The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-10-21
HIGHLY IMPORTANT
FROM The VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.
Batteries at Charlestown and
Berryville.
Reported Capture of a Portion of
the 9th Maryland Regiment.
RETREAT OF CONFEDERATES.
From Mondays Baltimore Sun.

| From Mondays Baltimore Sun.
Important intelligence was received ii
this city last evening from Harper's Ferry
in regard to military affairs in the Shenan'
doah Valley. The following is the sub
stance of the facts as far as received;
The Confederates in force, variously est
mated at from 800 to $500, attacked the
Federal forces at Charlestown about day
light yesterday morning. The latter force
consisted of six companies of the 9Th Mary
land Infantry, under Colonel Simpson, and
Major Coles Maryland Cavalry. After a
spirited engagement the Federal forces
were overpowered by numbers, and the
larger portion of the infantry were captured,
including Col. Simpson. Major Cole, with
nearly all his cavalry cut his way through
the Confederate lines, and succeeded in
reaching Harper's Ferry, where he reported
the state of affairs to General j. G. Sulli
van, of Indiana, commander or the forces
at that point. Gen. S. Immediately order
ed Major Cole to return towards Charles
town, he following with the infantry and
arallery forces in and around Harper'S
Ferry.
Shortly after ten o'clock Gen Sullivan
reoccupied Charlestown in force, the
Confederates having retreated south to-
wards Berryville. major Cole continued
in pursuit of them, both with artillery and
cavalry. and about three O'Clock an engage
ment took place between the forces near
Berryvile. Its magnitude or positive re-
suits were not stated, except that the Con.
federates continued their retreat, still pur-
sued by the Federal troops.
1t was thought probable that number
of the captured men of the Ninth Mary
land had already escaped, and there was a
strong probability that all Of the remainder
would be recaptured. Company A of that
regiment was at Cuffield's Station, on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and conse-
quentlv escaped capture. The quick
movements of Gen. Sullivan have doubtless
ere this redeemed the disaster to the Ninth
Maryland, by either recapturing or afford
ing them an opportunity for escape.
Gen. Kelley's and Gen. Sullivans scouts
report no indication of movement OF the
Confederates towards the line of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, and the freight
and passenger trains on that road ran as
usual Yesterday, ana Will proceed 10 ana
from the West on their regular time to- day.
Since Saturday afternoon last, up to 81
o'clock last night, the Potomac river is re-
ported to have risen q feet, and the river,
in consequence, was not tordabie at any
rolnt between Hancock and Washington.
Scouts had also returned 10 Harper Ferry, |
no Confederates on the south side
of the river at or near any of the fords.
One fact has been demonstrated in the |
opinion of military officers by the occur
renee at Charlestown to-day, viz: That the
Confederates are in much smaller force in
the Valley of Virginia than was supposed
several days ago, their retreat being so pre-
cipitate before General Sullivan's advance.
The whole affair has been set down as
raid, led, it was thought, by Gen. Imboden,
which the movements of General Sullivan
brought to sudden close.
Up to the hour of going to press nothing