New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-05

present at two or three different points at the same
tne and the difficulty Of procuring prompt and ac'
ouraTe information have caused me no little embsrT ass
meni AZ the circle Of operations is daily getting mar
overu fact little too circumfcribed Tor comfort
tie end OF the drama is likely 70 be short sharp and
decisive and will now be known 70 the country
The events OF to-day have been important. The
enemy in front Of the town. having driven our IN
sufficient force back 20 the Immediate deenses OF the
place where this writing they rest upon their arms
or upon their worn and aded horses In hourly aniici
patton Of battle. In my letter dispatched By private
hand this morning gave the particular Which were
Known up TO that time.
Tie Nth Keniucky mounted infantry. 9th Kentucky
casalry ard 18Th Ohio infantry in immediate command
Of General Saunders with General Shackeford present
and cooperating were, with their diminished force.
occupying pos tion only SONS two miles this side OF
Rockville this morning where they attached about
o'clock by cavalry and infantry force reported to be
under Wheeler and estimated all the way from eight 70
Ten thousand strong The enemys train numbered four
hundred wagons according 10 Information OF The cti
ems who saw and counted them. They have Parrot
battery " which they made effective use The line Of
the advance was from the direction Of Marysye by
The WAY Of Rockville, crossing Little River As The en-
ernv advanced Col Woolior1 made stand OF every
a, alabe position dspuing tho ground as long az pos
sAle. On Shock Greek The Rebels were bed 10 check
fJr some time but they uniformly threw oct 1anking
parties right and left into tho woods and hills which
lined the foad obIgng Us 20 fall steadily back to
avoid capture Hearing sharp musketry firing IN
front, with an occasional inerude OF cannon your cor
respondent pushed ont upon the Rockville road. about
o'clock and met large number o. straggiers mounted
leading lame and rlderless horses. 10 my questions as
10 WHY they going 20 the rear The reply vas that
Their horses Lad given out they were out OF annuni
ton had lost their guns SICK or some ouch er
cuso After about 20 Of these straggers bad passed
H. observed line Of amb1laDces huTrying down the
road preceded and followed by Whist seemed the whole
force IA fg retreat. They moved, however, IN good
order and there pane or confusion. Following
close behind Parrot battery discovered Col Wood
ford Of the Let Kentucky Cavalry, Who Informed mo
that the Rebels in strong force were closely 'oi'
lowing turned and rode back abont one MILE the
cavalry deuloying into the open fields TO the
right aud left VI the road. then took my position upon
hill whore Col. Cameron. commanding tbs "a
bfsade ID division had sent forward section OF tho
Wilder Indiana battery OF Rodman steel guns. Cen
Shackeford also ordered up The Parrot battery which
had lust been brought 20 the rear making six guns In
posi,ioD. This hill was in advance Of. and somewhat
layer than the one originally selected by Col Gamer
on Tor bis Wilder battery. All eyes were nov eagerly
directed toward the SOUTH 10 catch the first glimpse oil
the advancing Zoe. We had but moment to wait
Following close upon the arguari, and almost indS'
tnyuishable from our men, the Rebels poured out
Of the woods-irs tho officers mounted then the troops
mounted and on foot Puifs OF white smoke IN
stontly lined the front OF tho woods as they
emerged from their cover and depoyed
TO the right and loft upon the doublcquick The lin
Kentucky Mounted Infantry and 10Th ONO which had
been ordered % cover the retreat. undcr command OF
Lieut.. Col Motley formed in the open field 10 tho right
Of Dr. Rogerss house. which stands on the night OF the
road md here for fifteen minutes, sustained ana
returned tho enemy's fire in gallant style. Our men
were, yet, too nearly 10 line with tho hcDes 10
permit US 10 battery but each gun was pointed
and ready. Rebel officers rode rapidly 10 and fro across
the field within short distance Of our advance lne
and now, shriekug like demons. they dash out right
and loft 10 gain the Of tic woods which skirt the
field Our own men falling back now gave the coveted
opportunity TO use the battery and in another moment
haf dozen cannon opened their iron hroats ana sent
grapo and shell into their ranks They iatered
One small party attained high bill upon
opr rieht. at n distance 0! third Of a mile
and fred two or three yoeys bat shell two silenced
their FIRE Ia ton minutes more when the smoke OF OIL
guns cleared away tie field in 'front.' which had been
alive with Rebels was clear They bad taken 70 the
woods OF CONCEALED themselves In the ra'ins' r"" "'