Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-08

TIoSs BEYOND TIE POFtHAc -RODEs' DIVIsIoN--
POSITION AID sPiEIT OF THE EEExY-WHAr EARLY Is
DOING.
CAMP NEAR MAE1ISsBuRa. Va
Angus! Fad, 1864
To he ElilOr of he Wing:
last wrote you from Water .ll5, on the 36 uit.,
on the G7,h, Vaugha's cavalry bGgAde, Col Gillespie
comman ling, was ordered to Back Creek to destroy
TIE bridge over that stream, on the B Il ORR.
An ironcad and forty infantry guarded the bridge.
but Absco16sd after firing in advance. The entire
parry would have been captured il the proper not ce
had been given to the brigade commander. There was
no intimAtOn made to him of any enemy being in the
country when he received his orders to destroy the
bridge Toe roncsd Is a movable fort constructed Il
railroad rails or iron, end mounted on csr-Whees Its
armament consists Of one riffs gun. There are port
holes for Infantry &c rs from. is bomb proof and is
moved with great rapidly BY steam
TIE bridge, which vas a magnificent structure, was
completely destroyed 0nshslf the work was of iron
and heavy casting, the other Of the m)st ms ssive
WOODEN pillars sEd 80 constructed az 10 render its
destruction somszhAt difficult aud was only consumated
BY burning down the woodwork, which was a tedious
tssk OF bours.
The enemy seemed to have constructed the bridge
Nth visE of making il Last for three centuriee
BAT it. Ike is p-edecseors has fallen at the hands OF
ths Rebels This was the sixth time that the bridge
ksd been burned and destroyed across the stream at
tha5 pOiu,l
After collecting few eIttlo the command returned
70 its old eneampmens on the MSrtinsburg and Williams
pOr pise.
% the morning OF the 90 the command was again
N motion IA the direction Of W Transport followed
oy RoSes' and RamseuI's divisions By 10 o'clock, A
n. the cavalry had gained the Eas. bank of the Poo
mac and were pursuing the fying eouIdrons of yam.
zee cavalry, VINO we're making Tor H4gers,oWp.
Lieutenant Col Bean, with the lit and l2th Tennes
see aud 10 Georga cavalry, OF ughn's brigade,
came up with Ayeflls igsde three miles from Hogars
town and engaged him, forcing him through ard one
mile beyond town. capturing ten prisoners with equip
nrents and five loaded with Qlartsrmasters and
Commisssry stores. Such articles saddles, brides
hAers a., were imnedi tely appropriated TO tee use
OF the commands the remainder, with the cars, was
burned.
Captain Hardy, comuandirg 12.h Tennessee bat
talon, was wounded by spent ball. after which his
horse Eel with him. crushing bis leg snd Woun6Og him
very seriously 60 1ch 50 IS 70 disable him rom dGty
o, sVsEsl months This is an Ereparabe loss TO the
Brigade he bsng one OF is mott sllsDt aud efficient
Ulcers, having mere than ogGe distinguished him elf
FOR daring sGd superior during the present
campaign.
During this engagement one brigade of Roles di-
ision herivtr snd occupied tie roads leading
from Wiiliamsport. At nghtial the in sn,ry retired
jhe Virginia shore, the cavalry moving in the drec
ton # Clear Spring. BIZ 10 O'Clock n Of the sob,
the army had resumod It's old position, the enemy
t1o meenhhe mAA4ns oehAOnesr@'is1 on our fght oy
occdpying ShepherdstoWn, with both Infantry aud
airy. faey wSre, ser soon Withdrawn in the di
rec.ion Of HnpNs Ferry.
Z TIE main portion OF the sremy's army s eneamped
At Hall Town, near Raspers Ferry consisting OF the
6ih snd l9.h army corps, Sith Crooks command
Fhese troops moved from Frederick City to their pres
ont location ter The late sdvshee Of General Early 70
Wliiamsoort T1ey exhibit but little disposition TO
engage this army Ia opsa comb X whist, tho other
hsad, bat little 10 manifested at their ap.
preach or close proximity 80 confident troops
OF defeating them 10 battle.
General Eary il cOllsolng, unnoested, millions Of
supplies for armies aad protecting one of the finest
VALERIE OF ths Continent, with bas little expense " the
GoyeFunoGt or Ices 10 his army. His campaign has
been, indeed lar, bril- isnt Too much can't
De expect fsom this array Of Veterans.
All qliSt in front to.dsy. "BIRD."