Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-25
THE ARMY OF GEN. SHERIDAN.
THE RETROGADE. MovEMENT-THE ENEMY
HEAVILY REINFORCED
DEFEAT OF sHERIDANs REAR-GUARD.

CHARLEsTOwE, SHENANDOAH VALLEY,
Friday, august 10, 1864
The movements of both armies in this department dur
ing the last week may be summed up follows:
After pressing Early to the heights beyond Strasburg,
and pushing his army secure In retrest with its
guard strongly entrenched on heights commanding the
pass, Gen. Sheridan hearing that Longsreet sp.
preaching his from beyond the Blue Ridge, finally
withdrew Tuesday night without attempting to dsodge
the force In front from ts position, and making swift
march night and day, has saved this army from being
placed between two fires, the rebels intended juno
ton Of and Esr forces has since been made,
at least cooperation which throws this army the
defensive; and this combined army up to yesterday
close upon
have already forwarded you particulars Of the
full cavalry in the direction OF Trent Royal
the Shenandoah Gen. Merritt beating the enemy and tax
ing between two and three hundred prisoners
The march Of the enemy through Winchester was
seasoned on Wednesday afternoon by incident not
through Winchester about noon. Gen Torbstt left
below the town. with portion Of his cavalry and the
Jersey brigade Of infantry (Sxth Corpse Col Penrose
command ng, who acted q guard. The enemy
followed closely their cavalry and Brecknrdges corps
'front.' and skrmishng commenced beyond Winchester at
about one o'clock, our cavalry being driven 10. The
enemys cavalry made several attempts against line
during the afternoon all of which repulsed At six
o'clock the affair became serious the enemy substituting
infantry for cavalry and that infantry consisting of large
part of Brecknrdges corps estimated at eight thousand
strong To meet this assault, Col Penroses brigade
eight hundred strong forming the entire force of infantry
at command, deployed 10 three roads, just beyond
small creek below the town, the Front Royal turnpike
the strasburg turnpike and dirt road intersectng with
tho Srasburg turnpike from the south portion of The
jersey regiment of dismouned cavalry also formed
the left the remaining cavalry, under command of
Gen. T0rbett, were formed, it is said, in
he enemy little after six o'clock in two lines
of battle Col PenrOse had posted his behind stone
walls trees, rocks. and whatever afforded protection aud
waiting until the first line of the enemy had approached
to very short distance he poured we'll directed deadly
fire, which shattered it to confusion and drove back
Before his n could reload the second line was upon
them, with its overwhelming numbers, overlapping both
his TANKS, and firing terrible voley of musketry and
tery The old Jersey brigade, brave and stanch as it
was could not Withstand the shock it fell back from its
position the creek but again reformed as best
it retreang in every direction Col. Penrose himself
with about two hundred of his men, escaped on the Mar
tnsburg pike One hundred passed through Winchester
aud arrived in camp late last night Col Penrose reached
Clifton yesterday nOon having taken road during
the night
Up last night about FIVE hundred men out of the eight
hundred had reported for duty. The Tenth New Jersey
had not been heard Of 1t supposed that escaped
and will be heard from within day two What part
the cavalry took in this engagement have not yet learned
They supported but all the force in Winchester could
hope to stand against whole corps.
The army is to-day encamped between Clifton and
Charlesown. prophecy nothing to the prospects
of battle. The enemy said to be very large force
fifteen thousand saUatry. THIS is probably exaggerated.