The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-12-25
SHENANDOAH.
Shcridan's Cavalry Moving
ON GOrdOnsvilIe.
The Virginia Central Railroad
Threatened.
Fight Between Clusters and
Rosssr's Cavalry,
d. ~. -

mr.. Theodore G. wilson's Despa ten.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT WEST VIRGINIA,
CUMBERLAND Dec "a, 1864 }
GENERAL CUSTER ATTACKS THE RossKR.
Day before yesterday General Custer attacked por-
ton Of Rossers cavalry point nine miles this side Of
Harrsonburg Rosser has lately been threatening
another raid in West Virginia the cold and sudden
rise in the streams have for time interfered with his
plans. ...s s.,,...,t..4 ............ /.
IMr. Charles II. Fnrreil's Dispatches.
WINCHESTER, Va, Dec 0, 1864.
What the Pcors Of the VALLEY Think of the Movements Of
General Sherman GcorgiG-Chanse In Political Snti-
neutrality-suspicious. Of the Pen,tentsConrersiors Ere
qnent-Wha, Sheridan has Contributed 7ocdrds the
Hesult--7he Military Slaction-Camp Sports, DC.
The of sherman in Georgia and the success
ful OF several armies command not only
the attention OF shcrdans army, but the inhabitants OF
which write this letter. 1t must be re-
bcred that Winchester when the present rebellion
broke out, early gave its adhesion to the Davis pro
gramme the supposition, many OF the inhabitants
now confess that the war would be ended sxty days,
or as soon as the general government OF the United
States saw that the slave States were unanimous
the question OF separation and slayeholdng con-
federacy. The rebellious sentiment OF the towns.
men found a medium for its expression In the
person of Hon. j. Y. Mason, now rebel Minister to
England, no had his homo here, residing In palatal
mansion in the suburbs Of the town. but which Is now
heap OF runs At fret there was division OF senti'
ment among the people; but when Virginia, by her
vention decided to Ieave the old government the
sentiment rebellion aided by the arguments OF the
leading the town. and consolidated expression OF
the inhabitants given for oligarchy or
war Unexamped prosperity, accumulated wealth, the
soil valley, matchless for It's fertility, we're all
things that conduced to make the people Of this town
and valley naughty, self-suIhcent and independent
When they decided 10 rush hcadong into rebellion they
sunk into forgetfuness their primitive hstory-they
forgot the oft related to them by
their fathers early ancestors and the great victory
Independence by the united efforts OF Southern
and Northern They preferred being led by
handful Of leading politicians and adopting the opinions
OF those men, rather allow themselves to exercise
their own thoughts win. The people OF this section,
as said before thought 1t was only necessary for the
south TO show their hands on the question confed
ana All that would be necessary 10 complete tho
Of separation from the Northern States would
be the making OF the dividing ne and all would ne nn-
ished. Indeed so general this belief In the valley
the State perhaps throughout the SOUTH that the
people the OF the state when Johnstons army
Harper Ferry thought they could not get there
in witness the closing scenes OF the rebellion
Nearly four years OF dire war, with us attendant
their high sca,s OF pride to tue ioosstool Of
humility, and to-day the band 0, local traitors
this town are either iug,ves from their homes walk
% abs w.,h bowed hsads and stricken
couutenances, which betoken The smngs OF bad con
science Perhaps in OF Virginia have the people
held their rebeous faith with more tenacity than The
war was carried their borders early stage Of
the conflict but orally force OF Union troops
who adopted the kid glove policy OF aording protect ion
to the kin and property OF traitors Not until Generals
Sheridan and Crook csmo into the valley ala the people
have a practical IDEA to what extent they could be
made To feel IT, and, result OF the closing scenes Of
the present campaign, We ind the once proud spirited
people Of the valley humbled and despondent
Their once hoped for elysium OF South
coniederacy Is very little talked OF; they
begin TO admit that confederacy is shell, and
thoughts revealed,
be their sentiment. II Is not now question with the
rebels Of the valley, will the rebellion be put DOWN
bot how will IL be endedy
was that the principal rendezvous OF
the famous Stonewsi brigade The command made
up entirely OF the young men OF the valley In TINS or
ganization was the famous second virginia infantry
which conceded to be the best lighting regiment IN
Repeaom But where is this brigade TO day. Op its
original organization 1t numbered forty.sx hundred
men. Four years OF war have INTERVIEWED and TO day
names on the roll OF the living. The famous Second
Virginia regiment was eectuaiy wiped out by General
Sheridan the battle OF Opequan, 10th September last
Truly NAV rebels wales adopt the OF the
prophet jeremiah when he the ptifu complaint OF
Zion IN prayer unto tod.-"Rememoer Lord. what
il come upon Us cons der and behold reproacn.
Our Inheritance turned to strangers. our houses to
aliens weare orphans aud ta'heress our mothers arc
ms widows. We have drunken water for money our
wood II sold unto us Our necks are under persecu,ion
labor and have no rest. Our fathefs nave
suned and not and we have borne ther niauities
servants have ruled there none that doth do
liver us out OF their hand We gat our bread with the
peril OF our lives, because OF the sword Of the wilder
ness. Inc elders have ceased from the gate
the young from their music The JOY Of our heart
IL ceased dance Is turned into mourning The crown
In fallen from head unto us that we have
siuDed ~
The new policy General Sheridan has been just the
thing that has eiiec this and conversions" to the
Union cause, the robcs term 1t, are OF daily occur
The military situation remains unchanged Our troops
have been working like beavers for the past few weeks
in making shelter hus TO protect them from the cold and
incement weather.
The officers OF the army just affected with the
horse racing mania match was made last nisn, ior
q side play or pay One OF the horses-s sorreis the
property OF Colonel Caphardt, OF the Second cavalry
division and the other-a black-s the property, so
learn, OF Lieutenant Colonel Kngsbury Jr the Adutant
Of the department. The race IL 10 be single
dash OF quarter Of a mile. The race course Is near
Major General Sherdans headquarerf on the winchester
and stanton turnpike.
ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH, Dec. H. 1884
The report that published few days ago, stating
that Generals Breckenridge and Early were 10 combine
their forces aud attack army In the valley is untrue
Breckenridge has his hands full in Tennessee, and II be
had the orders disposition TO make the trial. the cold
weather and the presence OF In the valley would
defeat his forces without the firing OF gun from our
army.
COMMANDER or THE PROVISIONAL
Colonel Edwards or the Thirty seventh Massachusetts,
regiment sixth corps who has been IN command OF the
post OF Winchester for the last three months in addition
his other duties has been appointed commander 81 the
Chester and Harpcrs Ferry Railroad Ths is we'll dc.
served reward Of merit TO an able officer.
Rebel Accounts.
sBBRrpAS's CAVALRY OPERATING NEAR MADISON
COURT HOUSE.
fFrom the Richmond Examiner, Dec. ~
II was currently reported yesterday that divisions
enemy cavalry had crossed the Blue Ridge and
were moving towards Madison Court House They will
thn of thn