Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-08
GEN. GRANTS DEPARTMENT.
Defeat of the Guerrilla Wheeler-He Il
Driven Toward Dalton.

CHATTANOOGA, Dec. %, 1s63.-InteIigencs
has Just reached this place Of skirmish yestsr-
day morning, near Charleston, on the kuoz-
vile road, which resulted in a brilliant and
decided victory to our arms, and the utter dis
comfiture OF the rebel General Wheeler, At the
head OF about 1.5oo cavalry. do not suppose
that it will longer be considered con traband to
state that the Divisions of W ard and Sheridan
Of the Fourth Army Corps, remained at Knox
willie after the retreat Of Longstreet, and that
a. they marched light, they We're unaccompa-
MED at the time by their supply trains, which
were subsequently and very recently ordered
up.
see, and parked on the north side, ana this
morning before the suspicious Of the escort
were aroused, they were set upon by Wheeler
at the head OF l,500 men, and before assist
apce could reach Colonel Seibert, in command
OF the advance, the email guard was driven
back, and the train fell into thu hands Of the
enemy; but before they could profit BY their vic.
tory, Colonel Long, who commanded the ex-
petition, sent I50men across the river, when
counter charge was made, and notwithst stand
ing the overwhelming numbers against them,
they obtained possession OF the wagon trains
again, and even drove the enemy some distance
away.
port, Col. Siebert halted his men in line of bat
te, the rebels wheeling at the same lime as If for
another charge. but remained Idle. The sus-
penses continued but for moment when the
whole brigade OF Col Long, numbering saw
1,2CO men, arrived at the scene OF action, and
after W heellDg into line-but the work OF mo-
meEl-mdCe saoer charge upon the pnemy,
which they were unable to with stand even tor
3 moment but instantly broke in confusion,
each man apparently endeavoring to take care
OF himself.
The man body fled towards Dalton, but upon
every road and along every foothpath were
squads flying pell- NELL, hurry scurry, toward
place of safety. i am told that after the pur-
suit was commenced the flight of the repels
was ludicrous in the extreme. Hatless, with
their long hair flying about their ears-the
chIyalry all wear long hair-their coats stand
irg almost straight rearward, they looked like
n collection Of John Gilpins, each frightened ont
of his senses by the hi coated phalanx behind.
In the pursuit one hundred and twenty three
of The rebels fell into our hands, and no less
tnan forty seven Were killed or wounded, to
r:ously reported; some say but one, others half
q dozen wounded and none killed. One man
was missirg-perhaps taken prisoner. The
rebels did not even in lure wagon, mule, or
a set of harness. The triumph was but mo-
nlentary, SO that they could not have dons mis-
chief if they would.
The pursuit continu ed for five miles on tho
Dalton road, where IL was abandoned: but
scouts are still ont getting mp stragglers, who
are continually arriving at Charlsstovn, and
I believe the number Of prisoners will yet
swell to two hundred.
The brunt of the fight was sustained by the
4th Ohio cavalry and Goth Missouri mounted
infantry, and every officer and man acquitted
himself, not only ereditably, but nobiy. Guer-
IiIla parties and small bodies OF cavalry have
been prowling around for several days in the
vicinity Of the Knoxville road, but have been
uniformly driven on by our forces. They have
attacked one or two common posts, but In each
instance were badly worsted ". y. World