The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-20


Our Grafton Correspondeuce.
GRAFTON, West Virginia. May 10,
"EIxhErrs or MILITARY All AND sciEsoE,o by G
HALLECK
The recent rebel raid into West Virginia, and Il
cess with which it was attended, will ever loom up
history Of the rebellion massive monument TO th(
pacity and incompoency OF the officials at Wash
who WELD the sceptre OF power and dictate. the G.
Of distant campaigns from their richly carpetc
highly decorated pariors while President making
their whskey punches and wine suppers. repeti
the old story, another edition OF the same cart Of
which has been promulgated throughout the who
test sending infantry to catch cavalry and fighting
whacxers 10 the mountains by the set tactics with
we would meet an organized and consolidated foe
open country" Il is wonder that come one
astute war chiefs does not write q new military
with . title. "The Art Of War Improved Ellargd
Embellished, with Questions and Notes, for the
Bible Societies, Covenant and Loyal League Meeting
for the Government of Hostile Armies In the Field
which the author shall show conclusively that the
place for pockets is within the camp lines, that in
should all be mounted, the cavalry deploycd as
and the artillery planted outside tho fortiacations
ditch. Such work, 'carefulIy compiled and hands
bound y would secure is author the delightful posi-
Commander in Chief Of all our armies aud make
reputation which would 60 down TO future gencr
coequal with that or any other American military
General Hsileck not excepted. a. . ffrET
TIN SPRING CAMPAIGN IN WEST VIRGINIA.
have been endeaEorng during the three or fou
I have been here 70 get at the facts not only
recent raid Of the enemy but Of the entire paig
believe that the following Is as near the truth
possible 70 get and In compiling IL have been obi
worry through mass Of public and private inform
as conflicting In It's character as statements from
sources end indiyiduais we'll can b. lTD@1M
TUE FORCES AND COMMANDERS.
At the commencement Of tho spring campatg'
Union forces in Northwestern Virginia consisted Of
than five Thousand men-infantry. cavalry and artil
guarding the two important railroads from Cumb<
10 Wheeling and Parkersburg. and the frontier po|
the southwsrd toward the mountains Colonel Null
brigade, Of two regiments, were posted upon the
stem Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from Cumbd
to Wheeling, with headquarters at New Creek,
General Robsrts brigade was divided between Bucj
non, Beverly, Bulitown, sutton and Burch, occupy
frontier line Of ninty seven miles, and Colonel wk
brigade we're guarding the Northwestern virginial
road from Grafton 70 Parkersburg. These forces|
independent OF General Milroy's command IN the |
whs country, further 20 the SOUTH and all rave Cd
Roberts brigade, under the command OF Brigadier
raj b. =. Kelly, whose headquarters were at Hal
Ferry. s ..f,., .g-ra f,,onaD
Ehi' INFORMATION o. THE ADVANCE OF THE REBELS.
General Roberts, whose headquarters were at Bucl
non, Upshur county, twenty eight miles south OF u
ed, about the Goth Of March, such informatid
led him To believe that heavy iorce oq
enemy. under Generals Jones, Imboden. Wiliai
raid hva VirOiuiA ha nh
roads leading 20 the West. He immediately infd
General Schenck ut Baltimore, OF the fact, and kn}
the undergraduates Of bis small force 10 check such
for cavalry. as the condition OF tho roads was sui
almost 70 preclude the possib,ty o( infantry and a
ry acting with any degree OF efficiency General I'd
ascertained that the enemy, who wero marching IN
safi,ceai light artillery (easily transparency to
them to OverpOwer any ono Of the ve places hold b
in detail, or even his entire force combined. Genera
berts bad In bis command at that time only about
hundred aud ity cavalry and rour pieces OF artillery
sides less than fifteen hundred Infantry and these di
as above.
1HuR MOVEMENT cxArAm Fl
About the middle. Of April General Roberts rec
despatches from Bfigadsr General SCalnion, IN ths
nawha Valley, and Connels Latham and Oiey, st Bes
ststirg that Jones, jackson and imboden with for
oyer stx thousand rebels, were certainly moving on
haunop from their base u Crab Bottom. and also
Colonel Wilkinson that another column was adva
from the directionof oakland and kowIesburg. &c
Roberts Immediately apprised General Kelly and
hulligun Of tho aspect 0f Affairs. and a. tho enemy
threatening the several points held by him. and not
Ing upon which the blow would first fall, be cou,
Concentrate with certainty his force 70 resist an 81
General Scnenck was again and again telegrsphed
cernlag the state OF things, and urged 70 scns
ward sufficient force OF cavalry 10 operate agains
enemy; but II did mot eoms. W a. '15IJ9C
THE ATTACK, UPON BEVERLY.
90 Friday, April a. the rebels under Imbods
jackson attacked the small Union force at Beverly
extreme outpost held by General Roberts. This pl
which " ID the Tygert valley. 70 the east Of Rich
Virginia loyaists, under Colonel Latham The 70
approached by two roads, known rs the Buckhsnn
Phtlipl'A pixies, from the west and northwest, M
Hut,onsvillc road frum the south. The enemy cal
upon the HuttousviIe road. and when near the :,
part asssd TO the Left Hank aad occupied the road 10
70 ckhannon, thrs cutting or all commune tioI
tween Colonel I.athlm and General Roberts The
commenced about two O'Clock In the afternoon, and
10 maintain his position against such superior fore
termined to withdraw by way OF the Phiiippa road.
succeeded in Withdrawing his command, includn
two small neld pieces and all his supplies, alhou,
was followed by the eIemy In strong force over
miles on the road. The neht. though lasting abou
hours, resulted In tho less "a us Of only one man
three wounded and four prisoners.
IHE REBEL ADVANCE uION RrCxHANNOv-couxrKRNA Al
AND RKrUIsED.
When tho rebels found that Colonel Latham ha
treated by the Philippa road Jackson and Int
pushed forward toward Buckhannon, hoping TO be
to gobb!c up General Roberts before he could be
forced from his other posts but, learning OF the
mont, General Roberts caused the bridge over N
Frk 70 be destroyed, thereby forcing the enemy
back 70 Beverly, and thence 10 philippa whore
were met aod repolsed by CoionsI Mniligan In . d
action on Sunday, Goth.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES oy orxxRAI yosrs
As soon as General Roberts found that the euem,
turned back from Middle Fork, and In accordance
orders from general headquarters heordnred his fore
be concentrated At Buckhannon, preparatory for