New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-01
The Rebel Attack on our Wagon Train
neor Rockville.

The Rebel Attack on our Wagon Train
nenr Rockville.
from Our Special oOns:pcndsD. n r Inn. 90 ,se,
Yesterday morning at about 81 o'clock started
from Washington in company with three officers Of
the Typographical engineers. 1t was our intention
to ride through to Frederick stopping at Rockville
for the purpose of taking dinner, but we all knew
the liability of wel-laid schemes, whether 81 or
auadrupedal, to 90 wrong. BY the time we reached
our first post of cavalry pickets we came up with
the rear of long wagon train, comprising loO vchi-
cles, each drawn by six mules, driven by very
black and picturesque negro This train must have
been at least two miles long, for by the time we
had reached the other end, riding lesarely, we
were within mile or two Of Rockville. Here, Joso
ve had passed the last wagon, an excited horse
man. t,uing from the direction of Rockville, hal.ed
our party, md in somewhat confused voice gavo
us the pleasiis intelligence that about 400 Rebel
cavalry were clos. al his heels. short con-
sultation Of war resulted in our making
up our minds TO retreat This conclusion
was scarcely arrived at when two more me n
came full tilt past US, shouting that the Rebels had
fred on them and were close behind. Then came
cavalry soder one of the six who formed our paltry
guard, leading q rijerless horse, whose master
(ano,her OF our guard bad just been shot, Then
came numbering along second trooper Duch ex-
cited and evidently charged with some important
mission. He immediately bated all the mule teams,
ordering them to turn back. And Low commenced
a scene Of excitement and confusion which but
maniac could properly describe. Wagons upset
by their drivers in abortive attempts to turn them
round others locked together mule teams inextrica.
bly, snared up, and through this jam and mess some
twenty or thirty horsemen your correspondent
among the numberl eslIopiDg like mad. Had tho
devil been tehind US it would have been impossible
to 90 faster; fast as the frightened horses could
lay their legs to the ground they went, kicking up
stones and earth with their heels in the mos, excit.
inc manner Two scared farmers led the retreat on
pow erful horses, and 60 long as they galoped it was
impossible to stop any Of the other horses. At last
we got sufficiently far from the train TO deem eur
selves safe and as the farmers had got out Of reach
we pulled up and reconnoitered. Away far back on
the road VIC could distinguish smoke from the burn
ing teams. They were doubtless all destroyed. All
the mules were captured, and two ambulances con-
t4inug officers were likewise gobbled up.
AT about o'clock we the fortunate ones, reached
the city, after a six hours ride Of nearly thirty
miles, very sore and very tired.
! Tnis bold dash OF the enemy caused considerable
excitement in the city directly We arrived. Colonel
Wyndham was Immediately put in ommand Of all
the cavalry in and around Washington, with su-
thorlty to noun; aud organize all the horselese
troopers he could lay his hands on, and TO mount
Maine regiment whose time Is just mp, TO act a.
mounted Infantry, provided they would consent TO
serve in that capacity for a few weeks. The
SCOTS Nine HaDdred lc1valry) marched through
town at o'clock this morning, and the 10th New
York leave for Frederick at p. M Ii is Colonel
Wyndhams intention to zee If he cannot fall foul u
these Rebel gentlemen and recover our mules, and
take u few hundred prisoners at the same time. The
appointment Of Colonel Wynaham gives great salts.
faction. No officer i'll the army has higher repu-
taton for energy, activity and sodlerly knowledge.
The substitution Of Gen. Meade for Gen. Hooker
as head Of the army Ia hailed with great delight.
Those who are we'll informed describe him as q
stern, hard-Gghtng soldier, who has no vices and
no weaknesses, and in many respects much better
mao Tor the position than bis predecessor. Officers
and other. mo are well informed state positively
lhat there is no force except cavalry north Of the
river, and that nothing will certainly be done for
four or five days-thst is TO say, no great battle VIII
be fought I'LL then. The impression is that Lee will
he wants, and then we shall be rs we were before.
Tonight 10 TO Frederick by railway. F.B.