From the Valley.
the ‘"Stanwall "’--Ashby's cavalry — rumors of a fight, &s.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch]
Woodstock, Shenandoah co., March 16.
Gen. Jackson, after remaining near
Strasburg for three days, fell back to this place yesterday, a distance of twelve miles from the former.
The enemy with cavalry, artillery, and infantry, advanced to a small place called
Middletown, midway between
Winchester and
Strasburg, on Thursday last, and were kept constantly annoyed by
Ashby's cavalry, who captured several prisoners and wounded a number of others, with no less on our side.
There is a rumor in camp this morning that the enemy, finding that our forces had fallen back, advanced to within two miles of
Strasburg, to
Cedar Creek, where
Ashby is now fighting them.
Two companies citifies (one of them the
Grayeen Daredevils,) have just gone down to their support, and we look for a very lively time of it, as our forces have a very strong position there.
It is hard, indeed, to give up this beautiful and fertile country, the
Valley of Virginia; but it is policy to curtail our lines of defence, and fall back where we can concentrate all our forces.
Perhaps we will make
Staunton our permanent rendezvous; but
Gen. Jackson will take his time getting there, and all the troops in Yankeedom will scarcely make him swifter in his movements.
The militia are coming in slowly, and a number of them, finding that they have got to serve, are volunteering.
Those who know that gallant officer and gentleman,
Gen. Wm. B. Talliaferro, can with pride and pleasure congratulate the troops concentrated at Glencestar on their good fortune in securing him as commander.
No kinser, braver or gallant officer ever led troops in the field.
Success attend him wherever he goes is the sincere wish of his old command, the sed Regt., and of these who know him.
Ned.
