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Washington, Sept. 20, 1804. Major General Dix, New York: The following dispatch has just been received j from General Sheridan's department: Harper's Ferry, Sept. 20, 7:30 A. M. Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War: Just heard from the front. Sheridan has de feated the enemy heavily, killing and wound ing five thousand, capturing twenty-five hun dred prisoners, five pieces of artillery, and five battle flags. j The rebel Generals Gordon and Rhodes were killed, and York wounded. Our loss is about two thousand. j General Russell, of the oth corps, was killed. I 'eneral Mcintosh lost a leg. The enemy escaped tip the valley, under cover Sheridan is in Winchester. J. D. Stevenson, Brigadier General. Major General Sheridan transmits to General Grant the following official report, just received by the department: Lieutenant General U. S. Grant: I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces of General Early over the Berry ville pike, at the crossing of Opequan Creek, and, after a most stubborn and sanguinary engagement, Which lasted from early in the morning unti five o'clock in the evening, completely defeatec him, driving him through Winchester, and cap turing about twenty-five hundred prisoners, five pieces of artillery, nine army flags, and most of their Avounded. The rebel General Rhodes and Gordon were killed, and three other general officers wounded. Most of the enemy's wounded, and all their killed fell into our hands. Our losses are severe; among them General D. A. Russell, commanding a division in the Gth corps, who was killed by a cannon ball. Generals Upton, Mcintosh and Chapman Avere Avounded. I cannot yet tell our losses. The conduct of the officers and men was most supurb ; they charged and carried every posi t ion taken by the rebels from Opequan creek to Winchester. The rebels were strong in num bers, and very obstinate in their fighting. I desire to mention to the Lieutenant General commanding the army the gallant conduct of Generals Wright, Crook, Emory, Torbet, and the officers and men under their command; to them the country is indebted for this handsome victory. A more detailed report will bo forwarded. P. H. Sheridan, Major General commanding. Full details of casualities will be given when received by the department. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. SECOND OFFICIAL BULLETIN. Washington, Sept. 20, 9 P. M. Major General Dix, New York : The following is tho latest intelligence received from General Sheridan: " Harper's Ferry, Va., Sept. 20, 8 P. M. Hon! Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War ; The body of General Russell has arrived ; as soon as embalmed it will bo forwarded to NeAV General Mcintosh, with a leg amputated, has just come in. He is in gopd spirits. Several of ficers from tho front report the number of pris oners in excess of three thousand. Tho number j of battle-flags captured was fifteen instead of I at Kearnstown. I sent forward, this morning, ample medical I supplies, and full subsistence for the entire army goes forward. If you do not hear from me often it will be because of the distance Aye are from the scene of action, and because I send you only such information as I esteem reliable. John D. Stevenson, Brigadier General." The President has appointed General Sheridan a brigadier in the regular army, and assigned him to the permanent command of the Middle Military Division. General Grant has ordered the armies under his command to fire a salute o one hundred guns at 7 o'clock to-morrow morn ing, in honor of Sheridan's great victory. A despatch just received from General Sher man at Atlanta says: " Everything continues well with us." The reports of to-day slioav that the draft is proceeding quietly in all the States. In most o the districts vigorous efforts are continued to fil the quota by volunteers before the drafted men are mustered in. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. War Department, Washington, Sept. 21, 10:15 A. M. Major General Dix, New York : This department has just receiA-ed tho follow ing telegram, announcing the continued pursuit Of the rebels by General Sheridan. Cedar Creek, Avhero Sheridan was crossing at three o'clock 3-esterday afternoon, is a short distance this sido of Strasburg. He had pursued the rebels over thirty miles from the point where he attacked them at daylight on Monday : " Harper's Ferry, Sept. 21. Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War: Reliable news from the front. Our army was crossing Cedar Creek yesterday at three P. M.— No fighting. The folloAving list of rebel generals killed and wounded is correct: Generals Rhodes, Ramseur, Gordon, Terry, Goodwin, Bradley Johnson, and Fitz. Lee. From all I can learn, the prisoners will approximate five thousand.— The indications are that the rebels Avill not make a stand short of Staunton. They are evidently too much demoralized to make another light. John D. Stevenson, Brigadier General." General Grant transmits the folloAving extract from the Richmond Senti7iel of yesterday : " A slight ripple of excitement was produced here yesterday, by the report that a Yankee raiding party was advancing on Gordonsville, and Avas within a feAV miles of that place. The I result of all our inquiries on this head is, that this report originated in the fact, that early yes terday morning a party of Yankee raiders, whose number is not known, visited liapidan bridge, and, after destroying it, proceeded to Liberty Mills, five or six miles above, Avhieh they also destroyed. From this latter place they are be lie\ed to have gone back to Culpepper." The operation alluded to by tho Richmond Sentinel was by a force sent out previous to the battle of Monday. Edavin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. . Headquarters M. M. Division, Six Miles from Woodstock, Sept, 22,11:30 P. M. Lieutenant General IT. S. Grant: I havo the honor to report that I achieved a J most signal victory over the army of General I Early at Fisher's Hill to-day. North Mountain, and occupying a position Avhieh appeared almost impregnable. After a groat deal of manoeuvring during the day, General Crook's command was transferred to the extreme right of the line, on North. Mountain, and he furiously attacked the left ol tho enemy's line, carrying everything before While Crook was driving the enemy in the greatest confusion, and sAveeping doAvn behind their breastworks, the 6th and 19th army corps attacked the rebel works in the front, and the whole rebel army appeared to be broken up.— They fled in the utmost confusion. Sixteen pieces of artillery were captured ; also, a great many caissons, artillery horses, <fco. lam to-night pushing on down the valley. I cannot say how many prisoners I have captured, nor do I know my OAvn or the enemy's casuali- Only darkness has saved the whole of Early's army from total destruction. My attack could not be made until four o'clock in the evening, AAdiich left but little day-light to I operate in. The Ist and 3d cavalry divisions went doAvn the Luray Valley to-day, and if they push on vigorously in the main valley, the result of this day's engagement will be still more signal. The victory is very complete. A more detailed report will be made as soon as I can obtain the necessary data. P. H. Sheridan, Major General Commmanding. It will be remembered that Early's command embraced the Stonewall Brigade and troops con stituting Stonewall Jackson's corps, and Avas tho elite of the rebel army. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. Profitable Business.—A gentleman at a ladies' fair lately, being solicited to buy some thing by a young creature who kept a table, said ho wanted Avhat was not for sale—a lock of her hair. She promptly cut off tho coveted curl, and received the sum asked for it, one hundred dollars. The purchaser was showing his trophy to a friend. "She rather had you," said tho friend; "to my certain knowledge she only paid three dollars for the Avhole wig." •i» _ , _ Increased Pensions.—The act of July 4, 1801, increases the invalid pensions of those Avho have lost both hands or both eyes to tAventy five dollars per month, and those who have lost both feet to twenty dollars per month. It also provides for disabled unenlisted men, or those temporarily servmg with tho regularly organ ized military or naval force, as well as for their AvidoAA'sand other dependent relatives; and for cases Avhere there is no evidence of muster-in. Michael Angelo must have been a Avicked Avag, not overburdened with tho spirit of true faith. It is said, that Avhen told that he had, in one of his paintings, given too florid a complex ion to the Apostle Peter and Paul, he replied that he had notportrayed them as they appeared upon the earth, but as they were likely to look in heaven, where they blushed for tho lives of I their successors. i ♦ i —Two hundred and forty-three deserters from the rebel army took tho oath of amnesty at,