The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-10-03
they succeeded In reaching Williams port

they succeeded In reaching WilIiamspo.t
without serious loss.
They were attacked at that place Oh the 9Th
by the cueiny's cavalry which was gallantly
Jepul@ed by General imbodcn. The attack
ing force was subsequently encountered and
driven of by General STUART and pursued Tor
several miles In the direction Of B Boonsboro'
The army after an arduous march, rendered
more difficult by the rains, reached Hagers
town on t1eaftCrnoOn Of the 9Th and morn
inc of the TIA July.
The Potomac was fond TO he so much
swollen by the rains, that h9d fallen almost
snceSsaHtiy since -onr entrance into Mary
lsad, IA Ia be unfordahle Oar communira-
iion5 with The south side were thus inter
fup'ea, and 1t was difficult to procure either
ammunition or subsistence, the latter diff
Guilty being enhancad by the high waters im
peding the working of neighboring lnlIs.-
Tie trains with the wounded and prisoners
were compelled to await at WILLIAMSON the
an3-.ding OF the river aud the construction
ol boats, rs the pontoon bridge left aI-Fall-
Ing "atcrs had been partially destroyed
The euemy had not yet made his appearance;
bit, as he was in condition to Obtain large
rciniorcements, and our situation, for the
reasons above mentioned, was becoming
daily more embarrassing, it was deemed ad
visable. to rccross the iiyer. Part of the
pontoun bridge was recovered, ana new
boats built, so that hy the 18th a good bridge
was thrown over the river at Falling Waters.
The enemy in force reached our front Oh
The eth. A position had been previously
+, selected to cover the Potomac from Williams
port to Falling Waters, and an attack was
awaited during that and the succeeding day
Tnis did not tahe place, though the two ar
mics were i'll cioseproXimity, the enemy be
ing occupied In terrifying his own lines.-
oar preparations being completed, and the
river, thouvh s'il deep, being pronounced
ibrdahie, the amy commenced 10 withdraw
tu the South side on the night OF the 18th.
ENri's corps Tordel the river at Williams,
port, those oi iOngstreet and Hiii crossed
upon the bridge. Owing 10 the condition OF
tue roa, the troops did not each the bridge
until after daylight on the l4th, and the
GRO .sing was not completed until l =. NJ,
! when the bridge was removed. The enemy
offered no serious interruption, and the move-
ment was att ndcd with no loss of mate terial
except 4 few disabled wagons, aud two pieces
of artillery, viii h the horses were unable to
move through the deep mud. Before fresh
horses could tc sent tacit for t:iem the rear
! of the coinnn had passed.
During the SLOW ana tedious march to the
bridge, liz the midst OF q violent storm OF
rain, some Of The men lay down by th1 way
TO rest. Officers sent back for Il eu failed
20 iud many in the ob3curity Of the night,
ana lHtSt, Win itil u TIC
hands Of the enemy.
Brig. Gen. Pctti@rew was niorial.y wound
ed in AN attack made by a small body Of cay
airy, which was unfortunately mistaken for
our own and permitted TO enter our lines
He was brought to Bunker Hill, where he
expired few days afterwards. He Was a
brave and accomplished officer aud gentle
man, ana his loss viii be deeply felt 10y the
country and the army.
The following day the army marched to
Bunker Ill., in the vicinity of which it en-
ca,npod for sevcrAI days. The day after ils
arrival, IL large force OF the enemy cavalry,
which had crossed the Potomac at liarpers
Ferry, advanced towards Martinsburg. 1t
was attacked by Gen. Fitz Ice, ncar car
neysyill., aid defeated with heavy loss, lcay-
ing lis dad and mauy of It's wounded Cn the
field.
Owing to the swollen condition of the
Shenandoah river, the plan OF operations
which hli been contcnl lated when VIC il
crossed the Potomac could not be pui in eX-
eruli0n, and before the waters lad ,Ub2ided
the movements of the enemy induced ne 10
cross the Blue Ridge and take position south
Of the l'appaiiannoch, which was accord
inely done.
AS soon as the reports of the commanding
officers shall be received, . more detailed ac-
count oftncGe operations viii BE- given, and
occasion viii! then be taken 10 speak more
particularly of ihe conspicuous ,i!lantiy
and good conduct OF both officers ana
men.
II is NOT We, in my power to give a correct
sta teIn,nt al cur a5ual.iss, which were Sc
we're including many brave men, aud III un-
usual proportion OF dis; .;nguishc, aui y;,lua-
lte officers. Among them, regret 10 men
tion tie following general officers: MAJOR
Generals Ho;rt, pendcr, and T!imhic Sc
v"rcly, ANA MajYrNiielieE.;l Heih slightly
wounded.
Gen pcnder has since died This lamentol
officer haS borne , distinguished part IN every
engagement Gi this army, and was Woundcu
on FtVtiSi occasions WlIie LEADING ms COM
mlnd Ni;h conspicuous ga.laniiy aEd ability.
Tie con ideIce auu admiration inspired hy
lis courage aud capacity as IA officer were
oniv tquaiied by the catoe;a and respect en-
tertail!cd by all with whom he was asaocia-
ed, iur the noble qualities Of his modest apd
uuassuiniug character. Brig. GCiis. Dlrks-
dale and Garrett We're killed, and Brig. Gen
S,lnmcs m0rtaiiy wounded while leading
their troops with the courage that always
III. .;inguisiied them. These brave officers and
patrl0tic gentlemen fell in the faithful dis
charge oi duty, leaving the army to mourn
their loss and emulate their noble examples
Brig. tens k-mper, Asmistead, Scales, g.
r. Anderson, Hampton, j. VI. Jones, and
Jenkins, wcre,also wounded Brig. Gen. Ar
cher WAS taken prisoner. Gen. Pytti9rtw,
in command un:i. he was moriu!y wounded
near Falling Waters.
The loss Of the enemy is unknown, but
from observation on the .ieid, and his subse
quent movements, il Is supposed thtt lie sui
iervd severely.
Respectfully submitted,
tSignel) L.: f, LEE, Gen1.