New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-05
THB sAT7Ls OF wIsO.rEsr1S.
rom Our Special Correspondents

Gen Crock. after tho fight st sniekessvils a ~
18Th rested for few days and IN Friday. the &9d'
marched TO Winchester. where hs arrived Ct aboce
O'Clock In the evening. and went Into camp for ne
night :.
A. Winchester Gen. Crook met Cen. Avsri1 VIE
had successfully defeated alter . severe fight ne
Goth, force under Ransom, which was numerically
three times 81 strong - his own. capturing four pieces
Of artillery. +'.' '"- '' 7
As Cen Crook was the ranking Officer. he ASSUMED
command Of the whole force and made every prepare
ton to continue tho pursuit Of the enemy who were
believed TO be In full retreat down the VALLEY.
At o'clock on Saturday morning our cavalry en-
gagged the euemys advance on the 6rasburg road and
skir7nshed with them until noon. when Auligans di!
vision Of infantry ordered ont from Stone Mills -
Korutown to support our cavalry, and check the FOR.
tier advance Of the enemy.
ussn moved forward In splendid style. bis COM
msnd formed In line OF battle. with heavy shirnise
line In the ADVANCE and drove the enemys shrmisherS
back three miles into the woodA alter sharply
contested engagement Of some three hourS durso9s
developing the fact that the enemys cavalry wsre 10
force and drawn up in Line Of battle under Of q
heavy skirmish ne which was well posted behind he
trees. and completely concealed BY . heavy under.
growth which all along his 'front.' Gen Crook. ~
this uncturs. rode up to Col Muligan. and after exs
aiming thu ensmyS position ordered him TO fan back
and IL possible. entce tho enemy TO come out from
bis cover in order that he might definitely ascertain hs
strength but the Rebels too wary for him, they
had gained the information they desired BY making ~
show portion Of our strength, and developing 20.
sition by means Of their heavy skirmish hnss.,
which were beautifully formed and well
mancnyersd. and they had no ides
Of afording us the same information. Null,
fall hail wifi hav1
In the least mocsted BY the enemy until be reached biz
original position where he made every preparation 70
repel any attack which the enemy might make and q
night was fast approaching 1t was deemed prudent -
postpone all further attempts to gain information Of the
enemys strength and position until the following mora
ing.
About O'Clock on Sunday morning our cavalry
vedettes who were posted in ont Of ugans divsiou
we're attacked and forced back short distance. They
we're soon reinforced By squadron Of cavalry and SONG
Infantry, who skIrmished with them for nearly TIVE
hours when Col Harris ordered to With hs
brigade and take position behind stone wall which ~
nearly parallel with their skrmsh line and check ths
further advance Of the enemy
In tho mean time Ayeri had started with Biz cavalry
division. and brigade Of infantry the Front RoyA
road to get around the enemy's flank snd posaibs.
attack him in the About noon his artillery could
DO distinctly heard and It evident he was sngas.
ing tho enemy but with what success was impoesbh
10 Judge. }
division Of Rebel infantry now advanced on Col
HARRIS position In line Of battle, with hsevy skns
ahish line well thrown out They advanced alowy and
very cautiously. When they came within easy range
our men opened on them with terrific and whitening
FIRE Of musketry. which did terrible execution In the
Rebel ranks strewns the ground with their killed and
wounded and causing them to pause for whils.
Despite Of the check which they received they grsdu'
ally advanced and threatened Harrss tanks with thedS
superior numbers their hns extending nearly quartss
OF mile beyond his right nank. and after an hours
hard fghng he compelled 10 retire. but not before
no Lad inflicted heavy loss upon the enemy.
Harris retired slowly and In good order for about
mile when be Joined BY Col Lintons brigade, and
Con Crook arriving on the feld ordered them both 70
return under Col Mullgan aud rSoccupy HARMS for
mer position behind the stone wall
The two brigades constituting Mulligans division
now steadily advanced. and after An hours
hard fighting regained the position which Harris
had been obliged 10 relinquish In consequences
Of the superiority Of numbers on the peys
Of the enemy. During this part Of tho
engagement Col. Mulligan was especially conspcuous
shr his bravery With hat OF and sitting erect In hisJ
saddle he chcered his on. perfectly regardless q
storm Of bullet5 which were striking al hIouno hin
and although cautioned repeatedly by his staff ocen
lie was recognized BY tho snsmy's sbapshoosera
no Dersisied In rem.a.s-s rnnn.<Ss - - TO
In the extreme adrane" Of bis 0Slalnand.
Aner we had regained the stone wall Gen ,Cfoos
determined To form his whole command in hns OF ost
tie and attack the enemy. who were stn oonceaeo IN
thu woods and who he believed were OF tnagnincans
strength a. compared with his own commando no CO.
oordingly ordered Col. Thoburn commanding the Il"
Division TO form on Mullgans right, and Col Hayes
with the I'd Brigade Of the ID Division. 70 form ON
Mull,gan's Iefs One brigade Of Dulles Cavalry wefe
ordered ON the extreme left and tho other brigade vss
asmounted and held In reserve behind the cenIef'
The greater portion Of tho artillery were massea ID
rear OF the eenter upon rising ground 1'siy'nos
beIn, now in readiness the whole command ADVANCED
q, lima Of hattie at about hapast three and mao pro-
about $50 yards over an open country wnen INC
sn.my. emerging from the woods In our mont IN
..ted tremendous line Of battle. stretching at leass
me beyond ours. on both tanks. and threatening TO
completey surround tho whole command Officers and
men were alike surprised and thunderstruck when shey
saw the whole Of Esrly's command In their mont
Every one thought the enemy were in full retreat down
the Valley and there considerable force nearer
than Woodstock Judge Of their surprise. then, when
they saw the whole Of Esrlys command numbering
some 30 600 formed In their 'front.' and gradually cios'no
In On their tanks.
The moment Gen. Crook discovered the Immense
superiority In numbers Of the encuys force % ssss
the order TO gradually fall back in order to prevent ND
little command from being surrounded ana eu' ." "'D
their line Of retreat and wagon train.
Tho o,,a, hsA hardly been Issued when portion -