The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-08
GENERAL KELLEY'S DEPARTMENT.
Seven Days Operations in West
Virginia.
Additional Particulars Of General Kelley's
Movements and Successes,
&e.s &ess &es
mr.. Theodore c. wilson's Despatch

Mr. Theodore c. Wilson'S Despatch.
In THE FIELD, WEST VIRGINIA, Feb. s, 1864.
The operations Of the last days. although times
extremely varied their character. have last term
mated in series Of that at dspel the
darksome clouds Of temporary rebel prosperity, and
open bright vista 10 our true interests.
T OPERATIONS
both sides have been conducted with great rapidly
considering the mountainous condition Of tho country.
tho bad state OF the roads, the time requires
centrate and coumns OF troops and the usual
cessary features attendant upon raidng and the re-
polling Of q raid campaign.
For time past had been in possession OF infor
nation 10 the effect that Early was concentrating
troops and being reinforced in the ncghborhood OF
Harrsonburg, with O view TO sgain attempting
the capture OF the garrison at Petersburg, and
then making another raid on the line OF the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. TO meet movement Of
this kind General Kelley made all possible preparation
Yet time away and the weather continued fair,
and the enemy gave signs Of intention TO advance
largo number Of men (ncluding nearly the whole Of
regiment Of cavalry who had reeDlistsd for the
rurlorahed and allowed 60 home. in accordance
with the War Department order that subject Hardly
had this been done when got news OF Early having
moved Friday, January 20. or II too late
and a matter Of impossbility to recall the furoughed
troops.
FRsr MOVEMENTS
At the earliest possible moment cavalry In small de-
tachments sent out from Harpers Ferry, Martins
ourg aud Cumberland gain Information Of the enemys
Whereabouts The scouting parties did not bring
In any particularly reliable Information, and hence
many inclined to believe "tne grand movement, TO
be nothing than Rossers Gmorss forces out on
big foraging expedition and kind OF half way
nossanco.
TRAIN.
The next reliable information had Of the enemy's
movements WINS when Rcsser suddcnly attacked one Of
our trains while way from New Creek TO Peters
burg 1t is known TO be fact that the eight hun.
dred men sent guard with the train disgrace
fully rems in the discharge Of their duty The officer In
command OF the train guard officially reported that he
had eighty killed and wounded, while neither fact
port has up to this tme confirmed his statement The
truth the is that is to blame for al
lowing enemy get what portion OF the he did
sccure and for permitting either himself bis
misled frightened away by the opening Of the
enemy's artillery. What II tho rebel force two
Thousand strongf Eight hundred brave, well handled
could have made strong defence. The capture
few wagons does US little injury; yet when take
into consideration how the rebels catch at sraws and
build bright hopeful airy structures very small foun
datons We must ever deprccae conduct OF officers
and men who fail ever small degree to discharge
their whole duty and nothing less. The most Of the
train guard has returned coming In At different points
enemy
guard prisoners Our Ioss in the attack the
turns out 10 be as,onshngy small. is reported that
official inquiry win be made into the conduct OF the whole
affair at carly date
srIIIvASs wovvagSry
On learning that this train had been attacked and TINT
the garrison NJ Petersburg again thrcatened General
Kelley ordered movements be made In the most cxpe
ditions from Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg
under the command Of Colonel FitzsmInons. OF Aver.
MS command land must take occasion 70 mention at
this point that another unfortunate thing for u.s. added
10 the absence OF the furouRhcd regiments,
General Aver had just gone home thirty days leave
Of absence, thus dcprvng us OF his active scrvices)
another column. under command OF Lieutenant Colonel
Thompson, moved from Martinsburg 10 Winchester ana
there made junction with r7simmons. These united
going by way OF Wardensvile. Their march was rongh
and rapid one and although conducted in the best posi-
or get within supporting distance OF Colonel Muligan
While rtzsimmons' and Thompsons troops were NOV.
ing toward Romney cavalry force was despatched TO
look after rcb.i movements ncehborhood OF Lees.
burg and the Ioudon county district II having been
rumorcd that rebel force was moving and operating in
Tuopuas's GET QUIZ
On saturday night, the 3Oth Colonel Thoburn finding
tho enemy about 70 attack him In force Petersburg
Hardy county evacuated his position there and escaped
70 Rdeevc where ne Joined detachment n Of Colonel
attack Fairly, near Moorneld. How Thoburn outwittcd
the enemy who thought he bad rhoburn penned in has
HERALD Lei il suffice that now cay he got away with
better success than we anticipated and that his strategic
movement over the mountains and ar away" Ia looked
upon in the light Of very commcndablo feat.
ouR PLANS.
Having sot Thoburn MI right, forces moving on Rom
nsy another small watching tho ncghbor.
hood Of nberand slowly fell back 10 the New Creek
valley. with TO drawing the enemy sufficiently close
10 the railroad 70 enable Fzsmnons and Thompson 70 get
10 his rear AZ DESIRED the enemy followed up Dur
ing this time number or small lights occurred, In which
wo lost few killed and wounded
fRsorERs AND DrsRRrKRs r. Il. II
On Sunday and Monday our cavalry took prison.
s put me number OF these latter was far exceeded BY
The desertess who ustened 10 como into our lines From
tncee deserfers8we learned that Early had been rein
forced heavily and thatH wse true had been making
extensive preparations 70 carry out this raid.
nRsaKisa rHE NAuRoAp COMMUNICATION
On Tuesday between four and fve huedred Of Rossers
msn slipped IN between Muigan's and Ffysimmons COL
unns and broke our railroad Communication, by partially
destroying one bridge and sligh,y nurng ah'ther one
icy soon The damage wrs repaired how trivial "
ua3 you hAys already ernsd Thc acar,v s,ca. Mica in