There was an alarm at
Winchester on Sunday last, caused by the report that a body of Federal cavalry, numbering some three thousand, supported by infantry, were at Bucker Hill, and moving on that town.
The citizens, as is usual on such occasions, commenced preparations to leave, and many of them did evacuate the place; but on Monday morning the report was ascertained to be without foundation, and everything quieted down.
The enemy made a dash into
Martinsburg on Saturday evening last, and captured one wounded Confederate soldier.
On Sunday they made an advance in considerable force on
Gen. A. P. Hill's division from the direction of
Charlestown, shelling the woods on each side as they advanced, but their fire was not responded to by our troops.
They did not approach nearer than five miles of our forces.
On Saturday last eleven members of
White's cavalry, of
Loudoun county, captured one hundred and thirty stragglers of the enemy's forces at Shicker's Gap.
They belonged to various regiments, and at the time of their capture were unarmed.
In addition, two sutlers' wagons were captured, containing a valuable lot of shoes and clothing.
One hundred and twenty-six of these prisoners were brought down by the
Central train last evening, three took the oath of allegiance to the
Confederacy, and one was left in
Winchester, too sick to travel.
The three who took the oath are shoemakers, and volunteered their services in that capacity.
Passengers by the train state that a report reached
Stanton from
Winchester yesterday morning to the effect that
Gen. A. P. Hill had an engagement with the enemy on Wednesday, in which he captured a large number of prisoners and a wagon train of great value, estimated at not less than $200,000.
Along the line of the
Rappahannock everything is quiet, and no indications of an advance of the
Yankees.
