From the Valley.
From passengers who arrived by the
Central train last evening, we have some interesting particulars of the movements of our forces in the
Valley.
The propriety of giving publicity to these movements is questionable; but such is the public anxiety to learn the movements of our army, that we present such information as we have been able to gather, after the most careful inquiry.
The forces under
Gen. Jackson left
Staunton on Wednesday morning, and on the evening of the same day the rear guard of his army encamped four miles west of
Buffalo Gap, fourteen miles from
Staunton.
Gen. Johnson's forces had advanced to
Shenandoah mountain, in pursuit of
Gen. Milroy, who was falling back before the united forces of
Jackson and
Johnson.
A hope was entertained that the command of
Gen. Johnson would overtake and engage the enemy under
Milroy, who is said to have about 8,000 men under his command.
Among the passengers on the train was an
Adjutant of the 5th New York regiment, who was captured at
Harrisonburg, on Tuesday last.
This prisoner manifested all the imperilment symptoms which characterize those who are foolishly endeavoring to subjugate the
South.
In an interview with him, he stated that this was his first visit to
Richmond, and although he was not attended with the same company, and surrounded by the same circumstances which he expected to attend his entrance to the
Capital of the Southern Confederacy, he had no doubt that a few weeks would settle the matter, and witness the old flag floating over the public buildings of
Richmond.
He spoke with entire confidence of the ability of the
North to subjugate the
South, and thought the time not far distant when the
Union would be restored, and all would live together in peace and harmony, under the government of our fathers.
We were a little surprised at the hopefulness of this captive.
In reply to an inquiry as to the number of the
Federal forces in the
Valley, he stated that they had not loss than 40,000 nor more than 60,000, and that
Maj. Gen. Banks was in command of this force.
Rosecrans, who figured so conspicuously in
Western Virginia last year, commands a division under
Banks.
Gen. Shields, who was so severely wounded at
Winchester, the prisoner states, has partially recovered, and is in command of his division.
The prisoner does not seem to understand the retreat of
Gen. Banks from
Harrisonburg, and seems to think that it was altogether a strategic movement.
This prisoner was comfortably and handsomely uniformed, and had on, in addition to good clothes, a breast-plate, which saved his life at the time of his capture.
It seems that he was engaged in close conflict with our cavalry, and resisted to the very last the irresistible assaults of our forces.
A ball from the pistol of one of our cavalrymen would have killed him but for the breast-plate which he wore, and to which he owes the preservation of his unprofitable existence.--This shielded him from death, yet he seems to rejoice in the fact that his opponent was slain, whilst he was captured to remain in bondage during the remainder of the unnatural contest which is now being waged against the
South.
