, 1864-11-23

Especial Dispatch to the Western Press.l
New ronk, Tuesday, Nov. - Midnight.
THE MILITARY SITUATION,
New YORK, Tuesday, Nov. 22.-The Alex
andria (Va.) Journal says the iron-clads prey
lously stationed at Fortress Monroe moved
up the James River on Friday to Dutch GAP
indicating an important movement.
The reports of the evacuation Of Petersburg
originated with refugees and deserters who
have nearly impressed on others their belief
that such was the fact. >; ;.
Gen. Egan's wound proved more serious:
than ut first supposed. !.
a City Point, Va., letter Of the 10Th to the
Commercial says: A movement Of the army
has begun. Yesterday while with the 9th
Corps, on the extreme left, learned ther Or
ders isRued, to prepar{ eight days rations,
with one hundred round Of ammunition and
be ready to march at any moment: The mr.
ttl1ery Of that corps set ont on the march i'm
mediately, and by sunset encamped about
miles from City Point, on the line Of the Rail
road. The infantry followed shortly after
wards, and reached Hnncock's station, about
II. miles hence. learned that similar Or
der had been issued to the I'd and part Of the
jill wi pa FAAAAA$3 NV A4O"NfGlb ~ 9GSSRA "
rain about s O'Clock last night and has con-
tinued ever since, converting the ecountry into
continent Of mud. The line Of march yes
tezday was toward the Appomattoz, which
they would probably strike two or three miles
below Petersburg, as If the design was to
cross over to Gen. Butler's Department.
Gen. Grant has been absent for day or
two, but doubtless will soon return. Officers
and mcn have been moving In ehoals for SONG
time. By leaving the forts well garrisone1.
our line Is now 80 strong that Grant can hurl
the main body against any part Of the rebel
lines ho may select, while it is impossible to
flank him or cut bis communications with
any force short Of the whole rebel army.
The Commercial sags editoria11y: It is said
that all the mounted cavalry in the D>nart.
mcut Of the Gulf commenced concen:. :ng
several days since under Gen. Lee, for the
purpose, as Is generally believed, Of co-ope-
rating with Sherman. Should Beauregard
attempt to move southwark by the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad, Lees cavalry may be
heard from. <.....
Washington specials say onr feet Of gun
boats have moved'up towards Dutch Gap. in
readiness for any assault the enemy may sec
EEw YoaK, Tuesday, NOV. 2sao.-1t appears
that disaster to =. Brasher's Independent
scouts, near Winchester, few days since,
happened thus: Braaher had sixty. TWO men,
ana capturing two Of Mosby's men, he was
Informed that there WAS small party just
uhead. Brasher, with enc Of his men, recon-
noitcrcd and met q small party; returning to
bis main body, he charged upon the guertllas,
driving them, and just after passing Q cross
read, Mosby, at the head Of about 100 men,
pounccd upon the scouts, bemming them IN
on q lane, where % we're Killed, and the re-
mainder captured.
NEW Yonk, Nov. 2aa.-Though Eatly's main
force has been withdrawn far up the 3hcnan-
doah Valley, he has left some email detach-
| ments OF cavalry lower down, apparently for
tie purpose Of conccaling his designs and re-
connoiterlng In from: Of Shcrilan's forces.
Some Of Gen. Powen's cavalry encountered
one Of three parties of the enemy in the Luray
Valley last Thursday, and drove them through
Front Royal. On the same day a Union Re-
connofssance in the vicinity Of Berryville, re-
suited in meeting small body Of rebels, and
! making prisoners OF some of them.
The e. 8. steamer Uuion, from the Gulf
| Squadron, reports their healths good.