The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-09-17

OuTr0sTs AnaeT AOKTHxRn y,sers..
Mofth sfde RADlIi7B, Sept Is, 1868.
How tfutheally hos this portion Of the
Holy Werd bsea verified: sFor we know
not what !, day mag bring forth" In INV
last, dated the 18th inst, apprised yt,ur
readers that pr8fssoad silence reigued along
onr entire picket lines. Nor could dlst ern
at that time the smallest speck, Indicating an
advance, on the bright horizon All, in the
language of the New York Herald, was pain.
fully quiet. Since, there has been qnite =
formidable advance Of the enemy. Az a
very early haMron last Sunday morning. the
Eth inst, your correspondent was informed
that the Yankees were crossing at Rixey
and kelly's fOFsle. Soon afler intelligence
came that they were cr0441lg at al the
fufdable points on the< Rappahaunock
between the two fortls mentioned above
Gen. Stuart, with his nsual vigilance, he'd not
allowed himselffO be surprised. Through
his sc0tits and other sources he had been ap.
prised OF the eilesny's taaking preparations
to cross the river, and int orders to officers
commanding the difFrfent brigades to hold
themselves 10 tealiness TO meet the euesny.
Soon kugles e'i tlae vafipns regiments were
somtupH, and tue men sprang into theirsad-
dies promptly aud dashed of TO meet him.
A very heavy column ofcavalry, accompanied
by several batteries, had crossed the river at
kelly's, aud was marching cautiously on the
road leading from this lord to Bfandy They
had met with very little Resistance until
they reached this point, having no force to
contend with save that 0fpickefa Here the
9TH and 18th regiments skirmished with
them for some time. They were finally
driven back. Gen. Lomax reinforced the
above regiments promptly. Another e,;,
gagement immediately ensued, in which the
9th and 18th participated largely Both
fought splendidiY the 9Th has long since
won glorious name for prowess. But with
all the valOr evinced, The overwhelming
column Of the enemy could not be checked,
our cavalry retiring slowly until it reached
Mountain Kun Here squadron offhe 18th
made bold charge and drove the enemy
back short distance
1t was here we lost two pieces of artillery
that had been placed in position to hold 4
ford below The railroad bridge, The repi
ment that had been placed in supporting dis
tance of this artillery changed its position
through mistake. A portion Of the ene-
mys cavalry swept around, under cover Of a
hill and ont OF view, until they got within a
very short distance, when they charged aud
was captured by very rapid flank move
mcnt on our left. While regret to record
the loss-of these guns, do not believe ii
could have been avoided. During the en-
gagcment at the Court House Col. Gordon
moved up on the Steyensburs road and at
tackled the enemy vigorously on his left
flank; but, fearing he might greatly cripple
his command by prolonging the fight, he re-
tired on the RaecoOn Ford road, the enemy
in hot pursuit of him. The 9th regiment,
commanded by Major Flournoy, made very
brilliant charge, and succeeded in repulsing
the eaemy's sharpshooters. The eHemys
cavalry was supported by Gen. Warrens
comnland-the 18th army corps. The fight
continued until twilight, having commenced
about O'Clock in the morning. Our loss in
killed aud wounded will not reach fifty men.
General Stuart fell back TO the Rapidan,
where he bivOuatked for the night. lie was
in his saddle early on yesterday morning, and
made spirited attack On the enemy near
Rapidan Station. The engagement lasted an
day. The Horse Artillery, commanded by
Maj. Beckham, did some terrible execution.
witnessed number of riders unhorsed.
There was skirmishli:g at RaccOOn Ford on
yesterday between our cavalry and the ene-
my. | hear of but few Casualties on our
side. omitted to mention the woundiug of
Col. Beale early in the action on SUNDAY
The wound is not supposed to be
lie was shot through the Heshy
part of his leg. Skirmishing Is still going
on here this evening. But am inclined to
think this ! teint, and that the enemy will
cross the Rapidan below this point, perhaps
at RaecoOn or GermaDa Fords While
write, three O'Clock r. NJ, I can hear firing
down the river. must close this hasty pen,
Gil sketch. DYKE.