The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-29
disaster in the shenandoah valley.

There are vague runors of disaster in
the Shenandoah Valley. The rebel forces
under EARLY and BREcKiNnDaE made a
stand beyond Winchester and defeated
Gen. AvER1LL, compelling him 70 retreat
to Harper's Ferry. There is also 3 rumor
that HUNTER was badly defeated between
Harpers Ferry and Winchester. The ac-
count speaks of the defeat of AvERIII,
HUNTER and Crook, as if they had sepa-
rate commands and were whipped in de-
tail. The dispatches are very indefinite,
but there seems little room to doubt that
our forces have been roughly used, and
have fallen back to the Potomac. HUNTER
having forbidden telegraphic communities
ton with Harpers Ferry, we may not
know the full extent of the disaster for
several days. 1t is impossible to judge at
present of the designs of the rebels.
Whether they have assumed the offensive
for the purpose of checking our advance
until they can get off with their plumber;
or intend to hold the valley, as they have
for three successive years, until the crops
can be gathered into the rebel granaries /;
or whether they mean to make more
formidable mo- ement than their last on
Washington, are fair subjects for specula-
ton. We print below an extract of a
letter to the Chicago Times, under date of
Washington, July 10th, which is quite in
terest:ng in view of events that have since
transp.red. The writer says:
The forces of the Confederates who defeated
Wallace and Ricketts,, who threatened Balti-
mo e with capture. and who actually invested
the national capital and held it in q state of
close siege for two days, during which time it
was cut off from all communication with the
North, the West and the East, were exactly
10 600 in number, under Early. Breckenridge
and Ransom-the latter having cavalry-and
fifty pieces of artillery. Where they are now
is not yet ascertained. They have not vet re-
contact with any of our forces, not even with
the boosted Hunter. The roads leading through
the Shenandoah Valley. and those on this side
ofthe Blue Ridge, from Leesbnrg and Centre
vile down to Culpepper, were thronged from
the 4th to the 18th instant. with long trains OF
the captured wagons. horses cattle and spoils
of all kinds, on their way to Richmond From
ported the remaining portion of the distance
by railroad.
The evidence is incontestible that the Con.
federates have put in order and arc now using
the following railroads: the one from Rich.
mond to Gordonsvile, by way of Hanover
Junction; the one from Richmond to Danvils
and North Carolina, by way of Burksville; the
one from Richmond to Lynchburg, by way OF
Burksville; the one from Petersburg to Will
mington, by way of Weldon; and the one f ON
Charlottesville to Warrenton junction, by way
of Gordonsvile and Culpepper. More than
two reputable persons. eye-w.tnesses concur
in the statement that troops from General
roads from Richmond to Warrentou
junction ever since the 4th of July; and the
testimony of the correspondents with Grants
army is unanimous to the fact that the mum
bers of the rebel forces opposed to them have
grown less and less every day for the last two
weeks. There is testimony, less positive and
conclusive, N; still worthy of attention. as tc
what bodies vi troops these are that have left
Petersburg, and their destination and intention
1t would seem that Gen. Lees design in max
ing the recent movement towards Washington
to compel General Grant to abandon the cam
paign against Richmond, has been partially but
not wholly successful. Quite q large number
of Gen. Grants troops. probably twenty thou
sand, were brought up here, besides the
whole of the 10Th corps, from New Orleans
which Grant irtended should join him before
Petersburg. But, unless the testimony above
alluded to is absolutely rejected, it is evident
that General Lee has designs in view towards
Washington which are not yet accomplished,
and that the northward movement of troops
alluded to above is being made with those de-
signs in view. Some of the evidence on this
point is quite circHmstantial. For instance ii
Is said that two divisions of Longstreet's corps,
and two of Z P. Hills, have been sent away
from Petersburg; that they passed through
Richmond on certain days that are mentioned,
and that they were transported by railroad to
WarrentOn junction. If these statements shall
prove to be true, there can be little doubt that
the apparent retreat of Gen. Early from the
vicinity OF Washington is stratagem in order
20 draw our troops here across me Potomac in
pursuit. If this maneuvre should prove sue.
cessful and if the troops of Early and Breck.
inridge should be Joined say at Centreyile
by 10000 men under Hill and Longstreet. what
would then be the fate. not only of our army.
but4of Washington also?
.rI,o ConUresSiOnal S,onro,.