Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-10-13
OapciaI Har Rnliefins..
WAsHINaroN, Oct. TO- I0.2O p.

V1CfAk W0E hukketfmg.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, l0:20r. M.
Coz. Boremun and Mayor CtonoLe
Centienen. An official despatch has lust
been received by this Department from
Maj Gen. Sheridan st Strasburg, report.
ing that q great cavalry battle was fought
yesterday between bis cavaiy under the com.
mand Of Gems. Torbet, Custar and Merritt,
and the entire force Of the rebel cavalry in
the Valley Of the Shenandoah, under COM
mand OF Gen. Rosser, who had recently
been sent from Richmond with cavalry re-
infsrcsinents. The battle resulted In bril-
liant Union victory. The rebel forces were
driven from the field and pursued ,26 miles,
and eleven pieces Of artillery and 300 pris-
oners were captured by our forces.
Il. M. STANTON, SEQ. Of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Oct.
10-Maj. Gen. Dir.-Reports have been
received by this Department from Generals
Butler, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan and
Burbridge, showing the favorable condition
Of military affairs in their respective fields
Of operation. .....,
The purpose Of Gen. Grants visit to
Washington having been accomplished, he
returned to his headquarters on Saturday,
but there has been no telegraphic commu-
nication since his arrival there.
NASHVILLE, ll:30 p. M, Oct. 8.-Have
not heard direct frem Sherman, but Gen.
Corse at Altoona, informs me that Sherman
Is at kenesaw, repairing the Railroad be-
tween Atlanta and Altoona. He has plenty
Of provisions in Atlanta, and so far as the
main army is concerned feels secure.
zen. Rosseau reports that Forrest has
escaped him by crossing the Tennessee on
fiat boats, shove and below Florence on the
9th inst, while he. Rosseau, was detained
by high water on Shoal Greek and Elk Riv-
er ........s sr..-..
fSigned,l @. II. THOMAS. MAJ. Gen.
ALTOONA. 8 p. M, Oct. 9.-7o Gen.
HaHeck, Chief Staff! reached the Ken.
esaw mountain, Oct. Sth, just in time to
witness at distance the attacksen Altoona.
| had anticipated this attack and had order
ed from Rome Gen. Corse with reinforce
ments. The attack was met and repulsed,
the enemy losing some 200 dead, and more
than !, ZOO wounded and prisoners. Our
loss was about TOO in the aggregate. The
enemy captured the small garrisons at Big
Shanty and Ackworth, and burned about
seven miles of our Railroad, but we. have
at Altoona and Atlanta an abundance of
provisions Hood observing our approach.
has moved rapidly back to Dallas and Van
Writ, and am watching him in case he
tries to reach Kingston or Rome. q
Atlanta is perfectly secure to us. and the
army is better off than If in camp.
[Signed,l w. T. SHERMAN,
Major General.
WoOpsrocK, VA, Oct. 10 p. NJ
Lieut. Gen. Grant: have the henor to
report my command at this point tonight.
| commenced moving back from Port Re-
public, Mount Crawford, Bridgewster and
Harrisonburg, yesterday morning. The
grain and forage in advance of these points
had previously been destroyed. In moving
back to this point, the whole country, from
the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, has
been made uBtenable tor rebel army. |
have destroyed over 1000 barns filed with
wheat and hay and farming Implements,
over 10 mills filed with -four and wheat
have driven in front OF the army over four
herd of stock and killed and issued to the
troops not less than 3D00I sheep. This
destruction embraces the Lnray Valley aud
Little Fort Valley, as well az the main Val.
ley. A large number of horses have been
obtained a proper estimate Of which | can
not now make. Ir
Lieut.. Jno. II. Meigs. myengineer officer,
was murdered beyond Fl ,rrisonburg near
Dayton. For this atrocious act all the
houses within nm area of miles were burn
ed. .I
Since came into the Valley from Har
per's Ferry every train, every small party
and evory straggler has been bushwhacked
by the people, many of whom have pretee
tion papers from commanders who have been
hitherto in that Valley. .
The people here arc getting sick of tho
war Hitherto they have had no reasen to
complain, because they have been living in
great abundance.
have not been followed by the enemy to
this point, with the exception of o small
force Of rebel cavalry that showed them.
selves some distance behind my rear guard
to-day. M. r.... -....
A party of one hundred of the 9Th Ohio
cavalry, which had stationed at the bridge
over the North Shenandoah, near Mt Jack.
son. was attacked by Mcneil with seventeen
men, while they were asleep, and the whole
party dispersed or captured. think that
they will all turn up. 1 learn that fifry-sx
Of them had reached Winchester. Mcneil
was mortally wounded and fell into our
hands. This fortunate, as he was the most
daring and dangerous Of all the bushwhack
crS IN tnlS sectlOD OF the country
p. II. SRERIDAN, Maj. Gen.
Gen. .Burbridge makes the following re-
port Of his operations:
OATrLETsBURa. KY, 10 q. m.-To Hon.
Z. Nj. Stanton: Forcing the enemy from
Clinch Mountain aud laurel Gaps, after
heavy diminishing we met him 3l4 miles
from Saltville on the morning Of the I'd, and
drove him to his works around the Salt
works, where he was strongly eotrenched on
the Bluff in heavy force under Echols, Viii
liams, Fsrquhar, aud, it is said, Breckin-
ridge. We at once attacked him and drove
him from his works on our left and centre,
held him in check on the right, aud finally,
in spite Of artillery and superior numbers.
whipped him at every point, and forced him
back to his own works.
In the evening our ammunition eave out,
and holding the position taken until sight,
withdrew the command in excellent order
and spirits. The occupation Of the works
themselves was only prevented by failure of
our ammunition.
From prisoners learn that the enemy's
force was between six and eight thousand.
and that Breckinridge was present with
1000 from Lynchburg. My force amount.
ed to $500 engaged. Ii is certain his Force
greatly outnumbered ours.
2 detachment sent 10 Pound Gan forced