Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-02
FROM WINCHESTER.
The Recent Military oontretemps In
that ViCinity-Disgraoeful Conduct
OF some OF our Troops.


that ViCintty-Disgracefu Conduct
OF some OF our Troops.
WrNCHEsTER, Feb. %, 1858.
Editors Inteztiyencsr:
The diminishing between parties of orr
cavalry and that of the enemy, referred to
in my last letter, still continues, and on
yesterday eliminated into one of the most
disgraceful affairs of the war to us. A
cavalry scout of the enemy, about eighty
strong, came inside our pickets ON the
Strausburg road, early on yesterday .morn-
ing, and after slight skirmish with our
infantry plckets belonging to the 18th Vir-
GINA, in which two on each side are known
to have been wounded, they retired. can
turing and carrying off as they went our
cavalry pickets on that road, numbering
some dozen men. A party composed Of
the 18th Pennsylvania and LIST New York
cavalry, numbering in all about Eve hun
dreu men, were sent in pursuit and recap
tored, after pursuing beyond Strausburp,
most OF the prisoners, with their horses.
oners. l5s = fti'sN'
The commanders of these detachments
transcribed their instructions, and mr.
sued the enemy beyond Woodstock and
after driving in his pickets stood parleyinr
IN the road, one detachment having tuTneSa
back, and meeting the other, the two stoo6i
with the heads Of their horses facing each
otner, when the enemy came charging upon
them IN force, taking them completely bv,
surprise, aud throwing them at once into
confusion, which resulted in complete
panic. The advancing portion of our de-
tachments turned their faces toward win
chester as quickly as possible, and in the
operation of changing direction a portion
became mixed up with portion of the re-.
urlng party, and all together commenced-
preclPttate retreat, followed closely in
t tIls rear by the foe, who pursued them in
tnls manner for twenty miles, keeping
Sloss on the rear OF the retreating column,
employing himself all the time in shooting.
running down, and slashing with the sabrs
our terror-stricken and flying troops.
The plain truth as now ascertained ia
TINS that two hundred rebels chased an
above described Eve hundred of our men.
Elllng, wounding and capturing two hun
area OF them. Tue sport of the enemy can
DC lkened to nothing, but that of the In.
dian in chasing herd of bufFaIoes taking
his game with unerring certainty from the
rear OF the flying dove. And what makes
the matter still more mortifyinp. We had
greatly the advantage of the enemy not only
IN numbers, but in the quality and condi. |
t 1on OF our horses and in arms. 1t lis clear
that had our officers been able at any one
Vi Tue numerous advantageous points that
presented themselves all along the route to |
!. ave .s5 Fa!hed thetrmen and madea determine |
4. 81 ssanu, they might not only have repuIsei |
s sue ene 1 but turned the tables upon him
= 4l ~ MA0e themselves the pursuing party. /
learn that some Of the officers laboFed hard |
70 rally their men, whilst Others set !tbe |
example OF disobedienee,
ot 10 10 make the matter still worse portion
OF 9 the rear of our flying columns in He
ng6t and confusion fred on one anotberi ~
az a. least those in advance cred hack m -
s saslE friends Many horses were killed i
some By over exertion, running them nnt;II
'ney leu dead, OF exhausted in the road.
YOURS 8.