The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-20
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE FREEMAN.
r O'CLOCK A. M.

WASHINGTON, June I. Our cavalry engaged
IN the fight at Aide on Wednesday was under
the command of Fitzpatrick. The rebel cavalry
consisted OF a portion of Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee
brigade, commanded by the rebel Col. Rousseau.
The rebel force of cavalry and mounted infantry
had come from the direction of Smokers Gap,
and arrived at Aide two hours before our forces.
The rebels getting warning OF Fitzpatrick 8
approach posted themselves in commanding po-
stions with their mounted sharpshooters.-
Fitzpatrick charged upon the rebel advance and
drove them turiously through the town, the
rebels making stand on the other side where
was posted rebel battery of guns on the road
to Ashby's Gap, and the rebel cavalry posted
themselves toward Smokers Gap.
Here desperate charges were made by both
sides, and fight of over three hours, with va
rying success The rebel force seemed to be gain
ing advantage, when the regiment of Col. Doty
which had been detached from the division for
that purpose, came up to the contest, and by d
desperate charge the tide was turned in our ia
vor and the rebels were routed with great loss,
the horses gallopine over the field riderless, and
all the foe who had been killed being captured.
The victory was dearly bought by the loss of
the gallant Col. DOty who fell mortally wound
ed. The fight lasted four hours, and some of
the officers who participated, and who have been
in other fights, say 1t was most desperate.
The force engaged was the advance of Gen.
Stuart's cavalry, who, 1t is alleged by prisoners,
was advancing through Aide with the expecta-
ton of making new raid
We captured over 100 prisoners and bat
tie flag belonging to the 9Th Virginia cavalry.
The fact that the fight was SO desperate is ex-
planned by the importance of the position to be
gained, the commanding of the gap at Aide and
the Bull Run and Kuttoon ridge.
From the statement of Col. Duffy, it appears
that on Wednesday afternoon, when General
Gregg had carried the stone walls near Aide,
and driven the rebel cavalry toward Smokers
vile he was ordered to proceed to Middlebury
and hold that point. His regiment went into
the engagement with 335 men and "a officers
On arriving at Middlebury he was informed
that force of rebel cavalry was encamped
around the town. He was also told that the
whole of Stuart's force was in the vicinity, but
that Stuart himself had just left to reinforce
Lee, who was then falling back from Aide
He sent back messages for reintorcements. In
the meantime the rebels in force attacked Col
Duffe.
Finding himself overpowered and surrounded
he attempted to cut his way back toward Aide
Failing in etfecting this, he turned toward
Thoroughfare Gap al proceeded several miles
when he ascertained that Gap was held by Ew
ell, commanding the grand centre of Lees
army, and that Lee was whereabouts in person
He then defled to the left, crossed the mountain
at Hope Gap, and succeeded in reaching oul
eutposts. ,L9a4s 'l.0)
The reconnaissance of our cavalry has solved
the mystery of the present location of Leo anc
Ewell. From this source it is also ascertaineC
that Longstreet was on Wednesday at Union
Loudon County, in the Bull Run valley AID
vices from below say that A. P. Hills advance
guard, consisting of Hampton's legion, was ad
vancing toward Dumfries.
Combining these facts intelligent officers draw
the conclusion that Lee is advancing upon thu
Army of the Potomac in three columns hi
right, under Hill, by way 0csoqusn and VOL
Run Shoals, his centre, under Ewell, by way o
Thoroughfare Gap, and his left, under Long
street, by way Of Leesburg There are indica
tionse Of an approaching conflict, ssasv sr
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