The New York herald., 1862-09-22
THE sITUArION.

DaAsy Average IxS. AGO
THE SITUATION.
With the exception of some skrmishing at the
fords opposite our army in Maryland, Of which we
give full report to-day. there is no important
movement to record.
portion of our troops crossed the Potomac
into Virginia on Friday evening for the purpose
of making q reconnaissance at the ford nea,
Shepherdstown. They were stoutly resisted by the
rebels. but succeeded in retiring to the Maryland
side. bringing four pieces Of the rebel artillery
with them. On Saturday morning another
reconnaissance into Virginia. was made by
General Berncs with his own and portion OF
General Sykes brigade. Shortly after our troops
had been placed in position the enemy emerged
from under the cover Of woods with a line Of in.
fsntry nearly mile long. Both forces soon en-
gagged. when the order was given to retire, which
was done in good order. the enemy following
closely behind. When they came within range
dre was opened by twenty pieces Of our
artillery posted on the Maryland bank with such
effect that they forced to retire out Of reach
stomach our shells were seen to make large gaps
in their ranks. Our loss in killed. wounded and
prisoners was about one hundred and fifty. The
troops safely returned to Maryland, bringing
their wounded with them.
Heavy csnnonading was heard on Saturday night
in the direction of willismsport, to which point
force of our troops was sent in the morning TO
repel body of rebel cavalry and artillery said to
have been advanced to that point. The probabili.
ty is that an engagement took place there on
Saturday night, the particulars Of which have not
reached us.
The entire evacuation OF Harper's Ferry by the
rebels is fully confirmed. reconnaissance by
General Stonemsn's force resulted in obtaining
information that the last of the rebels left there
on Friday, after having burned all the government
property they found there that they could not
carry Of including the pontoon bridge and the
storehouses bat the town was net molested
They made five distinct attempts to blow up the
piers Of the railroad bridge there, all Of which
proved unsuccessful.
From noon on Saturday our troops were pour
ing into Harpers Ferry by all the available roads
Maryland Heights we're occupied by our forces,
our artillery being mounted upon them, and the
nationa, banner was hosted there on Saturday
afternoon.
From Suffolk we learn that the rebels were
crossing the Blsckwstcr river in force, and were
erecting bridge across the stream, thus mensc
ing Suffolk. General Dix, however, made . per
sonal observation Of the entire locality. and took
ample measures to protect the city from any al.
tack by the guerillss who haunt the vicinity Of
Suffolk, Williamsburg and Yorktown.
General Rosecrans has obtained truly brillia mt
victory in Mississippi over the rebel army, Is 900
strong. under General Price, near Iuka, the tee
graphic account Of which we published Yesterday.
The Official report OF General Grant, which will be
found in another column, states that General Ro.
sencrans, with Stapley's and amsons divisions
and Msener's cavalry, attacked Price south Of
Iuka on Friday, and had sharp fight until night
closed in. General Ord TO the north with
an armed force of about 5000 men, and had
some skirmishing with the rebel pickets. Next
morning the Eight was renewed by Genera
Rosecrsns, but 1t was found that the enemy hat
been evscusting during the night, going south
Generals Hamilton and Stanley with cavalry, fol
lowed them in full pursuit. The loss on eithel
side, in killed and wounded, is from 400 to 500
The enemy's loss in arms, tents, &c. is large. w
have taken about $50 prisoners.
Gen. Grant says:---"I cannot speak too highly o
the energy and skill displayed by General Rose
Grams in the attack, and Of the endurance Of thu
troops"
Our Louisville correspondence announces tb
fac, tha, Major General GiIber, had ofncially con
tradic,ea the statement that the works at Moa
fordsvilLe had been surrendered to the rebels. lie
hsEsref. sAiss that hom other sources hs l4srn