Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-15
RARLY AND sHERIpAN.
The Rebel Forces Retiring and Sher-
1dhn Preparing to Pursue.

The Rebel Forces Retiring and Sher-
IdRn Preparing to Pursue.
special despatch to the Philadelphia
Inquirer dated at Harper's Ferry August
llth says:
1.-THE storm of war may again break forth
very soon in the Shenandoah Valley
From all that can be CLEANED, the rebels
are retiring before our advance, and it is
thought they are anxious to effect safe
retreat up the Valley, and not risk an en-
gagPment.
"There has been some diminishing, but
nothing of Importance.
ga sharp fight took place yesterday near
Martinsburg, during which James White,
we'll. known scout, belonging to the First
Virginia cavalry, was killed.
sit is yet mooted question whether we
will have to fight for the possession of
Winchester or not The prevalent belief is
no definite stand will be made there by the
rebels. They are reported by our scouts
to be pretty we'll up the Valley, hurrying
their trains along.
81 have just had a conversation with a
gentleman, whose name l withhold for
prudential reasons, who has Just returne ed
from Martinsburg and who has been taking
observations within the rebel lines, per-
son who is we'll known to every command
er of the Army of the Potomac, and has
frequently been of great service to our
generals. l will forward you the pith of
his observations and adventures for the
past few days.
yesterday morning the rebels were
seen by him to leave Martinsburg and take
the road leading to Bunker Hill. They
left mere picket guard to the town, with
whom my informant freely mingled.
IGTba follpruinor nf
the rebel army OF invasion under EARLY
He has four division commanders, namely,
Ransom, of North CarUlina; Rhodes, of
Georgia; Gordon, of Georgia; Breckenridge,
of Kentucky. Breckenridge does not COM
mand a corps. as reported, but only di-
vision, consisting of five thousand men,
the largest one in Early's corps. The total
strength of Early's corps when he left
Richmond was thirty thousand men, but
be entered Maryland with fifteen thousand
infantry. and eight thousand cavalry. The
remainder were all lost, through deser-
tons, capture, sickness, etc. The rebel
estimate of their own loss north of the
Potomac is nearly three thousand men.
General Vonel was commanding the
whole of the rebel cavalry during the in
vasion. General Pegrsm commands Eek
ira Billy SIN this brigade in Rhodes 'divi-'
sion; Colonel Gordon of North Carolina,
commands a brigade under General Ran
som, and General Lewis a brigade in the
same division. Col. Hays, of the Four
teenth Louisiana, commands brigade I'M
der Rhodes, and Colonel Battle another.
During the retreat of the rebels from
Martinsburg they were closely followed by
my informant, While quietly stealing af-
ter them over North Mountain, about two
and half miles from Martinsburg, he no.
a. \
lance from him. He hid behind largo
tree, and when they were out of sight he
advanced and saw floating near him a
black flag. The flag was quickly hauled
down by him, secured, and is now in
possession of the gallant General Tyler.
1t is about three feet square, has a black
ground with white star in the centre
and the word Winchester inscribed in
black letters within the star. tits thought
it belongs TO some of the guerrilla bands
from Winchester and vicinity, and means
that they will spare no Union soldier they
capture.
"My informant states that about thirteen
miles of the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad
is almost entirely destroyed, from North
Mountain depot to Kearneysville. Several
bridges, including the one over Back Greek,
are burned. The cars are now running
from Cumberland to Hancock, all through
the new state OF West Virginia.
"The rebels have levied one. fifth of all
the bushels of grain, &C., gathered for har-
vesting, and taxes, and whatever is left, if
the owners are loyal to the rebels, will be
paid for at the rate of thirty dollars per
bushel ia rebel money.
"a rebel order was issued to the invad-
ing force soon after they started from Rich
mond, that any soldier who did not miss
more than two roll calls, from the lst of
April to the LIST of September, should be
entitled to bounty of one hundred dollars.
General Tyler is bug bear to the rebel
sympathizers. He permits no doubtful
character to pass in any direction outside
his lines, without exacting the oath of allie
glance from them. Quite number have
been compelled to swallow the bitter pill
or stay at home.
at will be seen that Martinsburg was
not entirely evacuated by the rebels yes
terday morning, Notwithstanding reports
to the contrary"
"