New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-30
rgos1 GENERAL CRAMPS ARMY.
The Tclcgrapric Censorship in BATH
u,cre-TEe Enemy Eniicu Hack from
our Left Wimg-The Cavalry Engage
nacut of Thursday.

u,cre-TEe Enemy Fniicm. Back from
our Left Wimg-The Cavalry Engage
nscut OF Thursday.
From special Correspondent
HARPgRs FERRY, Saturday, August 81.
As the wires were not in working order last
night, my dispatch announcing the reconnois-
sance Of yesterday, p. H., and containing iur-
Their particulars of the engagement near Lee
town on Thursday, was delayed until This
morning. Another dispatch duly approved at
General SheridOn's headquarters, sent from here
on Wednesday night, have since learned was
suppressed in Baltimore by tie Government
censor. The authority Of this gentleman to
suppress dispatches properly approved by Con-
era Sheridan is certainly questionable, unless,
indeed, he be senior in rank TO Maior-Generai
s., in which case he is, of course, at liberty to
disregard the lattcr's authority. All CORE
spondents are aware Of the fact that telegraphie
dispatches from this point must pass through
the war Office for approval or disapproval, but
the dispatch referred to was suppressed in Bal
timore, and not permitted to go 10 Washington.
News from the front this morning represents
the enemy AS having abandoned their former
position opposite our LEFT wing last night.
When my informant left, our men occupied the
rail pens Of the Rebel skjrmiShers and were
pushing slowly forward. The reconnaissance Of
last evening found the enemy sl,ll in force Oh
our loft, Notwithstanding the fact that two
divisions OF infantry were encountered moving
tc;gdrds ShepaFdstown on Thursday. IL is now
evident that Early will not attack rs in our
works, but viii endo ivor, if possible, to obtain
possession Of the upper iords on the Potomac, in
the meantime keeping sufficient force in our
front t. prevent the severlng N his line OF com.
munieation. Tie movement by the enemy on
Shepardstown may have been ieint intended
only 10 cover retreat, which seems more prob
able than another crossing OF the Potomac.
The engagement near LeetOwn, on Thursday
turns out 20 have been stubbornly contested
retreat by our calvary, on ascertaining that they
were confronted by two divisions OF Rebel Inian-
try. From Leeiown to Shepherdstown and
from that point several miles on the Halltown
road, the enemy pursued Lotly with heavy lines
Of Infantry skirnishers frequently endeavonng
to OutAank Us and pressing closely Oh ali sides.
Starting from ShepherdstOwn on ThuTsday
morning, our advance, cOnsistng Of Clusters
Brigade. reached KeaTIeysyile, tive miles from
S.. at half-past nine, where Rebel cavalry pick
cts were found stationed. These were speedily
dispersed and Custer again moved forward to-
ward Leetown, accompanied by lie command
OF Gen. VI ilson.
The commands Of Colonies Gibbs Of the Re-
serve, and Iii Cesnoia of the I'd Brigade Of the
lst Division joining the advance at kearneys-
vile, the whole tLen pushed iGrwa.4, Wilson
and Custer in the advance with ID CesnOe's
command and one squadron Of the 9Th Pennsyl-
vania depOyed on the extreme night. From
Kesrncysvile to Lectown is perhaps between
one and two miles. The enemy's Cavalry pick
cts were rapidly forced back towards the latter
place, until Blue Creek, tributary Of tie
OpequaI, was reached, where halt was made
by the enemy, and our further advance dis
puted.
Sharp skiI7nishing at once began, and for two
hours the artillery and musketry ire Was con-
t;nuous. The enemy's skirmiShers were gradu-
ally forced back, however, half a mile, where,
finding that we were confronted by vastly supe
Nor numbers, the order to retire alON.y was
given. Before retiring, Col. Iii Cesnoa, at
present commanding DeviD's Brigade, was o.
dered TO swing round on the enemy's extreme
left and charge his flank, which was done in fine
style, the enemy being surprised and momentG-
My thrown into confusion during which he
suffered severely, losing fourteen prisoners and
number killed-among the latter, Lieut.. Col.
Wolf, of the 5lst Va.
La the charge Of Di Cesnola's Brigade, tho
9TH N. Y. formed tho right, the 9th n. Y. the
center, and the 18th Ia. the left, with tho 9th
n. l. in support. Orderlies Vlcngcr. Hall and
Biery, OF Col ID Z. escort, were killed during
the engagement. Gen. Merit, who witnessed
the charge complimentod Col. D G.. OH the gal
lantry displayed by his Brigade. At this june
turc the order TO retire was given, and the whole
command, covering their rear with strong line,
Tell back towards shepardstown.
Aswe Withdrew, the enemy pressed impetu-
ously forward, but was gallantly kept at bay by
our skirnishers Of tho lst u. S., LIST N. Y, and
a squadron Of the 9th Pa, Of Gibbss, and tic
9Th N. Y. of Devins's Brigede.
Meanwhile the commands of Wilson and
Gibbs had arrived al Sheparcstown, and had
b issed down the road towards Hailtown, leaving
Custer and hi CesnOla to protect the rear. The
lst ~ Y. Dragons Of GihDs's Brigade, however,
lad been left at the former place to AID in check
Dg the progress vi the enemy until our NAN