, 1863-03-19
THE WAR IN VlRG INlA.
4 BRILLIANT FEDERAL CAV
AIRY RAID.
Gallant Achievement Of AVerill' 8
Troopers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY or TIE PoToa1Ac,
March 1S.-A most brilliant caTalry fight oc-
Cured on tue Rappahannock, yesterday, be-
yond Kelly's Ford. A reconnaissance, under
the command Of Gen. ATcrill, forced passage
over tic river In the face Of q determined re-
sis;aEce by considerable body ofrebe1 sharp
shooters, who were covered BY houses and
r1ife pits, and dry mill race with an abattis
In front.
The ford admitted but single horseman at
time, and the stream which was swollen was
very rapid.
Arriving ut the south side Of the rlyer, onr
cavalry charged the rebels in their cntrench~
ments, killing or capturing nearly the entire
force, besides securing large number Of
horses picketed near by.
A short distance from the shore, General
Aycri1rs command encountered tie rebel
cavalry under StnaEt and Fitzhuyh Lee, who
had hastcncd from Culpeppcr to prevent our
passage. They made some dashing charges
on our troops, who rcrnlsed, and in turn
charged them with fatal effect, using sahres
only In the conflict.
Whenever the enemy mnde stand they
were Immediately charged Upon and routed
from their positions with great loss. The
battle lasted five hours, and was a series Of
charges aud baud to band conflicts resulting
in tic falling back ofthe enemy. The forces
The enemy at last took refuge behind an
cntrcnched battery four miles from the ford,
nanked by rife pits aud abattss. General
A,crill having accomplished his object and
both sides, and large num-
| without attack OF demonstration on the part
! Of the rebels, who were so badly whipped
| that they could not follow or annoy him.
| Among the prisoners is Major BFeckinridge,
| The prisoners characterize the affair on our
part as one Of the ablest and most gallantly
| fought cavalry raids Of the war, and admit
| that their own troops Ncre totally dem0rl1.
| lied by the gallant sabre charge Of our cayal.
r.. About eighty prisoners have been
brought In.
Headquarters An1r q %,EnR TIE ? Ro3es4c' 1es
There Is no news Of importance. The enc
my are masscd upon our right. All is quie
, along the river.
New YonK, March 1s.-Thc Horztl's spcci,
dated "Stoncman's Station, March 18th,
says; no.n. .,-.,. -,
to be made near this place,-the object Of TIL
attack being force Of the enemy located ut
vitality stratcgetic position. The result Of tn
movement, # this proves to be as now antici
pated, Will be Of the greatest moment. I
will trunEptre within few days."
From the Pittsburgh Gazette, 17th.1
| John Atwel, esq, Of Allegheny, has jus
| Returned 1sOlu WE'LL u 0DserFallOu 10 III
army Of the Potomac, and speaks. in th
highest terms Of the health, condition an
spirits Of the soldiers. he visited nearly nj
the camps, "and the region round about,
and having mixed freely with the men, is prs
pared to give all intelligent and reliable opi1
ion. Whatever may have been the condition
Of the army In times past, 1t certainly doc
not now exhibit the Slightest degree Of demon
= alization. The men are In excellent spirits
well clothed. well fed, and under comPlet
discipline. There are, TO be sure, dissatisfle
| individuals to be found in every camp, but tt
| great mass Of the army is in first rate fghtiu
trin,-all the stories about " demoralization
| to the contvary notwithstanding. The me
are not only not demoralized, but they al
!, awaiting anxiously for the mud to dry NJ
knowing that, with the disappearance Of til
impeachment, they will be at once led again
the enemy, They have every confidence
their commander, and are willing at all tim
. to 60 wherever "aghting Joe Hooker m;
! lead them.