The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-08-03

!sPrciAL ooRsssForpxNcs or TIE rnPArc

EwELLs CcRPs, Jniy 90
The late na,el, of this co,ps, particularly Of
Esrly's divis.on, from the Lower Valley over
the mountains. was ons of the eeverest of the
war Before leaving Winchester that division
especially had Leen nearly broken downby the
frEitlass forced nnrch from Bunker Hill In pur.
suit 0f the force OF Yankees III the vicinity Of
Hedgesvile Gen Early having been ordered
10 Hank them and get in their rear for this puf-
pose had TO cross tbs mountain near Martins
borg and make II long detOur to the lefs, which
threw him hard days march bshind the re
ruainder of thu cofpa and not little imperiied
his division, Rs the Yankees wers epdeayoring
to occupy and hold the mountain passes 10. cut
OH the junction Of the corps wi,h the main
body. u was not the intention of Gsn'ls Rodes
and Johnston to cross at Manassas or Chester Z
Gaps, but TO cross tie river ST Front
Royal, proceed up Luray Valley ana
cross the Blue Ridge mountains at -
Gap, which was rlost successfully accom-
pDished. The occupation Of Front Royal by
the Yankees, after the paesage Of Rodes and
Johnston. cansed Gen. Early to turn to the
right at Csdarville, flank the Yankees and
strike the Staunton turnpike at Middietown,
bivouacing the first night on the banks Of the
Shenandoah, neaf Strasburg. The weather
was not as Tophet, and notwithstanding the
march of tSo miles every hour, Including
energy and fortitude or the men. despondent
al times On long march, to bear up uuder the
oppressive heat. The sleep that night near
Strasburg, in the tall grass, with no covering
but the canopy of Heaven, was to the weary
men .e sonnd and refreshing as an infants
elumber The irEtrapge of mouDtains was Al,
tanned Sunday afternoon at New Market, and
esoesed Monday morning
Reaching the Shenandoah aboCt mil day,
ttrn hY .r1p ii in iru
q pOntOdn bridge across at Columbia bridge,
destroyed by Jackson iu h;s brilliant Valley
campaign, TO prevent the crossing of Shields,
who Was compelled TO 90 MP the eastern eide
OF the river and mountains, willis jackson
went pari 7'assn up the western, au efficient.
sigma! officer keeping bim advised of bis ad-
versarys N.ovemeuts The division reached
the second ani iast range of the Blue Ridge
MoBdsy night. and eEcamped at tbs faot i'll
Li.tlep#ke Valley. TIE greater part of the
day lf1esdayl was occupied III crossing at
Fisher's, better known as Milans, Gap. The
road over Tie mountain here is creased by a
Macadainizei road, muc5 broken since The
year began, bat one Of ths most splendid
Eiacsa ct .hglEeejing iii tho country. GA the
western siao. ey tna direction OF tbs road, it
is seve IA l. .!Gs from the fcot to .he tcp, aud six
miles from the yep to the foot On the eastsru,
1he VI ;5.diDgs of the road, like The coGvoiu-
tons Of IL huge serpent. would frequently
bring one Part Of tie lire of. march within
epsakiug distance OF another, sY;i;ie il would
have 10 traverse tho cist.n5s OF one, aLS
sometimes tygo, mi:Ss to rsAch IT, tbs sesaeiy
from the top Of tbs lIoHrtaii IS grand
bayont description, and affords q prospect
not surpassed or tbs castle hotGecsd
Rhins. On either hand, as far as tie
farSs Of vision extends, large sniling valleys,
clad III the verinre OF the gessen, dotted here
aud there with beautifaI farma elegant resi-
Il -. III
Ill loet in the dim distaEce, extend the raugeE
of the Blue Ridge, lifting ,heir heads above
the clouds. i.ttiepage Valley may very ap-
pfopriateiy be termed the Eden OF Virginia.
1t il one OF the mort fertile spots II the State.
and i,a cultivated fields, thriving and indepsad-
ent farmers, show that i, has yet seen little 0r
none OF The desolation that follows IN the
track Of war. Returning to ths march, the
Division eueamped on Robertgon river, Tues
DAY night, and sool effected junction with
the corps.
T. ming down tho StauEton turnpike it v.Gs
a melancholy eight to refugees from Win
chester and Otl er portions Of the Lower Val
ley fleeing with their household gods FROM
their homes, ha!lowed by eacred memories
and associations, aud abandoned again to the
desecration of the vandal Yankee. Let ns
hope it Ia the last time the secnrsed ice will
poiIuts our sell with his tread.
Early & division comprises eome OF the BEST
troops in the service, including the Georgia
brigade of Gen. John B. Gordon, of Alabama,
with which l moved on the march In the
battle of Gettysburg il killed aud wounded
more of the Yankees than its own numerical
strength At least three hundred were buried
in its Immediate front. The previous brilliant
record of this brigade is already we'll known.
Gen Gordon, one of the most gailan. ana ETH
eient ct cers, as well as best managers of men
in the army, is very pleasant ana affabie eon
temar one evidence of which is evlnced III
this fact that lie eeema 10 iind nothing Ia the
dutiea Of Ito officer Incompatible with the OBJ
legations of the gentleman. While hs Ia
strict o'scipiiuarian, he appreciates the COM
munisy OF interests of the officer and private
in this war for mutual indep epsndenos, and
faithfully protects the rights OF the men en-
trusted 10 his charge. As might be supposed,
he is he idol of his brigade, ann respected in
an eminent degree by the whols division.
The Adiutant General Of this brigade is Capt
Jas Mitchell, second sou of Mr.. John Mitchell,
of the Richmond Eaqxtrer, and one Of the
niost intelligent and brave young officers Of the
army.
Prof Johns, an eminent aud succassfll
teacher OF Alabama, aud a gentleman OF rare
accomplishments, Is a private III the signal
corps Of Eariy's division
As the invasion of Pennsy ylyauia did not
equal fully the expectations OF Gen. Lee, VINO
msgnapimously assumes all responsibility un-
der reverse, and modesliy assumes less than is
due him in success, it 10 to be regretted now
that the corps Of Gen. Ewell, which had pene-
tratad within sight of the spires OF Harrisburg,
had not been allowed to prosecute its march,
while the main body remained on the border OF
the State. They were cooking rations for d
three days march further on when the order
came directing Gen. Eweil to come back 10
Gettysburg,
Genera, Ewei! is in iine health and spiriis,
and though somewhat emaciatsd, is lar ffcm
bsing p..is and feeble as Yankee corresponds ats
represented.