Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-17
A MOVEMENT IN THE VALLEY.
COrro,pondence Of the NeD York Tribune,

The army OF Cen Sheridan broke camp Cedar Creek
early this morning fell into line between sunrise and eleven
O'Clock A. M and by MONDAY fairly on the march
northward towards the Opequan This change OF base Is
said to be in accordance with the programme previously
determined upon the national election
and the copperheads with their Southern allies could not
take advantage Of the change TO influence the election
The army has therefore stood its ground in order to give
its support the loyal voters Of the country when
had not active business engagements with Earys
army Meantime, the forage question has become seri
with the army All the hay and fodder and oats
for many miles around has been consumed All that the
Government furnishes for quadrupeds demands must be
transported nearly forty miles from Marnsbug To get
base OF supplies lie therefore object OF prime
Importance to the subsistence of horses well as men,
The column Strengthened out and fairly under way
by twelve O'Clock. The Nineteenth Army Corps having
right of the line took the right Of the pike marching in
two lines, company front The Sixth Corps marched in
the along the west Of the line The wagon
trains occupied the centre of the column also marching in
two lines, along the pike the other in the field The
artillery brought up the of the column and the Eighth
Corps rather the command Of Gen Crook covered the
whole marching in the When fairly Strengthened
along the pike and in the fields the troops presented
interesting sight, TO say nothing of the strange
paniment Of black servants mounted skinny hores,
others foot packing cooking utensils and odds and ends
of every kind There driven led along some
of them with soldiers knapsacks sshed upon their horns
in default Of better transportation.
At one p NJ. only the cavalry whose duty it was to
the TANKS watch against the following of the enemy
were left behind Let be understood them that it il
not from any attack upon by the enemy that the army
is withdrawn The Valley undoubtedly to be held but
nasmuch this be done thirty miles nearer our base
of supplies wen at Cedar Greek, every consideration
IL
to prevent mounted troops from passing down the Valley
on either flank under of the Little North Mountain
the west the Blue Ridge the east, who pow
erfully threaten communications, and which only
airy pursue CATCH and cope with good generalsbp
would dictate that the army should be where it throw
out its cavalry either flank and cooperats with it
occasion requires
large body OF rebel cavalry under Fit2hugL Lee and
Rosser. have passed down the valley between Little and
Great North Mountains and emerged opposite Winchester
yesterday They are estimated at fifteen hundred two
thousand strongthey may be larger The object said
to be to attack Winchester and Martnsburg simultaneously
and capture what supplies may have accumulated,
particularly at the latter place If Winchester cannot be
taken, then they to concentrate Martnsburg
Afterwards they operate the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, Of 1t is supposed this cavalry crossed
west from Newmarket through the gap from which
emerge branch of the north fork Of the Shenandoah
and following the valley along the head waters of Cedar
Greek Pughtown coming out at Blues Gap, through
which passes the road from Winchester to Romney and
Mechanicsburg glance at the map will show that this
route wholly protected from observation by Little North
Mountain. The valley is full Of sympathzers with the
rebellion and food and forage abound there for and
beast The same valley followed down the bed of Back
Cresk leads to Martiusburg aud Falling Waters, where
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad is struck.
The army Tor the present is 10 camp Baronville,
two miles north of Middletown but the pause here pro-
baby only temporary This large demonstration by
the cavalry suggests that the enemy have not the
hand for the moving of the army down the valley They
cannot subsist except by bringing large train.
Correspondence ofths Ne0 York Herald
HEADQUARTERS sixth ARMY CORPS,
Middle Mihtsry Department, November H. 1864.
cavalry skirmsh took place yesterday afternoon be-
tween cavalry under Custer and Merritt and the rebel
cavalry The heaviest firing WIS the left of our line.
Acting under orders previously issued cavalry
menced falling back very rapidly when the rebels first ad
vsuced Continuing to advance the rebels suddenly
upon our reserve when they were received with several
heavy voeys and hastily retreated The object of this
Reconnaissance the part Of the rebels doubtless to
feel strength and ascertain our position on the
line takeu up BY our troops on the 9Th instant
Gen. Sheridans army now lies encamped near Rearns
town. about four miles to the south of Winchester The
grouRd occupy is the same which Gen. Shields
fought Stonewa Jackson, and finally drove him back to
Cedar creek
NARTIEsBURG, (VA) Nov 13 1864.
Important is just 10 from Gen. Sheridan to mid
night The strategic Reconnaissance by cavalry
Friday caused the enemy's cavalry under Lomax to ad
against lines Saturday morning Considerable
lighting ensued during which the enemy repused with
great loss Gen Sheridan then ordered Col Powell to
pursue them in their fight this he did with the greatest
vgor and He drove them through and beyond
Front Royal and captured two guns hundred and fifty
prisoners several wagons and large number Of horses
Our losses are said to have the light
ing extremely for short time. No infantry
engaged but Gems Sheridan and Torber both at the
front person with the cavalry and made very short work
of the fighting Col Powell conducted the pursuit very
and fairly merits the which attended it,