Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-28
THE REBEL FORCE IN THE SHEN.
ANDOAH.
e. DoI

The telegraph lines to Baltimore being under
an embargo by the Government, we avail
ourselves OF the following information derived
I. ON q well informed gentleman Of that city,
In regard to the important military movements
now trans piring on the Upper Potomac.
With the particulars Of the abandonment of
the pursuit of the raiders by the 9th corps the
public are already familiar. 1t is now clearly
ascertained that as soon as the fact of the re-
turn Of the 9th corps toward Washington was
announced, the rebels avniled themselves of
the important ad vaHtages thus presented, and
their rear fell upon Gen. Crooks command
near winchester with such overwhelming
numbers as to compel that gallant Off Ger to
retreat, losing considerable number OF men
in kihed, wounded and prisoners, as we'll as a
few guns. The loss in men is estimate at one
thousand From all that our informant could
gather, there were but few guns lost, though
there seems to he no doubt that the enemy did
capture some.
With regard TO the reported death of Gen.
Kelley, 1t Is sufficient TO say that he was not
with Gen. Crook, but was, and still is, at
Cumberland.
General MullIgan's death was still reported
at Baltimore yesterday. but there is no authen-
tic i0foI IN alton on the subject.
With regard to the strength OF the enemy,
the most reliable estimates OF the enure force
composing the recent Iatding column do not
make it more than 1900 or 1910 q men. 1t is
now belle we'd this column has been reinforced
70 the extent OF 700 or 12OGI, making the
whole strength Of the rebel force nov IN the
Valley and upon the border OF the Upper Po-
tom &C, $500 or $4,000 men OF al. arms. This
force he understood, In we'll informed quarters,
TO be UNDER the command OF Gen. A. +. Hill,
Gen. ENriy having, it is said, been Obliged ID
retire from active duty on account OF his
wound breaking out afresh aud he has. II IS
understood, been assigned TO the comm and OF
the Richmond district
As to the designs Of this sbel force no " on
the borders OF Maryland tor II is believ "a It
mp ~ this time they have not Tossed tn Poo
mac, at least In any forcel, all is Conjecture.
The most probable view is that they will at
tempt an extensive raid into PsnnsyIvaI
and by making great show OF strength
deavor to force Gen Grant 10 send aGay more
of his army from befor- Petersburg In cor
roboI alton OF the opiuion ex ressed as II ne
SIreDg'h OF the rebel for p, Informant tat I'd
that Gen. Crook reported that the renel line OF
battle confronting h IN extended four miles.
As to what the Government is DO Dg orr in.
foTm6nI staIes facts which cannot be
particularly spoken Of Ii is shown, hUgey,r
that General Wright is moving randy to-
WARDS the Upper Potomac 9Th all the avail
atle force at prrseDt at his command Tns
entire command of all the troops Including
thrsp under General Hunter, has been given
tn this able General, and he probably is BY this
time In a position to give battle TO The advance
OF the enemy, with a force, IL our iufor maut is
rot mistaken, sufficient to cope with any that
the enemy can possibly have.
In military circles the opinion is expressed
that the enemy's strength is now fully forty
thousand, but eur informant bell yes that this
estimate, Ike those Of the previous raiding
force, will Be found to he exaggerated How.
ever this may BE- results will soon transpire
which whl demonstrate the correctness or in
CORRECTNESS OF hese conflicting opinions.--
kftla- irqrfyer, 2oth. -.