The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-20
YORK. WEDNESDAY,; JULY 20, 1854.

enemy had . railroad east oi the Blue Ridge from Lynch
Durg to Rockoish Gap or wayhesboro, only Twelve
miles from StsuntoDthe railroad which General Du1o
had unsuccessly attempted TO interrupt BY means OF
TINS road We whole Of Ewe corps and as many other
troops as General I might think necessary could easily
have been thrown from sixty eighty miles n our rear
while Brecknritgo with the valley troops held US on
our 'front.' And as we had but little ammunition, and
were utterly Of supplies, while thcre would be no
chance 10 collect in or force Of the
that an attempt return down the Shenandoah would DO
equivalent to the annhaton surrender Of our force
That General Grant was q this opinion is abundantly
testified by anxiety for safety which prevailed fo-
several days ~ his headquarters He believed that we
wore In Imminent danger Of being destroyed or captured
Tor some time and made vigorous efforts oemploy all
ha could Of the enemy forces In order give Hunter
chance for extrication from his perilous position
As TO the material effects Of Dulles delay the eastern
side OF the Blue Ridge which apparently cost two days
In our advance upon Lynchburg the matter has been ex
hill around US, and knew all movements. Ewels
corps not despatched from Richmond until It's
presence At Lynchbnrg was needed Had we been there
two days earlier Ewells corps would have been des-
patched in time to meet Had been there Blk days
earlier the result would nave been the same We were
fifteen days march from regular bases OF
subsistng upon the enemy's country, while the
enemy, by means Of the railroad from Lynchonrg 70
against us lust as many troops as General spare
from the splendid army of Northern Virginia.
expected that we would meet abundant supplies
missary and quarermaster stores at Meadows Bur,
than million ratiops abou: ve six days previous,
had been left there by Generals Crook and Aver under
charge, or two regiments Of Ohio militia, sworn
into the service for hundred days. With these
ratons taken up command could then await It's am
mnnition train under General stabel and continue to
threaten Lynchburg, then knowing or suspectng
that two ohio militia regiments had been stampeded
by force OF about seventy eighty guerllas under
Captain McNei that they retired in confusion
towards Ioup and Chsverson, burning about
half the stores left IN their charge and carrying the re
mander with them IN sucn transportation as tney haa on
hand.
OF the difficulties encountered and surmounted by
General Hunter in this march from near Lynchburg to
Jnnnrr io moi nd IN Az
enemy 10 force were handsomely repused, and again
salem. Our had food but the beef and sheep
they drove before them or collected on the way our
march wild and abrupt mountains, forest Clad
precpices Mug beneath one side Of the road,
while forest clad meunaius lowered thousands OF feet
above US other. The disappointment 10 not re-
cevipg the expected supplies at Meadows Bluff was
severe but neverthe ess the command ned IN good
heart and heatn, until 1t neared Gauey bridge, who're
the supply trains ordered up by General hunter began
TO meet
With the exception of six guns, which had been rem
dered unscrvccabe BY sudden attack Of the eremy ON
this side OF Salem and which had therefore 10 be De
stroyed by ourselves, lost nothing baggage the
material or army In this raid infantry reached
Loup better health than they had started With,
but sorey in need of food ammunition and new
outfit OF the cavalry horses played from
the want OF forage but, taklg for all in all no rad OF
the war has yet Inflicted SO much loss vita kind upon
the enemy no little sacrifice OF and material
For two hundred aud forty miles up the Shenandoah
valley we had destroyed every public work INTENDED Tor
the benefit OF the enetnys army Furnnces toundries
for shot and SHE'LL RunstocK factories cloth mills, tan
yards railroads. factories OF all kinds &c our line OF
pillar OF ire by night iormce from the conlagration OF
the public buildings Of the enemys government Vi pr
property nothing was iaured with tho exception Of
Governor Lechers house, be having the day previous
Issued proclamation against incItng the inhabitants
II the country TO guerilla warfare.
IL not until General Hunter, In advance OF hts
command, reached Parkersburg, ia Western Virginia,
that heard syllable Of The rebel raid into Mary land
All that could then be done hurry forward our troops
ut nergetcay nudertaken but there were not
twenty twenty three ncnes Of water in the Ohio,
and the railroad from Cumberland Harpers Ferry had
been pretty well crippled by the enemy though not one
1tieh part so cectuay as we had destroyed their rail-
the vicinity stanton and lynchburs In the
task OF reequppng aud hurry forward troops to-
wards Maryland General Hunter labored with his usual
reless zeal and considerations ddeity, being nobly
seconded by the Efforts Brigader General Kelly who
command at Cumberland.
For the dsgracefu stampede which had driven General
Sigel back from Martnsburg Marya Heights with
out contest IL IL not easy 10 see now General Hunter
sge total Of over ten Thousand men, and yet this force
retired before an undeveopcd enemy, having lost
$50 far as can Be asSef;aaed) somewhat es less
ed and missing" 1nis the extent OF tho
"ga!lsnt anu stubborn resistance" by which General
Sge his invaluable traIu,'' and Bal.
But General Hunter be held responsible
the miscouduct of this officer when recoect that he
had been ordered. ON assuming command, TO .retan
General Sige IN employ ymept,' General Sigels rank
giving bm option but TO oer to that officer the
highest command TO his own.
As rest, OF the rebel raid into Mary
land is clearly the OF foresight ana adequate
preparations other than Gen. hunters headquarters
Gen. hunters location was thoroughly well known to the
war authorities, who are understood TO have sent him
Acknowledgements Tor the brilliant achievements OF
his successful which,he had drawn
his Command uninjured from thai hazardous service
With scarcely any water IN the ONO, and the railroad
between Cumberland and Harper's Ferry broken in
than dozen pnces, IL was physical impossibity ior
any portion d Huuers army 10 have reached Maryland
repel rebel invasion; but, owing to General
Hunters personal exertons and unceasng abors.
than thousand OF his wi thin striking dis
tance o. the retreating enemy two days ago,
10 talk pursuit. however, from the North OF trains
SOUTH and guarded by so large force as Generals
Early Ransom Breckn rdee have under them, Is the
pursuing orce, such as II isand It is very Formidable
has gwen by order OF the President to MAJOR Gen
Wright Of the Sixth army corps hope inst the best
results may expected This assignment relieves Gene
raj Hunter all appearance OF resp onsbnity in
really had any connection with and for
the success or ianre OF General Wrights operations
that officer and the War DEPARTMENT will alone be espon
sblc before country. II well understood here and
therefore he violation Of military confidence to
say General Hunter hts asked be relieved from
this department IN consequence OF the
Of the War Department, in ordering all his available
troops to report 10 Major General Wright so much Tor
raid towards yncnburg, and for General Hun
alleged responsibility 10 connection with the Mary
land invasion.
nlIgpllIA EfEuTlwG IN MICenlIQl