Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-09
FROM w1HoHBsTER.
WINcARsrER. Jan. 8. IRa

WINCHESTER, Jan. 8, 1853.
Editors IntslHgeneer.
Since last wrote you from Petersburg.
the First Brigade, Cheat Mountain DiVi.
move. s-alI f'-l
The 10th Virginia, Colonel Harris, was
forwarded to Moorteld, and was followed in
lew days by the other regiments of the
Gen. CIuseret then organized a volunteer
force of near 1000 men, to advance with
out tents on an expedition to the Shenan- 4
doAh Valley, or more particularly to Stras.
burg, where rebel force of cavalry and
infantry were understood to be concen ira.
ted under Col. Jones.
The General took charge of this exuedi-
tion in person. and advanced, with little
! opposition, first to Strasburg and theu to
Winchester. To the credit Of the officers
and men composing the brigade, must
state that all who were really fit for the
severe duty and exposure of such march
through the mountains of Virginia, in the
middle of winter, aud without tents, vol
unteered to go; and, still further to their
credit, l see the General has publicly an
nounced that they endured the severest IA.
tigue and exposure without a murmur
Can any one doubt the intelligence, patri.
! AT Strasburg, we had the misfortune to
lose Maj. Wlhers, of the 10th, who was
captured by the enemy, under the follow
ing circumstances: On the evening of the
day that VIC entered Strasburg, some pistol
shots we're heard over a little euineuce
near where the 10th was eucamped. The
| Major thinking it was some of our boys,
rode over to the spot, where he found n
number of men sitting on logs, stumps.
| rocks &C., dressed in the federal uniform.
] lie began to reprove them for firing, soy
! ing that they ought not to ffre under The
circumstances, unless it was at rebels. By
this time they had gathered around him
1 and when they had him completely sur
rounded, notified him that be was then in
the hands of rebels and demanded that he
should surrender; he, of course, had no
alternative.
Two days after the departure Of General
Cluseret fIom Moorefeld, a subsistence
train was sent after him, guarded by about
three hundred men from the 10th aud 18th
Virginia, under command of Capt Darnall,
of the 10TH This train was attacked by a
party OF Imboden's guerrillas, under Capt
lmbodeD and some other Captain, name
not known. They were repulsed With a
loss of two killed, six wounded and three
| iprisouers. We had three men wounded,
JUG tue reg JUST AOOYe Inc knee,
rather a serious wound.
On the 26th Dec. the balance of the bril-
RHde was ordered to Romney and thence to
Winchester where it arrived on New Years
day aud Joined those who had gone in ad-
vance.
Jones made same demonstrations against
I ECluseret,O on Christmas day, otherwise our,
occupatiOnlof Winchester has been uniuter
raPted to the present time. Should the enc. .
my think proper TO dispute with Us the oc-
cupancy of the place he will have the old
Chieftain iamilisrly known in camp as the
old Grey Eagle, at the head of what is
known as Milroy's division TO contest the
matter with him, aud from what is known
of the character and habits of Grey Eagle,
it is generally conceded that If jackson or
any body else in all rebeldom. should get
possession Of Winchester again he will
have to do some tall fighting first. Permit
me here to digress and express my aston.
iShment that Gen. Milroy has not yet been
promoted Others all around him who
have taken their ease, comparatively speak
ing, have been advanced to the rank of Mai.
Generals whilst he who has more fight in
him thar half dozen of these put. to-
gether, is held in a subordinate station
where his indomitable courage and ener-
gies are cramped by the authority of those
above him who are in favor of the easy do
as-iittle. as-you- can policy. His noble and
patriotic, and courageous spirit feeling all
the while like the Gagged lion or the clip.
ped eagle. l will venture to say that be
has doue more fighting and shown more
military genius and capacity than half a
dozen put together of those who have been
promoted over him. Such policy and
such blunders have protracted the war, and
| If not corrected many protract 1t inde6-
nitely. g,sra. FL. lr7lg5F
Winchester is or rather has been a nice
town of over five thousand inhabitants
but war has here left its mark, and the
town begins to put on the appearance of
dilapidation. 1t is beautifully situated in
the midst Of most beautiful extensive and
fertile. valley, that of the Shenandoah. This
valley is fenced in on the east by the Blue
Ridge, and on the west by North Mountain,
twenty to forty miles in width. The soil
is what is called a limestone soil, and is,
consequently peculiarly adapted to the
growth of wheat and grass. But broad
and fertile as is this valley, it is at this
time nearly destitute of supplies of hay
and grain. The eye can see nothing but
broad bare fields neither corn, hay, nor
fodder can be seen, aud but.little straw /
am told that the best families in town are
finding barely enough hsuppliestok keep soul
and body together and, in view of their
;. destitution, haVe no doubt that, bitterly
seceshL as they are. they iuEardly desire
that we should for the present bold the
place, that they may derive plentiful SUP!
plies from the North on :he easy terms Of
taking the oath Of Loyalty. - y 500
4. l wonder-wheu our authoritieswiIl pro.
gress, 80 as to Abandon't this flrcical policy.
How long will it take .uR TO learn that ga