Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-15

mendable activity we kept pushing our
forces over hntil We got sufficient force to-
gether to continue the offensive. The first
movement was to hsstily drive back the
enemy's left, which we did very ably. This
placed Imboden, who Is reported to have
been in command of the rebel right, in q
very precariCus position. We were get
ting in a position to cut him off from
Stauuton. This We intended to do, and
this we did. On our driving back the
rebel left the rebel forces at Port Republic
had to give way, and retreat with rapidity.
Jones' command subsequently made two
or three efforts to check our advance on
Staunton; but the attempts were nipped
even in the bud. We were too sharp in
intellect and too strong in numbers for
rebel perseverance. On and after the
.oommencement of the rebel retreat we
commenced TO take many prisoners aud to
get quite q number of deserters. In q
short time afterward the two columns
were again united, and we were in readi-
ness for another advance. quo"
While our men are resting for brief
period, and getting bridge over North
river 10 readiness, the readers attention
is asked to another part OF the country,
where Generals Crook and AVerill were
successfully operating and cooperating
with US.
At about the time General Hunter moved
from Cedar Creek, In the Shenandoah val
ley, another column commanded by Gen'l
Crook, proceeded from LewisbuTg in Creep
brier county, forward towards Staunton to
make q junction with General Hunter. 10
this movement General Crook, and AVerill's
which is under him, had to en-
counter some severe skirmishing and enter
into one or two serious fights. In all of
these they were entirely successful in dri-
wing the enemy of, thereby being enabled
to make their marches on the line original.
ly agreed upon. They moved in such q man
ner as to lead the enemy into the belief
that the line of the Virginia and Tennessee
was again in danger from their
for raiding in that direction.
Having accomplished theie object. they
suddenly moved on Lexington in Rock.
bridge county, where is located a military
at which were being educated
some of the very young men who were
in arms against them. Under
these circumstances 1t became q necessity
to destroy this institute, and 1t was accor-
diugly destroyed.
By rapid marches both Crook and Ave.
rill reached the neighborhood Of Stauutou
SO as to be threatening and advancing on
it about the time General Hunter was en-
gsgiug Jones and ImbOden at Port Repub-
lie and on the line Of North river near Mt.
Crawford.
This now brings me to the particular
point in this Geconnt where We fiud Hunter
Advancing on Staunton directly from Har.
Crook and Averill advancing
on the same po6itiou on two roads from
the rear. Here It was that the rebels dis
covered the whole "rascality" of our pF0sl
and cav that our design was OF
a fullfeathered "oagging" character.
AS soon as it became known that our
two columns were crowdiug on Stauuton
from tts position5 named, and that we had
gained complete Bucces8 at North river,
OF in the h0dnt CfaaSfaEtl, ~ inn tls tte :
bel lfnea commenced . rapid retreat. The
militia forces that were 90 w sliantly to de-
fend Staunton to the last extremity, and, If
necessary. to stand a siege, skedsddled out
of town, regardless of the valuable proper
ty they were leaving behind. '..
On discovering that the rebels were ra-
pidly falling back towards the Blue Ridge
and the gaps of that line of mountains, we
made every effort to intercept them. In
thus doing and in the celerity Of our move
ment, we gained great advantages, csptur-
artillery. Two other pieces are reported
to have been subsequently taken, and said
to be all of one battery.
Had not the rebels retreated as hastily as
they did from Staunton, we would have
captured the whole rebel.oommand left to
garrison it. A glance at the, map will suf-
fee to show that we were on three sides of
them, and any hesitancy on their part would
have insured their capture by giving US an
opportunity to cut of their last line of re-
treat-towards the mountain gaps.
IN sTAUEToH, CAPTURES, ETC. .a
On entering Staunton we found the
place in a state of wild confusion. Stores
of various kinds, including ordnance prop
erty, were scattered around generally, and
in some instances partially destroyed. In
their efforts to destroy their stores, the
rebels in great measure failed. Besides
we got good deal Of railroad pr operty,
Including some rolling stock. The value
of the property captured will reach about
a million dollars. As write this 1t Is re.
ported two guns of heavy calibre have
been discovered in one of the many fortifi-
cations surrounding this place. Although
the rebels abandoned it as hastily as they
did, Staunton is!welI fortified by works Of
different kinds, and rendered defensiblt
from the peculiar topography OF the sur
rounding country. 1t was only the sue
cess of our combinations, the faithful exc.
cution of General Hunters skilful plan
that gained for us the advantages we nov
have secured with so little loss Of life.
PURSUIT OF THE REBELS.
At this time our forces, IN part, are still
out after the enemy, aud constantly send
ing IN prisoners.
PRISONERS.
Up to this time We have over four hun
dred prisoners.
CABUALTIBS. E..
Our loss in killed and wounded will mo-
exceed two hundred and fifty. OF oours
we are losing few all the time, and thi
may materially increase the number of cas-
ualties before this despatch reaches it
destination. ...
| GENERAL RENARRs,