the battle at Shepherdstown send forward the Conscripts — Lessees in the Norfolk companies. &c.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Winchester, September 23d. 1862.
The most important occurrence since I last wrote in the victory obtained on Friday over the enemy at Shepherdstown.
Jackson suffered a brigade to come over the river on Friday night and remain until Saturday morning, when Gen. A. P. Hill attacked them and killed and wounded every man except about one hundred, who made their escape over the river.
Hill lost about one hundred killed and wounded.
The Yankee brigade, they say, outnumbered Hill's division.
Our forces poured the graps and canister into them as they crossed the Potomac, and the slaughter was terrible.
The river was black with them.
If our forces are sustained by new recruits, we may expect to hear of victory after victory.
The conscripts must be sent forward, or we may expect reverses.
Candor compels me to say that the straggling and desertion from our army far surpasses anything I had ever supposed possible.
Not less than five thousand stragglers are in this town and vicinity.
This is not confined to the soldiers, but from colonel down to corporals are behaving in the most shameful manner.
It is said that captains are in the habit of giving their men leave of absence, and sending them off an as to have accompany to action with.
This is the effect of electing officer by the men and unless power to relieve such officers from command, and reduce them to the ranks is vested in the President or Major General as we may surely look for defeat.
Company F. of Norfolk, went into action on Wednesday last with two officers and one man. Of the man (Chapman Hill) alone came out safe.
Lieut. Duncan Robinson was wounded in the foot, and Lieut. J. Lester, taken prisoner.
Capt. John Taylor, of Norfolk, and Capt. Crimes, of Portsmouth, were both killed.
Grimes died Friday night. They were officers worthy of their station, and will be mourned by all. Col. Wright, of Georgia, was wounded slightly, and Col. J. Thornton, of Va, killed.
The cannon ball that killed him, it is said, come four miles.
Nothing from the army to-day.
Accomac. 