Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-18
GEN. sHERIDAN's EXPEDITION.

GEN. SHERIDAN'S EXPEDITION.
command of Gen. SHERIDAN. dated at Cedar Greek on
Sunday the 14h instant states that excepting Mosbys
and Whites guerlas there enemy this side of the
Blue Ridge and that SheIdans trains are all up and his
army is in ine condition
Gen Sherd"n in despatch Of the 18th instant reports
that the stories Of punder taken from Maryland by the
bells all impostures They have very ttleus enough
to subsst uponno more most Of which has been & ken
from the Shenandoah Valley In another despatch dated
18th Of August he says that Gen. Earys train is very
small one not exceeding two hundred and fifty wagons
Correspondence Of the Nelo York Epsning Post.
HARpERs FERRY, AUGUST Is, 1864.
Here am, after returning from before Winchester in
company with Sherdans expedition. How large force
that active commander may have under him present
10 stating that it is by far this most powerful Union FORGE
which has gone up any distance above Harpers Fer
ry HIS cavalry arm alone quite large the entire
army commanded by Shields, Banks Fremont, Hunter
The Infantry force under ME Generals Wright Crook
and Emory Gen. Ransom has charge of the cavalry
Tn Wednesday morning the expedition out the front
having previously got far ss Charestown eight miles
from the Ferry Thence the main body of it, the caval
well in advance marched to Beryvlle south of Charles
town Arriving there about noon they pounced upon the
rebels who were gathering snd threshng wheat, having
oonscripted the threshins machines from the farmers
Their surprise complete. About fifty of their
ber (principally Mosby's men) were captured the
mander after datng hther and thher in frutess efforts
to escape at last got off, leaving their horses wagons
grain, DC in the hands Of our cavalry
The next movement was made against Winchester,
which situated nearly due of Bsrrryvle BY look
ing at the map will be that the actually taken
from Charlestown somewhat cit cuious, Gen Sher
dams design being evidently to threaten that place with
comparatively small force front while toe main body of
his army prss round it toward the and SOUTH 80 as
to execute grand flank movement, and thus prevent
Earys escape The trap thus set appears have been
quite successful the rebel Gepera never dreaming that
such powerful in his frnt flank until the
pounding of Sheridan's guns awoke him from his dreams
learn that on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday
ing he w@ employed n removing his stores from Winches
ter with all the expedition possible.
The distance between Charestown and Berryville is
twelve miles, and that between Bslryvie and Winchester
ten and half the turnpkes being in excellent condition
except The dust which arises clouds every step
taken. The roads well macad snzed and for nearly
half the ngth shaded by fne old fruit trees
these toeraby well laden with appes to which the
men helped themselves freely.
After encamping on Wednesday night beyond Berry
vlle The army took up its line OF march next morning
Nearly midway between that place aud Wnnheaier two of
the three corps struck Of to the left following dirtosd
through the woods for about ve miles, where they were
brought to halt by portion of Earlys force with
ba teries which occupied the woods and the SUBMITS
some OF the roundshouldered hills which numerous in
that part of the country The cannonadng began about
half past eight and lasted for the greater part an
hour, followed by the rebels falling bssk ABOUT eleven
o'clock IL reeumed aud continued till after mid day
the sounds gradually recedng until they ceased slto-
geher. II was evident that Eary's were falling
back rapidly, and that this opposition kept up oOly
with view to gaio time. in rIite of the oppressive
heatne THERMOMETER beiog ovef ninety degrees in the
shade several hours every dyhe march kept up by
shsridan and on Thursday night men encamped to
the southeast of Winchester which distant less than
three miles We could see the shining roo's ot Its prnc
psi edces through the woOds next morning As 70 firing
took place up to noon Of that day. I became manf
the rebels had decamped and tna army in pus
session OF the place. 1t given out-wth what truth
do not pretend TO ssy-that Gen. Sheridan had pre-
vousy sent out consid body of cavalry to sezs the
ords of the Shenandoah leading towards Ashbys Gap and
down the Vaey-Snckers Gap bslng closed 70 the sbss
by our oecupying berryvile.
Circumstances have ma necessary for TO return
to Harpers Ferry Fences annibated tOuses burned
horribly deaced and crops trodden down, not the
only reics OF war TO be- in going up the valley
Graves OF men killed in BATTLE sngly groups FREE
queny observed the road side cumps Of stones thrown
hastily up tn fJrd protection to sha u4ay
the tops o hills or ut sharp angles the road trees
and thrown down to obstruc the passage of troops
with their debris Of bones, crackers boxes ters and
paprr', torn clothing, &c and Berryve regular lines
OF rhepits, constructed to command approaches
from both north and west At every few mps stun
blrs on spot where ghtng has taken place time
other during the past three or four years