Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-09-15
From our Army Correspondent.
A RECONNOIsSANCE In F0RCE-A RAID OH eek
kD-OUR CAVALRY-AN T III RUNNING

BUNKER Hill, VA, August 3Ist, 1864.
When we last wrote, we had two divisions OF ntan-
try watching the enemy upon the Heights from which
lofty eminence be was busy Smelling lines while our
sharpshoote1s kept up continual firing from their
strong barbados without doiDg more than to keep
themselves and the enemy on the alert We saw very
few wounded, and but dead man.
The next cay, the 25th, army changed its posi-
tion movir out towards ShepardstOwn, via Leetown
ard encountered the enemy between the latter place and
Sbepa dstoWn Whartons division of Disadvantages
corps was 10 'front.' and upon arriving the enemy,
| deplOyed sharpshooters. The enemy came dashing
down upon this eeble line v it'll his cavalry column
and succeeded in breaking it, and causing some confu
sion IN the line of battle Artillery fire rapidly sue
cetded the charge, and the enemy went dashing or
towards cllumn Of infantry But rapidly recover
ing their temporary confusion bold front was given,
ard he retired without getting in very dangerous prox-
unity to our line The spirit with which the dash was
mace, AID the prompt co operation of the enemy's
t'ilery, did considerable emcunt of damage to be
fore it was tally realized what the character of the force
was.
A vigorous pursuit now commenced. But any one
who bas witnessed the pursuit OF cavalry by infantry
knows Row extremely futile all such chases are On
on, heavy columns pressed at quick time, our ad
firing occasional shot at the enemys retreat
ing CoQmn, until about sundown we had succeeded il
cutting Il smell body, and had walled them In by
three heavy columns Of infantry Night now came Oh
ard closed the scene /; the nmbie hOrsemen slipped
through fngers under OF the night and orded
the Potomac at Sheparistcwn. Ia Fl Of exaspera
ton we fred few rounds ct artillery ammunition into
the woods On TIE opposite shore with the hope of kill
ing anything that might be there tired and chagrined
vt gave up the CHASE and glad to partake OF
refreshag sleep, aid promise tbs enemy 10 make up
the next lime we encounter his infantry.
Our loss more important and heavy than that OF
the enemy while the whole affair could not be dignifad
with the name Of ght. We lost a Colonel from
Whartons division and one from Gordon's, killed. end
two Others wounded.
There s no doubt though that an important raid Was
r. ID IN is hat we
the Yankee cavalry, estimated st about ten thousand
lit doubt less expected to slip out between our
left faux and the mountain and go right up the Valley
with the prospect Of destroying all of stores, and
making their escape into the Kanawha Valley. The
acute military perception of Gen Early is equal to all
such ma1Ulgrts Of the enemy, aud nothing but hard
f3hting will accomplish what they expect 10 gain by
tricke1y.
Tie uncertain reports of an unreliable cavalry as to
the force in Ourront, while in lne at Bunker
Ill., caused Gen. Rodes, with bis division, TO make
Reconnaissance in force towards Martlrsburg On the
3Iet The distance between the two PLACES is ten miles
and no general skirmishing took place until we mount
ed the hills which skirt Martinsburg. We here en-
conntered AvrlPs cavalry agd after an cxctng RUG
Iii fght, drove them beyond town. TIE force there
vas az cartaned to be entirely cavalry, aoout 600
strong The good ladies of the town met with cheer
and k;ud sa!ut9t0n. Both man and beast enjoyed he
stay OF nearly a day in town, and left in gIee.
The only capture OF any importance Was THAT OF 1t
| Col j. BARLEYCoRN deserter from our army since
the battle Of Manassas. He in full Yankee uni
for, dressed in the height Of fashion, having the odor
Of Bouquet d leans about him. So furious were our
meu upon seeing him, that they rushed maSSe, and
put him TO death in spite OF tempt by gener
ais to show him The respect due prisoner of his rank
Had be lived, court martial would have decided bis
fate, and the poor fellows life terminated ignomnouy
Seeing they cad not restrain the fury of the men, the
| officers cordially joined in the work OF death.
Movements of The enemy upon our right flank, nccos
STATED counter movement by US on the % aud Ear
| Tvs corps el back to the point where the Jordans
! Springs road inteTsects the Valley Turnpike. Rodes
was the division.
About IL o'clock there was heavy cloud of dust in,
tie rear Of column, and soon came our cavalry
dushng furiCusy to the hatless and covered with
Dust evidently aUtat they coll demo allied" 1t seems
that they had been left to bring up the rear, they were
pressed and fred in retreat until they reached
| former picket post between Larksvile and Bunker
| Hill, and finding no Infantry post there to support
rram the retreat became fout, and they ran away
leaving their wagons ard cattle 10 the enemy Battles
brigade up 10 their assistance, but after ali
| the damage done.
Skirmisbng ensued On cur line during the entire
day Of the 3d. and the cavalry this occasion made
very creditabe fight retrieving the disgrace OF the day
| before while upon the wiEg composed OF Il. H. An
ders0ns troops, engagement occurred between the
contenaiog forces Berr5vle ia which engagement
we lost sir men and Carried the enemy's works
The cavalry arm Of the Army of the Valley District
is sadly Inefficient and often prevents the Infantry from
achieving successes When our cavalry returned from
Maryland there better armed and equipped body
OF troops in service cut they had been unresrict
ed untramelled by discipline, g1tted with successes
and p!under allowed the freest license i the enemy
country and then Iapsed into Incidence and careless
ness which caused their defeat at Moorefeld aad cub
seQuert ineffciency. Well armed, mouuted and disci
pined in the campaign of this valley cavalry would be
very valuable but as it s heavy tax upon the pa
thence of the infantry whom they trouble by false
alarms ard the country which they feed upon. Now
that our whole campaign has degenerated into cavalry
hunting need good cavalry TO do i, for we assure
you we tired performing the duty OF b5th arms OF
The service
The iliautry of Sberidan'5 army has entrenched it
self near BerryvilIe and will probably remain there un
til charged out mustered out OF service their pru
dental principles keep them close behind their works
being already forced to acknowledge this to he the
| Valley Of Humiliation" to them.
On the evening of the 9th, had another chase al
ter cavalry which for exciting interest to aH concerned
was the most important which has occurred In tie al
lev. Oar cavalry commenced the engagement upon a
line at right argea to the Valley Turnpike, and about
5 miles from Winchester. They behaved well, but
were forced to reoo before the superior strength ct tbs
anerv But Just at the right time Rodea division was
sent in 10 support and few voleys changed the tide
OF battle, and now chase commenced. The enemy
cavalry is we'll trained and kept up orderly running
fight with the "hungry Rebels yelling like hounds IL
the chase close upon their heels furious rain storm
DOW came 90, pelting directly in the face, but
on they pressed seemingly inVgorated by the fury OF
the storm Our artillery tar in the rear, being
disarced by feet foot CaUary but the enemy use4
bis batteries with Other effect however, than TO keep
the cultures well to the rear
But with ali tbs running and yelling and firing we
lacked The Gaetnes OF horses. Tha darkness of night
eaveIopeG puysuer and pursued now and the buge call
ed Of the chase. And then it seemed that Ice very
io0dgates of heaven were opened. The storm ragged
with increased violence disappointed and atgued, Oh