clock, when they
Were relieved by the 9th Now York Cavalry;
the latter remaining upon the ground, acting as
picket yldettPS.
The main body returned 10 camp, arriving
about ten o'clock, and reporting no rebels within
four miles of Charlestown. The above Is the
account Of the doings of the right wing.
The report Of the left wing, under Colonel
Brooks, who u equally we'll did their duty, is
but repetition OF the above, excepting upon
the extreme left, which was under Lieut. Col.
Miles, once a member of the 22d Massachusetts,.
but, before stated, now i'm command OF ihe
consolidated 6lst and 9th regiments.
Here more of the enemy's cavalry Were seen,
and more difficulty was experienced in forcing
them 10 retire. But retire they did, and with
no loss TO But one prisoner was taken, and
he lieutenant in Virginia cavalry regiment,
whose home was within six miles Of Charles
town.
He. some two or three days before, had been
granted a leave of absence, his time being up
yesterday: but knowing nothing OF what change
had taken place during his absence, he mount
ed his horse. and taking by-path, rode to-
wards the spot where his regiment had been
encamped, and coming within our lines, he
made the discovery that not only his regiment
was not there, but that he was within the
Union lines and prisoner. During the morn
ing il was supposed by many that our stay was
permanent and that the force then at Charles
town would retain possession; but soon after
noon orders were gwen, and the troops imme-
diately thereafter Were quietly and slowly
moving back to the encampment II Bolivar
Heights, which they reached without molesta-
ton or delay soen after four O'Clock this after
noon, having succeeded admirably and COM
pletely in accomplishing all and more than
they set out 70 do
The Shepherdstown nReconnoissance-De.
tails of the Movement.
WASHINGTON. Oct. I7.-Our special corrrs-
pondent at Sharpsburg has Just sent the fol-
lowing intslligence, which has been received
from the force which crossed Blackford's Ford
yesterday a reconnaissance. The strength
Of the force has already been communicated.
An aid-de-camp Just in reports that our men
advanced TO within about a mile Of Snlthyille.
The few Rebel cavalry Were driven out OF
Shepherdstown with the approach Of our ad-
vance. Small squads OF the enemy were en-
countered all along the way, but they retreated
without any serious opposition.
The principal force which the enemy opposed
10 us consisted Of two regiments OF cavalry and
two pieces OF artillery. During the advance we
had one man killed and three wounded. Four
dead Rebels Were discovered on the wayside.
The impression prevails that the Rebels have
evacuated Martinsburg, and, perhaps, the n
tire section Of country in this vicinity. Ii seems
clear that we have not much to fear from any
force that the Rebels may have posted near the
opposite bank Of the river. The firing heard
yesterday was connected with the force that
went out from Harper's Ferry. The whole af-
fair was we'll matured and admirably executed,
and whenever Rebels appeared they were |
driven back.
The force sent over Blackford's Ford will |
return tonight. To-day, "A magnificent nag /
was presented to the IIeth Pennsylvania rcgf- /
In"nt by Col. Samuel u. Thomas ON behalf OF |
The Si;ir of Pennsy sylyania Col. Jas. Barnes
i'll command of the brigade, received the flag in !
behalf OF the regiment. Appropriate speeches /
were made, and the whole affair passed of in !
q mos satisfactory manner.
Further Details of the Charlestown Rec
onnoissance.
PLEASANT VALLEY, Oct. I'm our efforts |
10 make IN" mail train yesterday, we did not
conclude our letter relating 10 the reconnois-