Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-21
What Early Meant the other Day in
the Valley


A special to the New York Tribune from
Sheridan's headquarters atNewton, in the
Valley, dated the 14th, gives the following
concerning Early's movements on the 18th:
Since the close of my despatch yester-
day, il has been ascertained through cit
liens of Middletown that Gen. Early adj
vanced on the 18th with his whole
force, infantry, artillery and caVsl-
ry, this side of Cedar creek. Among evil.
dences that he had been reinforced, there
we're some two thousand who had no arms.
1t was evidently his intention to attack us
if he found it safe to do,so.
After our cavalry began moving upon
his flank toward the Luray Valley, and al
so on the back roads toward Little North
Mountain. Early began to withdraw. At
o'clock he commenced moving to the
rear, through Middletown, and continued
to fall back until midnight. The rebels
crossed Cedar Creek and encamped on the
south side out of harms way. Our cav
airy to-day has pushed it's reconnoisanoes
as far as the northern precincts of Stras-
burg. Here they found the enemy's FIRST
line, probably the rear guard. Satisfied
that our force had not been diminished,
aud evidently suspecting some sharp prac-
tice, Early gave up the intention of any ag-
gressive movement. Meantime our csVal-
~ was actively engaging him on both
TANKS. Custer seems to have had the
hardest fighting on our right. He lost five
or six killed, some twenty wounded, and
twenty-five to thirty prisoners.
Col. Dudleys's Brigade of the LIST Divi.
sion, 10th Army corps, was sent forward
by Gen. Emery, and drove the Rebels from
our front. On the left, the Front Royal
road Gen. Powell inflicted another severe
chastisement upon the enemy. He came
upon Lomax's Division and was engaged
with them from shutdown until late in the
evening. They were driven two miles be.
yond Front Royal, aud sent "whirliDg'
again up the Luray Valley. A private
memorandum just received from Captain
Badger, of Gen. Powell's staff, says:
1--WE captured about one hundred and
fifty prisoners, two pieces of artillery, all
their ordnance trains, all their ambulances
and three battle and company flags
Among the prisoners we're nineteen officers
including one Lieut.. Colonel, two Majors,
five Captains, and eleven Lieutenants all of
whom have been forwarded.
Two deserters report that the enemy
have fallen back beyond Fishers Hill,
probably to New Market. Early evidently
smelt a large sized rat, and doomed it pru-
dent to put that ominous "Cedar Creek"
between himself and Sheridan. New bat.
teries ofartillery have been sent to Early
from Richmond-one report says twenty
seven guns. They we're marked: sit. Gen.
Early" Some Wsg wrote over this, "Maj..
Gen. Phil. Sheridan, care of -" very
much to the indignation Of the rebel com
mander. Early's force, according to re-
ports brought by deserters, consists of four
divisions Of infantry, one of cavalry, and q
body of unarmed conscripts, the latter as
endorsements. He has gone back toward
New Market. Early drills his men three
hours day; their rations, half q pound
daily per man. His horses are suffering
and dying from lack of forage. Several
men have been recently shot for attempt
ing to desert.