The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-08-01
QUA ARay CORRESPONDENCE.



MADisos-C r., Va, July %. 1863.
Having been ON the march with Ewell's
corps since Thursday. the G,l, have had no
Of communicating with you, and
no means Of forwarding lstisr had the op.
portunity Of writing been presented have
inst arrived here, aud have only time enough
before the closing Of the msii for Richmond
70 give some particulars Of the 6ghs at Manas.
cas- Gap, on the afternoon Of the I'D, the day
we isfb Winchester. Generals I.ongsarsse and
Hill preceded Gen. Ewsll, and passing through
Chestsr's Gap, In the Blue Ridge, Wright's
brigade, Of Andereon's division, Was detached
by Gen. Hill, and left to guard the pass until
Gen EweIl, who was In the rear, should have
sam cisnt time TO come mp, cross the river It
Front Roval, proceed without interruption
down the Valley and cross the mountains 1t a
point lower down. Not long after the depar-
iurs of the corps Of Hill and LoDgstTest, the
Yankees, estimated BY some at one or two
corps, advanced from the direction OF Centre
vile aud Manassas, with tho purpose OF
taking posse ssion OF the Gaps nsar Front
Royal and prevent the escape OF that
The Easteru side Of the mountains. Thurs
day morning they advanced to Manassas
Gap, preceded by cavalry, who attacked
Gen. WriRhrs brigade, which advanced to
meet them, and after considerable skirmishing
drove them hack npon the main body Of In
fsntry which advanced to their support and
poured down epon the bIlgads Y Dc ssvssel col, col,
against most fearful odds, our men heroically
met the onset and held their ground firmly.
The strength Of superior numbers, however,
seemed likely TO prevail aud the brigade, al
though fighting mos. gailAutly, were compel
cd to fall back gradually, and did 80 in good
order. The timely arrival of General Rodes,
with his splendid division, the advance Of Ew
ellis corps, changed the fortune OF the day and
put a speedy end TO the conflict. Although
Wrieht's brigade, even falling back, had thus
far succeeded in thwsrting the enemy Pur.
pope. il IA difficult to estimate the consequence
had il not been relieved Of the great aisadvant-
ages under which it was contsndipg, by the
opportuae coming up Of Gen. kodes. The
latter, after throwing pontoon bridge scross
the Shenandoah at the junction OF the
two forks, immediately advanced, formed
in line of battle and threw out skirm'snefs.
Although his men had marched nearly twenty
i've miles that day, the necessity Of relieving
their gallant comrades in arms, and tho sight
of the hated foe, caused them to forget tho
fatipus they had already Undergone. The
enemy, drawn up In three lines of battle, were
soon repuised by this new accession OF
strength, yet inferior in numbers to themselves
Oar artillery also being brought to bear, theft
Il rat line. after driving back our skirmishers,
was broken. aud fell back in confusion and
disorder. The second line advancing were
dealt with in like manner, and met slmiiaF
f3te. The third, after show OF resistance
and determination to maintain the ground, fell
back some distance and lay upon the ground
to avoid tie havoc our artillery aud small
arms were making in their ranks Inc enemy
had two batteries of artillery, which we're
cot used. One was Ed planted thst it could
not bs brought TO bear ON our men with any
feet; the other was in position on which
we hsd I'm eniilading lire. Ii thsS lad more
Il was not observed, but they fired not siDglb
shot with artillery durinS The fight. We haa
several pieces, which were served with admi-
" be seen at every discharge, which extoi ied
loud cries of pain from the wounded Yankees,
10 which our men responded with cheers. The
ground was literally blue with the killed and
wouaded. Oar loss ia estimated at one hun
dred and fifty killed and wounded.
The division Of Gen. Edward Johnston,
which followed that Of Gen. Rodes, was moved
up within supporting distance during the fight,
and, il is said !. left the rations they were pre-
paripg ON the fire The division Of Gen. Early
was st the time encamped about three miles
from Winchester.. Night comiug on apace
and putting an end to tho conflict, the Yankees
withdrew from the field. Geas. Rodes and
! tohnston accompanied Ly Wsikhts brigado,
then marched beyond Front Royal, encaMped
tor the night, and next morning proceeded Oh
tho march up Luray Valley.
have been unable 10 procure a list OF killed
ard wounded, which loss fell chiefly on
WrichLs brigade, readily accounted for by
tho vastly superior odds against which they
had TO conteLd before reinf0rcements came up.
Col. Edward Walker, Of the Sd Georgia, was
severely wounded in the thigh, and is doing
well.
The Yankees finding no opposition to OBJ
stl uct them, took posses sion Of Front Royal
Friday moIning, Gen. Early being a days
march in tho rear, aud thus prevented from
crossing the river Ut that point, deemed 1t pru.
den. to tarn to the right at Csdarville, about
three milss from Front Royal, and marched
do wn the Valley, striking tho Winchester and
Stsuutoil turnpike again at Middlet0Wn. The
whole corps which the enemy confidently be-
lieved wouid be etfectually cut OFT from the
main body of our army is now safely out OF
their clutches.
S-The numerous friends Of Gan. keM-
Der will be gratitied to learn that his family,
who reside in this place. are in receipt OF very
ree.nt information from the North stating that
he had passed the crisis of his case, aud lin =
fair way Of recovery. His lower extremtties
were paralg zed jrem the effect Of his wound
in the groin-but nc doubt is enter
tanned by the aurgson that he will recover the
use of his limbs.