From the "General News" article of the Baltimore Gazette of the 20th we make the following extracts:
The battle on the North side.
A correspondent of the New York Herald gives the details of this spirited affair. From these we gather that General Birney did actually capture the works in question, capturing quite a number of prisoners, and that he held possession for some hours. During the afternoon, however, the enemy massed an immense number of troops in front of Birney, and recaptured the position by throwing a heavy force between his two brigades, which were separated from each other by a ravine, and by opening upon them an enfilading fire. Under these circumstances, Birney was compelled to abandon the works he had captured in the morning, and to fall back out of range of the artillery which had been brought to bear upon him.The Federal cavalry, under Gregg, attacked and drove the enemy from some works on the New Market road, but were attacked in turn and driven back upon the infantry supports. In this engagement Colonel Gregg was severely wounded. * * * *
The Washington Chronicle says that though it has been reported that fifteen hundred prisoners have been captured from the Confederates on the north side of James river, it would be safer to put the number down at five hundred. We are also told that one of the objects of the expedition was to prevent the enemy from drowning out the men engaged in digging the canal across Dutch Gap A few had been drowned and a considerable amount of stores swept off before Grant interrupted the operation.
From the Valley — Sheridan's retreat.
General Sheridan, who started on the 9th from Hall Town, Virginia, to drive Early up the Shenandoah Valley, bring him to battle, and, if possible, defeat him, advanced with this intent as far as Strasburg; but in consequence of the capture of his supply train, he soon afterwards fell back to Winchester, reaching that place on. Tuesday last. His sudden return from an expedition, on whose success very high hopes were based, has caused quite a trepidation all along the border, and has given rise to innumerable rumors, some of which may be true, but the most of which are undoubtedly false.The only trustworthy accounts of the movements up the Valley and down again are that frequent skirmishing took place during the advance to Strasburg, and that a cavalry fight occurred near Strasburg, in which the Federal troops were successful — the Confederates losing two stands of colors, twenty-four officers and two hundred and seventy-six men taken prisoners. On the other hand, Sheridan lost, by capture, a detachment guarding a signal station near Strasburg, and also five hundred men who were subsequently sent up the mountain to regain the position. He also lost, near Berryville, seventy-two wagons, forming the greater part of his supply train, and one hundred and fifty of the escort.
Sherman's Communications — Wheeler's operations.
The telegrams in regard to Wheeler's operations at and around Dalton are exceedingly muddled. --On Sunday and Monday last Wheeler is reported to have attacked the Federal garrison at Dalton, and to have been put to flight in great confusion by troops sent to the relief of the garrison by General Steadman. It is now represented that Steadman, in advancing from Chattanooga three days later, met Wheeler at Graysville, north of Dalton, and but eight miles distant from Chattanooga; that a fight ensued, in which General Steadman was badly wounded, and Colonel Straight, of Indians, killed. In one account of this affair the result is not stated; but in a telegram from Nashville it is reported that Wheeler was defeated. Another Confederate force was, on Wednesday last, at Cleveland, a point on the Knoxville road, northeast of Chattanooga. A brigade had been sent from Chattanooga to drive off the enemy and re-occupy Cleveland.
The Tallahassee.
It is reported that the Tallahassee is blockaded at Halifax by a Federal gunboat.But from Halifax direct we learn that up to noon yesterday the Tallahassee had not been blockaded as reported. She had taken on board some three hundred chaldrons of coal, and intended to increase the quantity to five hundred chaldrons; but the English Admiral on that station forbade her receiving any further supply. If not intercepted in the mean-time, she was to have sailed last evening.
Gold.
The Gazette says there was a sale of gold at the Baltimore Board on the 19th at 258, an advance of 2.
