New-York daily tribune., 1863-12-30


UEADQrAgIERs Dec. ., i-Ca
Or Monday morning Dec. 81, the lsi Maine
Cavalry with the "a, eth and 1Ch Pennsylvania Cav
airy Regiments assembled at Bcaleton Station, on tho
limo OF The Orange and Alexandria Railroad, propara
tory to their departure for Pege Valley Pery'ilc ana
the coy little town OF Luray. II was the intention OF
Col. Chas. H. Smith OF the lst Maine Cavity, who
commanded the expedition to start at daylight, but
owing to two Of the regiments having retained 10 camp
from tedious campaign OF three days only the prcced
ing evening delay II few hours was necessary to
repensh exhausted stores Of forage. ammunition aud
subsistence
THE Staff.
Al O'Clock 4. m everything being in readiness tie
four regiments took up thcir line of march for sulphur
Springs. After a short lat tie me "as l'rh,h, sln
the bngle notes echoed Advance" \ marcn OF few
honrs brought the eJpeditiD 10 AmisSllea small Ill
lapidGted village whose innabanis are al oi strong
Rebel proclivtes, many Of them furnishing aid ana
comfort to the gangs Of guerrias infe,tiug this sicin
iy At divbrcah on the 22l the expedition proceeded
toward Gaincss Cross Roads, and just ut the eit of
AmlsyiDe " charge was made upon lew gn.rrbhS
enpuring one prisoner and scattering the remainder IN
ali directions At Ganes's Cross Roads n nest Of
Moschys ucn surprised and driven 10 tho mount
aims Ilenoc the e1peeuion marched To spefr!th,'
where the enemy Wer' discovered holding IhoInt1ns
Gap and upon The approach Of troops they offered
considerable resistance % our advancing skirmshers
\ stIong reserve mHong us appearance, Tue oDtte
force lied t0 the numerous paths m The mountains
where far above cnrhiue range the tscomlted gucr-
iiuas rc,eled among the rocks aud ca,erls, " iyCd
their hats and shouted in defence t. or
cayalrymrn. On leaving spcrryNilc, yon reach me
ascending turnpike leading to Ihornt"n's Gap. As
yon ascend mounted. a fine view can be had tUn ne
taidlc. lhornt0u's Gap is Immediately beneath the
highest peak of tho Blue Ridge and II - no eAaggcl
ton % say that the vicinity Il tbs mOGnain pass
uords ~ the graldest views 20 be found IN i-s
country. There u one portion ot the serenlne tnn'
nike whore a caIbinesAut woud cross the pike sN
times IN a direct line, - l.s'1ng Is ~ conree Ole
hundred shnrpshootcIs stationed et this point could
retard the progress Of large army, rendering the
ascent an amosi Impossible one. Such % picturesque
panorama of natural b,auiics seldom Winesses as
were revealed The morning Of our aseert The irs
king had touched The leaves Il the hr.st trees with
bis magic wand of silver. and placed his g,tcning
crown upon The mouriail-tops, While the rays oi
the danced upon tie frozen dew coionag Tic
valley with gardy line AMI the ofesis o. ihe
one OF mammoth kaleidoscope. IL was vivid and TO
mantle picture 10 witness 500 l0fsemcn climbing the
steep mountain sides, Their sabers hasl4g IN the sun
light - their Nariko seeds iranocd along Oh" pas
Tie mountain. were finally ed, and our iosces en-
oaf1ucd for the ncht wi'Ha iorr miles oi Luray. or
pclri- attacked az hour eiier dark ny parry o
Gilmofe'- gucTrilla- but at"r rr'"i sNrni-h "itn
our yglau cav fliof they deemed "prrtencc The rnt
Ter of yalor. aud they retired carving q, thea
tie I'D inst. our advance driving the weak picket
force our frout before them with hiue diih'
Guilty. As arrived within sight of Iuray,
quite large Rebel forco observed drawn up IN
nc of battle To- cheek our ads ancc and With TIE app
cnt Intention n lnHkinga sufficiently ,roug stand 70
o.
for ore of those rcsstltss Yankee c.,sry changes
which only greasy mechanics end Northern mud. .
ellis can execute. when lot the /. h. ~ aud the ~
T. " fed in the greatct disoi.er utterly dsnH1 ed
and thrown into the greatest confusion hy tie tcmrri,y
oi Col smith who drred thus invade thef limits Of the
sacred soil. owing q the ieeness Of ,hc ch.sdrt tut
few prisoners were captured and their horses bang IN
muchbcttcr condition than ours. was iFHltcss Gt'
tempt further pursuit. AT tbs point two deseit"rs ct.
red uc and after being relieved o ihe arms they
we're scrt to our rear guard Ihofc deertcs reiterated
fi.. ~ pf
poor white trash Of the South, many OF whom fl.,
represent being On the verge ~ starvation. Ihcy
report great disanection throughout he lahAs oi ne
Rebel army aud sa.d tie Pr iideni Amnesty frocia-
nation had given considerable satisfaction to the poor
oppressed aud helpless people, many Of whom have
been merccs ly consonpted to Ill up iho decima,ed
ranks Ok the Rebel army. The wealthy spuIn Tie !
Proclamation, and in Richmond tie stIct'st suryeil.
lance is maintained over those persons suspected OK
gym pathy with the North.
Al Ilray Col Smith learned that Rosser's Brigade /
lad encamped there Sunday night. ond had len Mon
ia,, taking the grade up the Page Valley on the .
east side Of tho river in the direction of Madison aud
ms Hosser had succeeded IN getting forty eight hours
art of our fstigG.d forces. Col SmtA concluded very
wisely to no further risks, nasmuch tn objects
of tho expedition were accomplished and no infHntry
or artillery at hand 20 lend assistance in VI
an attack by superior numbera Col Smith sent several
officers 10 examine the Postoloe JAIL courthou.e. and
other public bindings. number Of colsstipts were
aken from the Ju upon hearing the news of cur ap.
proach. A large thrcestory building filed Will har
lesses and artillery and cavalry equipments and which
Was used an extensive menniactory for the cup.
ply OF Rebel outfits was DESTROYED, tosuther
Nth a lar.o quantity of raw material. rings,
buckles, ana a valuable lot Of tools. Adjoining
his manufaotory was large tannery; with numerous
rats iilcd With stock IN hanished state. Several
Wooden buildings stored with thousands Of dollars
worth of hides and finished leather these We're de.
tioyed by FIRE. On the return march Ave new ana well
'lrnisLeI tannCles. stocked with large amount Of
eatber were completely guted. and their contents De.
,tloycd ON the road between Luray and SporryNle
Nenr Sperryyille our advance euerd surprised and
captured twohorso wagon belonging tO Rebel sut.
er. An examination OF tho wagon by tho iuquisiye
Yankees iole led a secret bottom, IN which were
nuul Rebel mail aud quantity OF medicines and dry
yoods en- route for the Rebel lines This wagon on
Is way from the Upper Potomac strong argument in
OF increased vigilance In that department.
At Little Washington our advance guard surprised ,
small party Of Mosehys e9crrilla1 killing one and
,naampcd for tho night To rest tneir horses, which
gere il possible, more adcd than their gallant riders
Al davlis st the march continued and on Christmas
We tie wenricd soldiers reached their comfortable
n inter quarers in high state Of gcc, every man hay
ng provided himself with al abundant supply ii poul
~, III order 10 properly celebrate Christians Ia the
1my The expedition marched l2j miles IN four days I
affecting serious blow TO the enemy IN the most vital
,nrt OF their prosperity. | regret 10 announce that
heso peramb1lating "Yankec Cavaliers We're allowed
a help themselves 70 several dressed hogs which were
readiness for the satisfaction Of more refined appe
ties such as the disciples OF Moseby White ana Other
Iominent +. I: V.s. As our troops were 9ut Of "a
ions Col Smith had sclupes In allowing bis troops
o indulge in tho Secesh proyender. Ii
On the person Of the captured Rebel sucr was found
revolver aud valuable gold watch. Seven thousand
oars I'm shnplasters representing the currency of the
gould.be Confedcracy were found on the prisoners :
ghom We captired some Is OF 20 in ALL. large quan-
ity of fine tobacco conhscated IN the Town vi Lu
ay Tho Town of Lnray being situated ia the center
Page Valley is Of tho prettiest in Virginia. IL
onssts Of largo brick courthouse. several subston.
al churches, and tho streets OF the town are LAID ont
ery tnstjly running ut right angles, and lined with
trees on either side. The private residences
pcrlor 10 most of tho Southern towns, and their areh
,cnral finish denote tho refined taste OF ther owners
ol O. III. Smith deserves more than passing notice
n The enorgy and rapidity with which this difficult and