Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-06-30
stauntoa Sptttator,
ST AL N TON, v A.
TUESDAY, JUNE 80, 1863.
WAR NEWS. RAIDS, &c.

On Thursday evening portion ofthe
Federal troops-about 1,200-left the
White House on the road to Hanover
Court House, and upon arriving camp
ed for the night on Col. Wickham,s
farm, where they captured Gen. w. ii.
F. Lee, who has been there since ne was
wounded in the battle of Brandy Station,
on the 9th. They conveyed him away
in the carriage of Col W., which they
stole. They also burned the fine bagn
of Col. Wickha1n, and one or two other
out-buildings.
~ The next anorning they started upon
an expedition to destroy the South Anna
Bridge on the Central r. R., three miles
and a half from Hanover Junction,
which they succeeded in doing by over
coming the guard Of only so men, who
offered a stout resistance, but were over
powered before reinforcements could
reach them, Unfortunately, the force
which had been guarding the bridge,
and which would have been sufficient
to protect it, the night before was sent
TO Gordonsville to repel an apprehend-
ed attack upon that place.
After firing the bridge, the Yankees
started in the direction of the bridge on
the Fredericksburg road, but on being
informed by a citizen, who was pris-
oner Of theirs, that we had two brigades
at that point and Hanover Junction,
they turned their course, and marched
back in the direction of the White
House, passing Hanover Court House
only few minutes before the arrival OF
our reinforcements.
information deemed reliable having
been received at the War Department
that about 10000 Yankees under Reyes
and Dix were marching up the PENN
sula to attack Richmond, Gov. Letcher,
on Saturday evening last, issued pro-
clamation urging upon the citizens OF
Richmond and other portions of the
State to perfect at once their military
organizations to cooperate with the
troops in the field.
EsWhat is the news from Lees army,
is the question on the tongue of all our
readers. We are sorry that we are I'M
able to answer the question and to graft
fy the laudable curiosity of the public.
The truth is, the ssdogs of war" which
Lee has unleashed are already "out OF
hearing ;" but that is only evidence that
they are in close and warm pursuit OF
the game. Lee is out now gaming on a
large scale, and if the Yankees don't
look very sharp, it will not be long be-
fore the egame viii be up with them. .
We are pleased to learn that our for
ces captured more prisoners, wagons,
horses, stores, &C., at Winchester, than
we stated in our issue of last week.
The Richmond Enquirer learns from a
private letter to a gentleman of that
city that we captured 400 men, 100
officers, $50 wagons, 400 horses, 20 am
balances, and al the public and private
baggage, suffers goods, &c. Not a
wheel escaped. Our men deserve all
our country can award them.
The people say that Milroy went off
in civilians clothes--he left Winchester
the evening before the assault He
who does that as commander will do
anything disgraceful.
The Yankees are in terrible state OF
commotion, they cannot imagine what
the rebels are about. Stuart has whip
ped their cavalry every day, and some
times twice day, ever since he left
Culpeper. He has captured five or six
hundred prisoners. Mosby caught
Hooker's aids with letters of instru :
tions to their cavalry commander. They
showed that Hooker was very much
puzzled.
Gen. Imboden with his brigade has
been operating on the West of the for
ces Of Gen. Ewell, doing good service.
On the 9th, he crossed the Shenan-
doah mountains to Moorfeld, in Hardy
county sent back fine drove Of cat
tie; pushed on to Romney, the Fede-
rails, 1900 in number, retreating to New
Creek, depot on the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad Onward he pressed to
Springfeld-the enemy there also fall
ing back to their strong position at New
Creek.
He commenced threatening New
Creek, the enemy being 1000 strong,
and meantime sent a regiment of caval-
ry around them and captured Cum Der
land, Maryland, one mile and half
from the Pennsylvania line. 1t is a
beautiful city, containing sixteen thou
sand inhabitants. So completely had
the enemy been deceived by the feint
on New Creek, that Cumberland sur
rendered without much resistance. Some
ammunition and quartermaster stores
were found, but their destruction would
have laid the place in ashes. The reg
iment turned its attention to the fine
bridges, these were utterly demolished,
the wooden ones burned, the splendid
iron ones knocked in fragments by rife
cannon. The depots were turned into
smoking ruins. The canal was ssput
through" generally.
Major White has broken the railroad
between Harper's Ferry and the Point
of Rocks; he burned one wagon train,
but did not get the horses.
The following from the Baltimore
Sun of Friday last shows how near we
were of capturing Milroy:
"Maj. Gen. Milroy, accompanied by
several members ofhis staff, was return
ing to Maryland Heights, but on reach
ing Monocacy Juntion, was advised o.
the state Of affairs between there and
the Ferry, and at once ordered the train
ExoJ 4tox. ..oS...l.