Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-08-28


OF the incidents stated strike US as apoch
ryphal, but may be true. They come
from headquarters, however, and We
therefore give them:as they have reached
us.
Headquarters A'my Of Virginia. J
August %, 1862.
We are in good fighting trim. all un-
necessary baggage having been sent to
the rear. The enemy is beyond the
Rappahannock, aud is evidently very
cautious and unwilling to make any ef-
fort against us without feeling his way.
Cannonading and skirmishng have been
going on now for two days, each result
ting in our favor.
a rather singular incid mt occurred
on last Wednesday, in which the Rebels
for time, obtained Il slight advantage.
party of fifteen of our cavalry was
engaged in eating breakfast, and so great
was their ianried security that they un-
snddIed their horses; their rcpose and
their breakfast were. however, soon dis
turbcd, for party Of the Rebel cavalry
dashed suddenly forward and our men
were surrounded and captured before
they could mount their horses. These
animals, either becoming frightened or
not liking the appearance of the Sccesh
set Oft at full speed without their riders,
and arriving safely in camp created tie
impression that they had all been shot
from the saddles The occurrence raw
rise to many speculatons, since no sound
had been heard, not a shot had been fired
: o complete was the surprise that all re-
sisfance on our part was useless.
In abont an hour after the horses came
into camp riderlcss, party Of General
H"iords Cavalry went in pursuit and
overlook a body of Rebel cavalry, under
General Stewart. On these they made
Il dashlng charge, which resulted in the /.
capture of several privatcs and an exquis-
ltely dressed Major, who, in the pursuit,
our cavalry msook for the Geueral.-
Stewart himself would have been can
turep but for his exquisite Major, who
set out to make Lis escape in such d. ,
rection that when he was captured and.
the mistake discovered it WAS too late
the dandy had saved him. Lator in the
day another attempt was made by the
enemy to occupy the left bank at this
point They came cautiously forward
through a belt of woods, the open field
in front being occupied by portion of
Ricketts, Division. Shots were now free
~ exchanged, with scarcely any effect
on either side, until. by a feiut move
ment, in which our men retreaed, the
Rebels dashed forward with n shout of /
triumph. 1t was of short duration, for
no sooner were they completely out of
the woods than our men were faced about,
and, pouring a deadly volley into them,
emptied many saddles and charged when
the cavalry turned and fed. They were
pursued across the Rappahannock. =
Some were captured on the way, and so
was their fight that we Sc
cured about thirty head of cattle, which
they were compelled to abandon. Our
troops are now eneanped on the other
side, part OF Bufort's Cavalry and Rick
etts Division. This is the only part of
the west bank of the river which we have
deemed it necessary to possess At this
point we command the railroad bridge
across the Rappahannock.
The Rebels next attacked our centre,
a few miles higher up; they commenced
Smelling at an early hour on the 2lst,
and continued until about one o'clock.
At one time they attempted to cross the
river, but were driven back with consid-
cradle loss. We took niue prisoners at
this point, who were the most oddly and
wretchedly dressed soldiers we ever cast
our eyes3on. Two of these attracted our
attention especially. OEe was dressed
partially in clothes taken from our dead
Or wounded on the field, and seemed to
be very Uncomfortable, as his boots and
pants were spoken of as having been ia
Ken from the dead. Another was an in
,elligent looking and determined negro,
who fought, we wero told, with the ut
most desperation as be was about to be
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