New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-08
The Wight at Berryviiie-Early Reported
ms Reinforced - Doubtful - f2oseoy's
N1oyrmPuts,


HARIER5 FERRY. Sept s.
As suggested in Saturdays letter as among
the uncertainties of war We did come near having q
general engagement" that very afternoon, dosPe ell
prevailing conjec,ures. The telegraph has sIready al
yiscd you Of the very spirited affair al which Gen
o.-.Ls ho.vio taII ale sectors, occurring
late Saturday evening at negr Berryyc. litilo
town some ten niles southeast Eom Winchester.
Orders were received late Friday nisat t. send the
wagons the and for the troops 20 be In rca6D 81
TO march early on tie following morning. but %
thorough had the Impression became riTeled IN tue
minds Of both officers and TIA. tie change Of base
was viewed more a tour of observation than any IT
tied purpose TO force battle Nor u there anything
an the affair OF Saturday night 10 conflict ith the theory
that Sheridan only Ia keep "a, tie enemy- heels
aud annoy end haTass his retreat ~ much as possbe
and the time Keeping himfef 80 far master Of
the situation to accept battle only n.Dn ground aud
terms equally advantageous 10 ouEscl' ..
The citizens claim that it no part Of Earlys parose
TO retreat beyond secure POSITION that hi- force has
been strongly reinforced by the arrival Of new TO
in his regiments that i've hundred fresh horses have
been sent bis cavalry ard that divisions OF Long
streets Corps have also joined him. Nevertheless
own officers IRE inclined to believe that the seoul
creting and forging about the valley, and having
drained the country rcjoning the main body.
Our infantry force advanced TO cryyie on Saturday
in three parallel columns il had hardly finished pitching
tents when tie engagement already teegraphed you,
ensued
The sd and seth Ohio had been advanced picket'
and taking possession Of some abandoned Rebel rife pits
and rude earthworka, were suddenly assaulted and
a.. 49, fsl
Ohio and 9Th Virginia then hurried forward and
charging back upon the Rebels again secured the pits
Hereupon desperate struggle ensued. lasting up TO
and after dark From the force massed and hurled
against our little band II was believed that ut least
two divisions opposed 20 u.s. They nude several
sperAte assaults upon line but. from the adsan-
tage Of position. most gaantly and successfully
repused all attempts 70 d,odge Our loss Is estimated
at from two ~ Tires hundred IA killed AID wounded
willie that OF the enemy must have been very consdera
bly, more-our loss confined principally TO Ohio and
Mary land regiments Of Crooks command
Our troops spent most Of the ensuing night in con-
structing earthworks in our front and occupy
very strong position, from whence keep safe
and efiectual lookout upon the movements Of Early.
The indeiatigable "Noeby" with lis usual ubquity.
Is In our rear ngain however picking up stragglers
and whatever property he Gy his rapacious hands
upon. Yesterday. with some two hundred OF his
mounted rangers he nsdc descent upon train Of "a
ambuanccs which had como in hero with the wounded
in Saturday evenings fight. They had unIoaded. and
we're on their way out, when they were halted
BY the mounted rangers. and 1t is claimed BY
the frightened and demorazed drivers who
have just come into town. that he had
captured oil but four OF their train They h,d
started out without any escort unbeknown ~ Gen Ste
venson the able aud vigant officer in command here.
and had not proceeded more than half way when cap
tured The General upon learning the mishap. imme
diaely dispatched force Of nbOnt one hundred picked
cavalry under Capt. Blazer who happily succeeded In
retakng some forty Of the horses and five Of Mosbys
men.
There was no fighting at the front yesterday. and
our position is believed 10 be unchanged. BETA