From the Valley.
finishing with the enemy — gallant conduct of Ashby's cavalry — the evacuate of Winchester, &c.[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch]
Strangburg March 13, 1862
Since my last communication to your interesting and valuable paper, we have had quite stirring times in this section, which I will endeavor to give to your readers so far as known.
Since about the first of March, that noble and gallant band, Ashby's cavalry, have been constantly skirmishing with the enemy, until Friday last, when they advanced in such force so close to our lines, that the cavalry pickets and scouts were compelled to retire before them; not, however, until the Yankees had to use cannon to drive them in. Friday evening and night our small forces was in position, anticipating that the main body would attach us and endeavor to gain possession of Winchester; but they felled to do so and fell back some distance from the advance they had succeeded in gaining in the morning.
Saturday, our cavalry still annoyed them all day, and on Sunday a small detachment of fifteen rode up to within two hundred yards of the encampment on the Martinsburg road, captured one and killed another, both of whom belonged to the 18th Indiana regiment.
This gallant and daring exploit so ex-separated them that they again advanced with force against Ashby's cavalry and our infantry pickets; but they did not advance closer than a mile of our outpost, and again fell back.
In this little engagement one' of our men, named Webb, who gilled the Yankee allude to had his horse shot from under him by a Union man named Coleman, in whose house the two Yankees had been enjoying his hospitality.
Won't he suffer if any of Ashby's men ever come across him!
Well, I would not like to be in his place.
Monday and Tuesday there was again skirmishing, and about noon of the latter day the enemy advanced in large force on three different roads, driving in our scouts and pickets before them, who, however, hotly contested their movements step by step, when Gen. Jackson, finding that his force was too small to contend against such odds, slowly and in good order retired before them to this place a distance of 18 miles, taking two days to march it in. Previous to this, and for some days before, all our military stores and public property had been removed to a place of safety, and on Wednesday morning the enemy entered Winchester, a deserted and almost untenanted town.
In all this skirmishing and picket fighting it is difficult to say what has been the damage done our foes; but it is well known that our loss has been very small, while they have had several killed and over thirty taken prisoners. What Gen. Jackson intends doing, no one but himself knows; but it is certain if he could get reinforcements, Gen. Banks would be driven into Maryland in less than forty-eight hours.
The news of the glorious victory at Newport News by the frigate Virginia (old Merrimac) reached us yesterday, and created the greatest enthusiasm among our troops.
Success attend her and her gallant officers and crew, and may she soon clear Hampton Roads of the vandal fleet, is the wish of all true patriots.
Yesterday a vote was taken in the different camps on the Amended Constitution, but what the result was I am unable to state.
In your edition of the 4th inst., your local editor, in trying to correct some errors, unintentionally falls into others.
The battle of Carrick's Ferd, (not Corrick's,) in Tucker county, on Cheat river, (and it is a cheat,) was fought by 260 men of the 23d Virginia Regiment, and one piece of Shumaker's Danville Artillery, under the immediate command of Col. (now Gen.) Wm. B. Taliaferro.
The 1st Georgia regiment encountered the enemy earlier in the day at the first crossing of Cheat river.
About a mile from Carrick's Ford, Gen. Garnett was killed, having with him a body guard of ten men of the Richmond Sharp Shooters.
Gen. Floyd was not in a hundred miles of the fight.
Don't detract from the earned reputation of the Northwest army; for they have seen more hardships and fatigue, and been in more skirmishes and fights than any other troops in the field.
Ned. 