The Daily Dispatch: September 22, 1864., [Electronic resource]

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The War News.

A report was in circulation at an early hour yesterday morning that a fight occurred near Winchester, in the Valley of Virginia, on Monday last, which resulted disastrously to the Confederate arms. As usual, when any unfavorable news is afloat, the grossest exaggerations prevailed, until the following official dispatch from General Lee was given out by the authorities:

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"headquarters army Northern Virginia.
"September 20th.

"General Early reports that, on the morning of the 19th, the enemy advanced on Winchester, near which place he met his attack, which was resisted from early in the day till near night, when he was compelled to retire. After night he fell back to Newtown, and this morning to Fisher's Hill.

"Our loss reported to be severe.

"Major-General Rodes and Brigadier-General Godwin were killed, nobly doing their duty.

"Three pieces of artilleries of King's battalion, were lost.

"The trains and supplies were brought off safely.

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Newtown, the point to which our forces fell back on Monday night, is about eight miles this side of Winchester, at the interaction of the Valley turn-pike and White Post reads, Fisher's hill is adjutant

to Strasburg, some eight miles south of Newtown. We have no further particulars of the battle than furnished by the official dispatch, except that Major-General Fite Lee received a painful, though not dangerous, flesh wound in the thigh.

Sheridan, having been reinforced from Grant's army, was cabled to bring overwhelming numbers against the Confederates, who resisted nearly an entire day before falling back; and the fact that our trains and supplies were brought off safely, shows that it was no rout.

As in all other engagements of magnitude, we have to mourn the loss of many brave officers and men, the most prominent among whom is Major-General Robert E. Rodes, who fell nobly-doing his duty. Major-General Rodes was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, was the son of David Rodes, and at the time of his death was about thirty-four years of age. He received a military education, and was for some time an assistant professor in the Virginia Military Institute. Subsequently, in the capacity of civil engineer, he was engaged in the construction of various railroads in the South, and located at Tuskegee, Alabama, where be married On the breaking out of the war, he came to Virginia as captain of an Alabama company, and, winning distinction by meritorious conduct in the field, rose rapidly from this rank to that of brigadier. In conformity with a dying request of General T. J Jackson, he was subsequently made a major-general, and appointed to the command of a division, a position which he has filed with honor to himself, and was justly esteemed as one of the most brave and gallant spirits of our army.

Brigadier-General Archibald C. Godwin was a native of Nansemond county, Virginia. He was in California at the time of the breaking out of the war, but left for Virginia immediately upon her secession and offered his services to his country.--He was assigned to the command of the military prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, and afterwards had charge of the prison in Richmond. Receiving the appointment of provost-marshal of this city, he discharged the arduous duties of the position with much credit, but resigned and returned to Salisbury and raised the fifty-seventh North Carolina regiment, of which he was appointed colonel. He led his command through many hard fought batties, and was finally wounded and taken prisoner. Soon after his exchange he was made a brigadier, and at once returned to the field, where he had been actively and arduously engaged up to the time of his death. His age was about thirty-six years. It is thought that his remains will be brought to Richmond for interment.

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From Petersburg.

On some portions of the lines in front of Petersburg, within the past few days, the picket firing and mortar shelling have been quite brisk., and it is believed that a considerable number of the fee have fallen victims to the unerring him of our sharp-shooters. This was particularly the case on Tuesday, but beyond this nothing of importance occurred; nor was there any change in the general situation. The Yankees have heard of the capture of a large number of cattle by General Hampton and in their accounts are content with the reflection that "a large number of the raiders are reported to have been captured, with some of the cattle. "It is said, however, that the Yankee officers are sorely nettled in consequence of the event, as good beef is scarce among them, and the ounces of supplying the empty cattle-pens are slim indeed.--Meanwhile our boys are enjoying the steaks and roasts, and unanimously vote General Hampton a most skilful commissary.

On our extreme right — the enemy's left — both parties continue to watch one another with sleepless exultance. Each returning day adds strength to the defensive works, and the tug of war, come when it may, will be one of the bloodiest of this very bloody contest.

It is a notorious fact that Grant has, up to a very recent period, been giving his troops rations of whiskey, and has frequently carried them into battle under the inspiration of this "Dutch courage," fearing to trust their natural qualities in this respect. We learn that he has changed his system entirely, and that an order has been issued positively prohibiting the bringing within the lines of the armies operating against Richmond of any spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors, except such as are brought by the commissary or medical departments. Probably Grant thinks that he, with Butler's help, can do drinking enough for the whole army, and hence the withdrawal of the whiskey rations from the "rank and file. "

We perceive that the army commanded by Beast Butler, on the Southside, is now officially recognized by the Yankee War Department as the "Army of the James."

A report was brought over by the ambulance train last evening that the enemy yesterday made a feeble attack upon our advanced works and was repulsed It is proper to state, however, that persons who arrived at a later hour had heard nothing of it. The usual cannonading took place on the lines yesterday morning.