New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-25
FROM THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
The Battle OF Nswmnrkcf-A Part Of IA
Successful Plan.
CoIre,I oudtnoe Ct The " Y Tribune
MAEINsBuRG. Va. May o. ls,i

MALllNeblhS' Wa NAY ~ AO'f
In order to a proper understanding of the
movements q Gen Sce NJ the Valley of the Shenan
doah il is necessary to consider them ~ part 81
comprehensive strategic plan His column Of one di
vision Of cavalry under Col. Taylor and one division 81
infantry under B,r..Gen. Sullivan, was commanded by
Mai Gen. Ulius Staiel II was simply corps obsei-
vaton and not expected TO proceed up the valley
further than Cedar Creek or Middlctown. Tie msn
portion of Gen. Sigels command had been sent on an
expedition under Brig. Gen. Crook up the kwa~ha
valley destroy portion Of tie Virginia and Ionne
see Railroad This column consisted Of selected troops
and included division OF cavalry under Brighten.
AveTel II all important that this expedition should
succeed but in order 10 ts was essential 10 d.
vert the enemy from hin. TO do this Gen. sigel
moved up the Shenandoah. threatened Staunion, and
exposed "A readiness To give OF receive battle Had
it not been for this demonstration. all the forces
Of The enemy wou1 have united against Gen. CROOK
and then been thrown against Gen. Sgel neither OF
which commands could have resisted al assault from
such overwhelming odds We are therefore, forced
to concede that Gen Sgels consummae skill secured
the success Of the expedition under Gen. Crook. and
prevented the reinforcement Of Lee by tie troops under
Breckinridgc which would have been done lad not
this movement Of Gen Sgcs taken place sirce Blcck
and Sige successfully and then have gone 10 The aid
Of Lee.
Viewed in this ghi tie rcpulse Of Gen. Sirel az New
market cannot be regarded in any sense d.sas
ter while his comprehensive strategic plan one Of
tie best devised aud successfully executed 81 tie
war
THE ENGAGEMENTS or THE 18TH AND lJTH.
A gentleman WHO was on the field during the whole
1..l, ;, 10 l4u.
have been in all tie battle. in the Valley Of Virginia
j was in the engagements at Winchester between
Gens Shields and jackson; Banks aud Jackson; aud
Mlroy and Ewei!-I was at the battles Of Bills Bluff
and Cedar Mountain, aud at the Gls and second battles
Of Bull Run-but have never witnessed more desper.
ate engagement than that Of the 18th near New Mar.
ket" Major Quinn Of tie lst New York Cavalry WHO
has been in most Of the battles in this Valley declares
the same
Several skiImisles had taken Place dining the march
Of the column fIom Middetown 10 Mount Jackson and
Moseby's guerrilla band had been driven out q the
valley, and in the direction Of Cupepper. by deach
ment Of our cavalry, which placed under Col Boyd
Of the 2lst Pennsylvania Cavalry who was spending
ten DAYS leave Of absence in this department Nothing
serious however occurred until Saturday. the l4th
instant when small portion of our cavalry and infantry
drove the Rebels under ImbOden from near Mount
jackson through Newmarket, and three OF four miles
beyond Imboden's forces consisted Of abont 80 Old
troops and several detachments Of home guards from
the neighboring counties numbering about 100
making his command about 5000 strong.
During Saturday and SATURDAY slgai he entire diyis
ion Of breckenridge yts br5sgat up from Stanton and
on Sunday ifcfnlne about 10 O'Clock his skrmisheT,
were seen advancing Oh our right little to the west OF
Newmarket. His command consisted Of The troops Of
Brig Gems W L. jackson (NudwalD Echos and In.
boden estimated at rom 600 20 - 900 men. and from
IS 10 pieces Of artillery HIS infantry were drawn
Up in three extended lines each line under command 81
H. respective general three rises OF ground TO the
west Of Newmarket between the pike ana the shenan
doah liver One of these lines was deployed 10 the
left to occupy a slight rayine for the purpose OF hank
ing tight wing ofsuIprsing one oil our Da'eles
His cavalry was drawn ND on the east side Of the road
and under cover Of the town His artillery was posted
chiefly on the three hills occupied by his infantry.
Gen Sigel was compelled 10 move up bis forces from
Woodstock in order Ia protect those which bad been
sent forward on the 18th under Col. Moor. and which
| had driven Imboden through Newmarket. lie broke
camp at O'Clock in the morning and reached New
market a distance Of 10 miles. by il o'clock wien
he came w the forces under Col Moor had been placed
in position, and already engaged with the enemy
that the General Obliged make his dispositions
in accordance with those previously made. lie also
portion Of the cavalry retiring in some disorder
and could not rally them 10 make them effective
His line formed on the right Of the pike fronting
Newmarket his right reaching near the Shenandoah
River His artillery Of four batteries extended nearly
along his entire front and battery posted on
tie left Of the pike 10 thai the enemy was exposed to
cross FIRE and that the ravne occupied by the flank
ing brigade u the enemy swept by our battery On
Abe -"