The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-10-03

July oist, lcSs,.
Gr,. = Corr, A aud l. General, Richmond,
Va.
t,r>rsAt-i have tie honor to submit the
following outline of the recent operations
OF this army for the information oi the De
paitmcnt:
The posi,ion occupied by the enemy oppo-
site fredericksburg being one IN which Nc
could not he attacked to advantage, II was
determined to draw him from II. The exc
cuiion If this purpose embraced the relir
nC the Shenandoah Valley from the troop:
TIA, had occupied the lower part @! 1t during
the winter and sprin-, and, h practicable, til,
transfer OF the scene OF hostIitties norm %
the Potomac. ~.
II was thought that the corresponding
movements on the part OF the enemy 10
which those contemplated 10y lis wonid pro-
h,I,Iy rive rise, lnign; offer lair opportHhi-
tyfostrike a blow a. the artny therein com
nlandcd hy Gen. Hooker, and that III any
event that army would be compelled to leave
Virginia, ard possibly 10 draw 10 its sub
uo,t troops designed Ia operate against
ether ;,sr,~ n' the country. In this way :;
was supposed that She cnemv's plan ol cam
u.ian toy the summer would lac broken ap,
and part otfhc season ot active operations
hc coli@ uued in the formation Of new COIN
hinltons and thr preparations that they
would ftquirr.
hoped that other valuable results might be
attained by military success.
Actulfed by these and other important
considerations that may hereafter be pre-
eented. the movement began on the Sd June.
Mrfaws's division, of l.ongstreet's corps, Left
Fredericksburg for Culpeper C.. H., ana
Hoods division, which was encamncd
oa the Rlpiitn, mlrchei TO the same
place.
They We're followed on !he 4th and 9Th
l., Ewell's corps, leaving that OF a. +. Hi
T. occupy our lines at Fredericksburg.
The march of these troops having heen
discovered by the enemy on tine afternoon of
th. jth and the following day he crossed Il
force, amounting to about one army corps,
iplhc south side OF the Rappahaunock on \
pontoon bridge laid down near the mouth OF
Deep Run. Gen. Hill disposed his command
- resist their advance !, but as they seemed
Intended fer The purpose Of observation IA
thcr than attack, the movements in progress
were not arrested
The forces OF Longstreet and Ewell reach
ei Cnlpeper Cont House by the Sth, at
which pout the cavalry undcr Gen Stuart
war also concentrated.
on the 9th large force of Federal cavalry
strongly supported by infantry, crossed the
Rlppahannock al Beverly 5 ana X ely ioTds,
ana attacked Gen. Stuart. severe engage
m,nt ensucd, continuing from early IL the
morning uuttl Etlt III inc tittfDOou, "bti
the enemy was forced 10 recroeS the river
with heavy Iosa, leaving 400 prisoners, three
pieces of artillery and several colors IN our
ll'is.
Gen Jenkins, with his cavalry brigade had
hp,n ordered H. advance towards Wnches-
Ter 10 20 operate with the infantry iii the
proposed expedition into the Lower Valley,
aud Il the same time Gen. lmDodcn WAS di-
rcctcl, with his command, to make a demon
ttrl,iun III The direction OF Romney, in order
T. cover the movement against Winchester
and prevent the enemy ut that place from be-
ink reinforced hy the troops on the line OF
the Bitim0rc and Ohio Rlilroad. Both OF
these officers were in position when Gen.
Ewell left Cupcper Courthouse on the 18th.
Crossing the Shenandoah near Front Royal,
he detached Kodes's division to Berryviile,
with Instructions after dislodg'ng the force
there 10 cut on the communication between
Winchester and the Potomac. With the di-
Visions OF Early and Johnson, Gen. Ewcil
advanced directly upon Winchester, driving
the enemy into his works around the town
on the 18Th. Oh the same day the troops at
B,rr,killr fell back before Gen. Rodea re-
treating to Winchester. On the 18th Gen.
Early stoimcd the works at the latter place,
aud the whole army of Gen. Milroy WAS cap
turta OF dispersed. Most OF those who at
tempted 10 escape were intercepted ami
Iuale prisoners by Gen. Johnson. Their
leader lied to iIirpcr's Ferry with small
party OF tugitiyes.
Genera Rods marched from Berryvlle to
Mlrinsburg, entering the latter place on the
lt'h, where lie took seven hundred prison
eTs, i've pieces oi artillery, aud conaider,-
tlr quantity of stores. These operations
cleared the valley of the enemy, those at
liarpcF'a Ferry Withdrawing to Maryland
Heights. More than four thousand prison
els, twenty nine pieces oi artillery, two hun
.i.,tI.
hti inur hundred horses, were captured, be-
e.drs i4Ggc amount Of military 81 ores. Our
loss VAS small On the night that Eweii ap-
pared At Winchester the Federal troops iii
front of i. i. liill, ut Fredericksburg, re-
crossed lle kappahannoclS and the next day
disappeared behind the hills OF Stafford
The whole army OF General Hooker with
drew iru!u the line ut the kappahannoch,
lursuin. tuc roads near the Potomac, aud no
iaorti'i" opportunity was offered for attack
II seemed IL be til purpose Of General
Hooker TO take position which would ena-
he him 10 cover the approaches 10 W a5hing-
ton city--With = t,cW 10 draw him further
from his base, ani at the same time to cover
the march Of y. Z. Hill, who, in accordance
with Instructions, lett Fredericksburg for
the Valley as soon H. the enemy Withdrew
from lis front. Long8treet moved from Cu'-
PEPPER Courthouse Oh the l5ih and adYinc-
Ing along the east side Of the Blue Ridge,
occupied Ashby's and Smokers Gaps. His
iJTcr had been augmented while 1T Cn!peper
iy General Pickett with three biigaies oi
Lis division
The cavalry, under General Stuart, was
thfoWn cut in front Of Longstrcet to watch
HE enemy now reported to he moving into
i-ou9on. On the 18th, his cavalry encopn-
let"d Two tTgtie5 Of ours under General
s'HAf' near Aide, ana was driven lack with
los, lhe next day the engagement was re
hc"od, the Federal cavalry being strongly
supported by Infantry, and General Stuart
W III turn compelled TO retire.
iAt enemy advanced as far as upperville
ana Then icll back. In these engagements
zen stuart took about four hundred prison
tio, aud Il considerable number Of horses
and arms
IA The meantime part Of Gen. EwelPs
corps had entered Maryland, and the rest
was about 10 follow. Gen jenkins with his
WARY, Who accompanied Gen. Ewell, pen
.''1ted fennryissnia ~ far as Chambetsburg.
y, 'hese demonstrations did not have the'
V[uect oi Causing the Federal army to. leave
'Hglhla, and a5 i did not seem disposed TO
'a'1uct upon The position held by Long
Sueel lhe latter was Withdrawal to the west
N1 VI the Shenandoah, Gen. Hill having al
''aay reached the valley.
"e"' stuart was left 10 guard the passes O
'''' N'a'us, and observe the mOyements
Whom he was instructed to
,,,i. ,nH iihpcdc as much as possible
49,, NJ attempt TO cross the Potomac. In
,'"', Hti stuart was directed to move
49,, =" lahd, crossing the Potomac east or
sh.,a,, ~ ,"9 Blue Ridge, as in hia Judgment
,i.h, =, VI ueSt, ani take position on the
H. ,,.,',, oa. 'oiuinu az il advanced.
il n2.''is 'n5 mn 'iie progress of Ewel rendered
AZ