The battle at Cedar Creek--Yankee Losses — Artillery duel — dash at Front Royal, &c.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Staunton, August 13, 1862.
On Monday last the Yankees sent in a flag of truce, asking permission to bury their dead who fell at the battle of Cedar Creek.
The request was granted, and shortly after the battle-field, now become neutral ground, was the scene of several interviews between our officers and the Yankee commander.
In these conversations the Yankees said that General Anguer was mortally wounded in the breast, and that Gen. Geary was shot in the arm. They admitted a loss of 400 killed, including many officers, and one of their surgeons incautiously stated that 1,150 wounded were under treatment.
Major-General Banks was unsparingly denounced by them for his want of generalship.
A statement was made to the effect that there were two divisions in the fight — Anguer's and Banks's, the latter officer being in command.
The result of the battle on our side was a little over 100 killed, and 600 or 700 wounded and missing. We captured one piece of artillery, two caissons, 3,000 stand of small arms, and six wagon loads of ammunition.
The 25th Virginia, it is stated, killed two Colonels, two Captains, and captured three stands of colors.
The artillery duel, in which the Purcell Battery represented the Confederates, is stated to have been a terrific affair.
The opposing batteries unlimbered so close to each other that, during the greater part of the firing, they used grape and canister.
Those working our battery could distinctly hear the hum of voices of the infantry support of the Federal battery.
The reported loss of the Purcell Battery is eighteen killed and wounded.
On yesterday a squad of twenty-five of our cavalry made a dash into Front Royal, capturing the Provost Marshal, two Captains, eight privates, and seven horses.
Twenty-one Yankee soldiers came in here to day and surrendered themselves as deserters.
They belonged to the 1st Virginia (Yankee) regiment, and were citizens of Northwestern Virginia.
They declared that they were tired of fighting, and wanted to be ‘"paroled"’ and allowed to return home.
If pressed again into the U. S. service they intend to commence ‘ "bushwhacking"’ on the Confederate side.
In the fight at Cedar Creek company F, of Richmond, went into action with eighteen men, and came out with six.
Several of the wounded are now at Charlottesville, where they are receiving the kindest attention from the citizens.
The information in the first part of this letter, concerning the battle of Cedar Creek is derived from an official source, and may, I think, be relied on. 