The main body of our forces in the
Valley still remain at their old position, from which it would seem there is no disposition on the part of
McClellan to attempt to dislodge them.
Gen. Stuart, an account of whose raid we yesterday published from Northern sources, has safely returned to
Virginia, as will be seen by the following dispatch from
General Lee to the
Secretary of War.
The cavalry expedition to
Pennsylvania has returned safe.
They passed through
Mercersburg,
Chambersburg,
Emmetsburg, Liberty,
New Market, Ryattstown, and
Burnsville.
The expedition crossed the
Potomac above
Williamsport, and recrossed at
White's Ford, making the entire circuit, cutting the enemy's communications destroying arms, &c, and obtaining many recruits.
R. E. Lee, General.
About one hundred and fifty prisoners arrived by the
Central train of yesterday, captured by the command of
Col. Imboden, an official account of whose operations we append in a letter of
General Lee.
Headq'rs Department Northern Va.,
October 6, 1862.
--I have the honor to report that on the 2d instant a scouting party of
Col. Imboden's commend encountered a company of the enemy's cavalry near Hanging Rock Hampshire county, and captured
Capt. Battersley, Company B, 1st New York cavalry, five of his men, and fourteen horses, with arms, equipments, &c.
On the morning of the 4th, about daybreak he surprised an entrenched camp of the enemy at the mouth of the Little Cacapoo.
A dense fog enabled one of his companies to gain the trenches before he was discovered.
In attempting to escape two of the enemy were killed and six wounded, and
Capt. Newbard,
Lieut Wagner, and fifty five men Company X, 54th Pennsylvania volunteers, were captured.
The railroad bridge over Little Cacapon was burned with the company's buildings, &c.
About 8 o'clock the same morning Col
Imboden sent his cavalry across the
Potomac to prevent the escape of the company stationed at Pawpaw Tunnel, and by leading his infantry across a precipitous mountain surrounded the place captured
Captain H te
Lieuts. Cole and
Baer, and ninety men of company B, 54th Pennsylvania volunteers.
He also captured 175
Austrian rifles and accoutrements, and about 8,000 rounds of water-proof cartridges.
The commissary stores, camp equipage, &c, he was obliged to destroy, for want of transportation.
While thus engaged, about 200 of the enemy's cavalry, from
Romney, made a descent upon his camp, near
Capon Bridge and put to flight his guard and about 100 unarmed men, whom he had left under charge of Lieut,
Stone.
They burnt one of his wagons loaded with commissary stores, and attempted to carry off five others, but deserted them on the road, carrying away the teams.
They also burnt the carriages of two of his three-pounder mountain guns, and carried off the guns in the wagons.
They destroyed his medical chest, and captured eight or ten of his men. He subsequently recovered his wagons, with the ammunition and several of his horses, and reports that his loss will turn out to be small.
I take pleasure in commending to your notice the handsome manner in which
Col. Imboden has conducted this operation, and by his judicious arrangements encountered no loss of life on the part of his command.
He had to abandon the destruction of the bridge over the
South Branch of the
Potomac.
Its great strength defied the effects of fire and could only be effected by mining.
Just before leaving
Pawpaw his scouts reported the arrival cast of the Tunnel of two large trains, laden with troops, sent from
Hancock to co-operate with the cavalry in cutting off his retreat.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee, General.
