Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-10-19

HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM THE
VALA ny OF VIRGINIA.
Battles At Charlestswn and BerryvilIe-
Reported Capsnre II Portion Of the Ninth
MARY land Resime1t-Retreate Of the Cen.
from the Baltimore Sun OF -day.l
Important intelligence was received in this
c;ty last evening from Harper's Ferry, in re-.
gard 20 military affairs in the Shenandoah Val.
lev. The following is the substance OF the facts
as far as received
The Confederates in force variousiy estima.
ted at from 500 to 2.5G0, attacked the Federal
forces at Charlestown about daylight yes,er.
day morning. The latter force consisted Of sig
companies of the Ninth Maryland Infantry,
under Colorel Simpson, and Major Coles Ma
ryland Cavalry. After spirited engagement
the Federal forces were oyerpowerr by num-
bers, and the larger portion of the infantry
were captured, including Colonel Simpson,
Major Cole, with nearly all of his cavalry, cut
his wsy through the Confederate lines and
succeeded in reaching Harper's Ferry, where
he reported the state OF af..irs to-General J, G..
Sullivan, of Indiana, commander of the forc.s
at tt st point General 5. immcdi -tely ordered
Major Cole to return towards Charlesto Wn, he
following with the infantry and artillery forces
in and around Harper Ferry.
Shortly after tel O'Clock Gen. Sullivan re-
occupied Charlestown in force, the Confeder-
ates having retreated south towards Berryyjlle
Major Cole continued in pursuit OF them, both
with artillery and cavalry, and about three
O'Clock an engagement took place batW.e en- the
forces near Eerryville. Its magnitude or po9i-
tive results were not stated, except that the
Coutederates continued their retre.t, still pur-
sue d b. the Federal troops.
1t was thought probable that a number of the
captured men of the 9th Maryland had already
escaped, and there was a strong probability
that all OF the remainder would be recaptured.
Company A, OF that regiment was at Duftiel Id S
Station, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
and consequently escaped capture. The quick
movements of Gen. Sullivan has doubtless ere
this redeemed the disaster to the 9th Maryland,
by either recapturing Or afording them an OPP
portunity for escape.
Gen. keiley's and Gen. Sullivan's scouts re-
port no indication of movement OF the Gen.
feterates towards the line OF the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, and the freight and passenger
trains on that road ran as usual yesterday, and
will proceed to ard from the West on their
regular time to-day.
Since Saturday afternoon Lest, up to 6iE
O'Clock last night the Potion &c river is reported
to have risen 2k feet, and the river, in conse-
quence, was not fordable at any point between
Hancock and Washington. Scouts had also
returned to Harper's Ferry, reporting no Con-
frderates on the south side of the river at or
near any of the forde.
One fact has been demonstrated lin the
opinion of military officers) by the occurrence
at Charlestown to-day, viz: That the Con-
federates are in much smaller force in the val
ley OF Virginia than was supposed several
days ago, their retreat being SO precipitate be-
fore Gen. Sullivan's advance.
The whole affair has been set down as q raid,
Ned, it was thought, by Gen. 1mboden.) which
the movements of Gen. Sullivan brought TO q
sudden close.
Up to the hour of going to press nothing
further than the above had been received from
Harper's Ferry, and the result OF Gen. Sulii-
vans pursuit OF the Confederates was not
known, especially as to whether he had recap
tured the 9th Marylan or not.
No facts in regard to the killed wounded
on either side could as yet be ascertained 1t
was thought, however, that the number was
small.
Gen. Sullivan reports that his cavalry scout
from Martnsburg, on Friday, encountered a
detachment Of GiImor's rebel cavalry, and
captured the whole party. thirty nine in num-
Der, with their horses and equipments, etc.