Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-30

nutt sOMei Out lnen, us SOOu enough LOT
him, for had he made wiser choice two years
since, he would have been free from such in
suits. Two years ago Mr. Lee said to a
northern friend that he "wept almost tears of
blood before he made his final choice" and
very likely his posterity will weep as bitterly
and more sincerely when they learn how much
of Unborn nobility. upon which he forced n
meannesS; how many virtues, all blackened
by single crime; how much of the brave war
ror allied to the moral coward, are ninglng
in the unloved grave of Lee. l have never
believed that Lee, before his fall, cherished in
his heart any hate towards the old Union, like
that which characterized jeff Davis and his
associate traitors, but that the error which
produced his fall was, that while
''Others DER all. our eagles dusky pinion,
lie only saw it, STOPPING DER his old Dominion,
That in a moment of weakness he yielded to
that mistaken love and patriotism which made
Virginas border line the outer bound of duty
Voluntarily he made his choice, and now let
him hasten on to his inevitable place in the
long line of those
"Whom none can love, whom none can thank,
Creations blot, Creations blank"
We expected q visit from Mr. Lee, as it was
rumOred that he was moving in this direc-
ton, and were constantly held in readiness
to fight, evacuate, or execute any other law
full order, but Mr.. Lee didn't come. The
forces (half guerrilla and half man) OF limbo
den, White and Gilmore, have been operating
in the valley, keeping us constantly on the
alert Our cavalry had brushes with them
almost daily, and we ourselves, personally,
individually and collectively, got fairly at
them once. About 8 O'Clock A. Nj. last Sun
day courier brought information to head
quarters that lmboden with force of over
1000, including infantry, cavalry, and bat
terry Of six pieces, had attacked the 9th Mary
land regiment (Of our brigade) at Charles
town, which is eight miles from here, on the
Winchester road. Col. Wells, commanding
the brigade, Immediately ordered our regi-
ment, together with the 18th Indiana battery,
to move forward to the relief of the 9th but
before reaching Charlestown, although we
made forced march, we learned that they
had, after but slight resistance, surrendered.
The 9th was Il six months regiment, raised
mostly in Baltimore last August; its ranks
were tar from full, and the number Of prison
ers taken was something over three hundred.
BY fortunate circumstance and most re-
markGble coincidence, ali its field officers
escaped uninJured, and live, we trust to fight
another day.
Upon learning of the capture, our artillery
with our cavalry, was soon hotly engaged with
the enemy, then retreatlng towards Berry
VILE. About a mile beyond the town we
came upon our artillery posted in II large
Held while from the opposite side the rebels
shelled us beautifully, but doing no harm.
Here we threw out our skirnIishers and left
the main road, to approach their position more
quickly, and at the same time the rebs com
menced Il movement, in the execution of
which they were occupied during the remain
der of the day. 1t is one they often practice
i'll this section, and generally with success;
believe onr people have adopted it on urgent
occasions; it is what they term a ''gight
smart git" Our boys call it right smart
git cont" From this point we had a running
fight for eight miles, our skirmiShers' being
frequently engaged with them, but they made
no stand until near Berryville, when, as we
were moving up the road, we suddenly re-
ceived heavy volley from large party con-
cealed in the wood near by: but just then we
were protected by a stone wall, otherwise our
loss must have been severe. The fire was in
stantly returned, and for a few minutes we
had nice, jolly little fight, which ended in
the withdrawal of the rebS at tolerably fast
gait. Our loss here was two killed, aud sew
eral wounded. We pursued some distance
further, until becoming satisfied that we could
not overtake them anywhere this sile of the
Rapidan, we turned ABOUT. Our loss in killed
and wounded of all arms was, judge, about
forty. Our entire strength was about 700
We reached camp about II o'clock that night,
having marched about thirty-tive miles, and
without ratons. Col. Wells, by his GOODNESS
and skill, maintained his previous high repu-
tation, so honorably won on the hard fought
fields of the Peninsula. The regiment is now
in winter quarters, in the best of health, in
readiness for any service, ornamental or
otherwise, and in the best of spirits. SO is
WARREN.