--Parties from the vicinity of
Gen. Lee's army represent that matters were entirely quiet yesterday, not even a skirmish occurring to disturb the repose of the army since its return from the pursuit of
Meade.
We have some few particulars of the capture of the
Yankee garrison at
Charlestown, on Sunday last, by
Gen. Imboden.
The enemy, it seems, were not apprised of the approach of our forces until the town was surrounded, and all the avenues of escape cut off. They then repaired to the
Court-House, in the yard of which they had built fortifications, and prepared to make a resistance.
General Imboden ordered up his artillery, which was placed on a hill south of the town, near where
John Brown was hung, and opened fire upon the Court-House square, some of the shells passing through the building.
Discovering that they were surrounded and that resistance was useless, the white flag was run up, and the whole Yankee force surrendered.
The number of prisoners captured was 440, all of whom were safely brought off.
Soon after the surrender,
Gen. I. was informed that a heavy force was moving against him from
Harper's Ferry, and he prepared to fall back towards
Winchester, taking what is known as the old road, by way of the
White House.
At
Summit Point, seven miles west of
Charlestown, his rear guard was overtaken by the enemy, with whom they became engaged, and the fight was kept up for four or five miles, when the
Yankees gave over the pursuit.
Gen. Imboden did not remain in
Charlestown long enough to gather up all the stores the enemy had accumulated at that point, and only brought off a portion of those captured.
The Yankee loss in killed and wounded in the town was not large.
Our loss in the retreat was about twenty-five killed and wounded.
