The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-07-27

ARxv NoRrHERR VIRoIsIA, J
Julv I6th. 1863.

ARxv NoRrHERN VIReIsIA,(
July 18Th, 1868.
The heavy cannonading heard In the disse
tion Of Shephsrdstown Thureday originated
from . severe cavalry fight, Of which you
have been advised BY telegraph. l will now
furnish you the parsiculsrs as they have been
ascsrtained.
Alter the return Of Gen Lees army to vir.
ginia, the enemy, evidently too much crippled
for immediate pursuit, and deAirous Of ascsr-
tanning our movements and feeling our posi-
ton, dispatched = large body Of cavalry down
the river to accomplish this object, If possible.
They crosssd at Hsrper's Ferry, whore pom
toou bridges were thrown across for the pur
poss, and proceeded up the river AZ far as
ShsphsrdstUwn, where they arrived on wed.
nesday; then coming down the Lsetown and
Wiuchefter road to the distance Of about I've
miIes. halted. Meantime, Fiizhngh Lee, who
Was in the vicinity and hsarirg OF their where
abouts, proceeded up the Shepherdstown road
for the purpose of checking the enemy's ad.
vance. lie arrived in sight of the Yankees
Thursday morning, which brought on dssult
ory skirmirhng and cspnonadiHg, which con.
timed throughout the day until about 4
o'clock p. M. Then smcnnting his men and
advancing the fight became general along
both lines, the enemy having also dismounted
A charge was ordered and our men rushed
upon the enemy, who were driven back two
or three railee. where they eougbt the protsc-
ton of stone wall extending to the right and
left of the road, their right and left hanks
stretching como distance either extremity Of
the wall. Here the fight ragged for some time,
our men frequently charging up to the enemy'a
front and delivering their fire with telling ef-
feet, but exposed to AL iDceseant fire Of shot,
shell, and email arms from the enemy, who
had awaited themselves Of the protection Of
the stonswall and every rock, tree and stump
that afforded the least shelter. While our men
were in dangerous proximity without the
slightest shelter to cover their movements !;
bodies of the enemy g cavalry would frequent,
ly charge up to the stone wall, file to the right
and left, rapidly deliver their fire and galiop
into a wood that skirted the wall on either side.
Later in the afternoon, when the fight had pro-
eresssd soms time. the i4.b, 10th, 18th and
36lh Battalion, OF Jenkins's brigade, came mp
from near Mattinsburg and reinforced General
Leo, taking position on the left of the road
towards Shepherdstown. During the remain
der of the day they rendered gallant and III
eient service with their iong-range guns, and
participated with their comrades pre- viOHsiy on
the field, in the snbaequent charges on the en-
emy's position. The enemy were repuised and
driven back on the right and left, but 30 effect
ual was their protection behind the wall they
were enabled to hold that position until night.
Our line of battle extended about the distance
Of q mile and q half to the right and left of
the road, the enemy's about the came distance,
with reserves in supporting distance.
We had three pieces Of artillery, and the
enemy it is believed about the same number,
planted in an 9dmirabie position on the right of
The stonewall and 10 front of the woods com
mandiDg the whole Geld in front. During the
entire engagement our officers and men dis
played the utmost Rallantry. Gen. jenkins
being absent by reason of q wound in the head
received at Gettysburg, bis men were led by
Col. Ferguson, the whole under command Of
Lee. Our loss, not yet definitely
known, is unoftcialiy reported at from IS to
The loss of the enemy is estimated at from $50
to 200. Night having drawn her sable curtain
over the scene, the enemy fell back from this
position behind the stOnewai! leaving their
dead and wounded in our hands, and cur msn
in possession Of the field. They resreated
down the river road towards Harper's Ferry,
and it IL reported have since gone to the other
side of the river.
The casualties, as usual latterly, were con.
among the officers, who greatly ex-
posed themselves leading and encouraging the
men, and forming conspicuous marks for the
enemy's sharpshooters. Col. Drake, lst Va,
and Adi't Barbour, 18th Va, are reported
killed. the | .tter while cheering the men "
charge Col. Gregg, OF lees brigade, report
Newman, Of the 18th, wounded in the head.
Prisoners taken report that the enemy were
commanded by GEN. Gregg.
should me ntion that the enemy, ON their
entrance into ShepherdstOwn, found ffty or
sixty Of our sick and wounded, who were told
they would be paroied and those physically
able carried of; bat the issue Of the fight was
IL thau lad
to leave the intended prisoners behind
"Ail is quiet' in and along the lines, and this
is all am at liberty to report at this writing.
The movements Of the army since the great
battle of Gettysburg, which are as weltknown
TO the enemy as ourselves, may he briefly
summed mp as follows: Withdrawing from our
position at Gettysburg almost simultaneously
with the enemy, our army formed line Of bat
tie, our right resting near Hagerstown, our
left on the river, near Williamsport Here we
lay two te dious days and nights, Offering fight,
which the enemy declined, when II was deter
ni aed to recrOas the river, which was most
sucee ssfuily accomplished. or our movements
since, or present position, l cannot speak,
though ID would aPpease prIrient curiosity
which seeks qualification even at the expense
of the public interssts and safety. l will a.
ways promptly advise you of facts accom-.
Pitched and events that may be given to the
public without detriment.
No considerable body of the enemy are yet
reported to bo on the South side Of the river.
A small body of cavalry advanced from the
of Williamsport to- day and captured
three of our wagons aud as many men who
had been forsging in the vicinity Of the moun-
tain, about seven miles from Martinebur, -
The remainder Of the party escaped.
Gen Psttigrew, of North Carolina, died of
his wound At half past yesterday morning, at
the residence Of Mr.. Boyd, Bunker Hill, from
tire effect OF his wound received in rspelling
u cavalry charge into his brigade just before
recrossing the Potomac. Wednesday last. His
was soothed by every attention
his condition required, and his faithful body
servant attended him to the last. His noble
features. calm and placid in death, and bis body
ed in full uniform, with his limbs com
posed, lie appeared, instead Of death, more like
one who wraps the drapsry Of his couch
about him, aud lies down TO pleasant dreams:"
Il being impossible to procure O metallic coftin
10 convey his remains hems, they were in
srred temporarily 1t Banker Hill. -
WHAr SOLDIERS "SsAcKs" ARE MADE OF
The Petersburg Express. Of Saturday, has
he following p paragraph, which will cause
l.,t Ah nf Af