Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-13
FROM CUMBERLAND.
The Intention OF the Rebels in Their
Late DemonstrRtIon on the BaItI.
more Road.
CuMBERLAND, Nd , Jan. 8, 1884.

Late Dem0nstratIon on the Bait.
more Road.
CUMBERLAND. Nd Jan. 9, 1854.
Perhaps by mere accident, rather than
through gross negligence. on the part of
possessed of sn official document setting
forth what was intended to be the original
plan OF Gen. EaEly's late operations.
have not now Independently to enter
into details. but in general way will state
that Gen. Early was to cut the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad at Martinsburg, and by
a combination of movements attempt the
capture Of such Union forces as were be-
tween Martinsburg and New Greek. At
the latter place Gen. Early, having heard
that we were concentrating troops at Mar
tinsburg, and having also been reliably iu-
formed that Gen. AVerill was there with a
strong cavalry force, determined, after
consultation with several rebel comman.
ders, to alter his plRn-he coming 10 the
conclusion that he could not attack Mar.
tinsburg with any likelihood of success,
aud that he could not now retreat without
bringing censure on himself for having ad.
VHnced on SO hazardous an enterprise
without also having at least made an effor!
to secure his object or iDjure us in some
way. He therefore despatched Generals
FitZhugh Lee and Rosser to attempt the
capture of the garrison at Petersburg,
Hardy county. How this failed the reader
already knows.
Rosssr was to try and get into Cumber
land, and capture or destroy the stores
here.
Both Lee and Rosser failed, because
Early could not get to them the promised
reinforcements, with artillery, &C. This
is what the official rebel document says in
regard to the late movements and the diff
ferent plans adopted. -fs
We have also become possessed of very
important information in regard to the
strength and position of the rebel com.
mands, and the avoWed intentions of sew
eral rebel officers high in position.
A report is 10 circulation relative to the
capture OF the garrison at JonesVille, West
Virginia, leaving the inference that the
commander of the Department of West
! Virginia is responsible for our loss at that
place. Such is not the fact. The com
maud thus captured was within the limits
Of Gen. Fosters department.
The weather continues very cold here
and the sleighing is good.
We are daily in receipt of favorable ev-
licences in regard to the effect of the am
/
diers. Deserters from almost all the rebel
commands enter our lines, bringing US in
formation of sometimes the highest i'm
portance. They take the oath Of alIegi.
ance, and then, instead Of becoming a
burden to the government, are usefully
employed to the public benefit. Every
opportunity is afforded them, to avoid the
chances ofoApture by rebel soldiers.
The question is asked: why did not Gen.
Kelley follow up the rebels when they
commenced to retreat2 The question can
briefly and satisfactorily be answered
thus: The very elements that interfered
with the rebel movements also retarded
our own, aud prevented US from inflictiug
that injury on the raiders that we other
wise could have done. The effort was
made to follow them up, aud our cavalry
did attack the rear of one or two OF the
enemy's columns, picking up stragglers
and the like; but on u careful considera-
ton OF the whole facts of the case, it was
| found that general movement at that
time would have been hazardous In the
extreme, from uncomfortable physical
causes, besides eutailiug fatal effects to a
large number Of men aud horses from the
severe state of the weather! Besides, what
would have been gaiusd3 Even concediug
the fact that our plans would have been
entirely successful, the result attained
would not have been anywhere near an
equivalent for the losses, from the effects
of the weather and other causes, that we
should have necessarily been compelled to
sustain. General Fit5hughi Lee at one
time believed his object to have been sc
cured effectually, and gave out that BE had
captured the garrison at Petersburg, and
that he wouldCertaiuly get into C0mber-
land or New Greek on the following day.