Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-29
From sheridan's Army.

Especial Correspondence of The Tnquirer.l
HARPER's FERRY, Wednesday Aug. "A.
A days history - that of yesterday
TUESDAY. the 23d of Augustus not long
or very laborious work. On Monday the
rebels discovered our position, and on Tues
day almost cOntented themselves with look
ing at it, without any seeming power to en-
joy the prospect. From their little detach-
ed rifie-pits, made of rails and earth. and
about six hundred yards in front of our
own skirmish line, an occasional puff OF
smoke arose, and bullet came whiZzing
over our line to inform us that the enemy
still lowered in front. In the afternoon II
was thought desirable to stir the enemy to
greater activity, and Duvalrs Brigade OF
General Crooks. command was sent out on
a reconnaissance. They soon succeeded in
discovering couple Ofdivisions ofinfantry
lying around loose, and returned without
loss and with the information. This, with
the shifting of army headquarters about
half mile, constitute the entire events of a
day remarkable for its quietude; and ii
might be remarked that to-day has so far
been like it, but it is many hours vet until
dark, and here it is literally not known what
day might bring forth.
There Is yet an important element of the
situation to De dealt with, and that is the
NUMERICAL STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY
In this second descent of the Goths to the
line of the Potomac, and it is painful to ad-
nit that on this point positive information
must to some extent be supplied by conjec-
ture. 80 iI
The rebel prisoners of course tell large
stories this subject. All questions are
gIibly answered, seventy thousand" as il
they were reciting a lesson conned and
learned by rote, as they undoubtedly are,
but all cross-eXaminationa to organization
and particulars only reveals conviction
that "we'll clean yoil'ens out" which. how
inquiring mind. From prisoners, then, the
information generally obtained is entirely
unreliable. and of course worthless.
From Our scouts something more satisfac-
tory is obtained. and the shortest way to
get rid of this subject is to give what one
of them says, from which it is clear that
Early's whole force is back. but Early's
whole force is not over eighteen thousand
men, unless it should prove true that his
old organizations have been reinforced, in
which case he may number what is claimed
for him. twenty five thousand men, In ad-
dition to these, it is claimed that An
derson's whole corps formerly Long
street's) is here, and that it num-
OerS twenty-five UnOusanu meL, WHICH is
not likely; nor is the evidence very strong
that anything more than one division of it
has been brought up. The cavalry addition
is large and effective. being about ten thou
sand of their best troopers, under Fitzhugh
Lee. On the whole. then, the truth proba-
bly, is, that the effective strength of EARLY
is about forty thousand men, although. TAX
ing their own figures of the organizations
known to be operating here, it would foot
up fifty thousand men In all arms.
The rebel Generals are our old acquaint-
ences. Early, Breckinridge, Rhodes, Ran
som, with the additions of Lee, and. few
days ago, Kershaw. This fast gentleman,
however, had the honor of being thorough
ly whipped by Custer and Devins at Front
ROYAL, the other day, and the rebel Govern
ment, not appreciating it, has relieved him
and assigned Pickett to the division.
This general glance over the whole field
has, it is trusted, been sufficiently compre-
hensiye to show that, although constantly
retiring before the enemy, Sheridan has all
the time been complete master of the situa-.
tion, and SO remains to-day. What next?
is difficult question and not worth discuss
ing, for some things turn up here with suf-
ficient rapidity to satisfy the most unrea-
sonable "Micawber."