he left a force to engage Thoburn, and pushed on a portion to attack New Creek or this place. New Creek is pretty well fortified; this is not. The wires, I fear, will be cut to-night.

B. F. KELLEY,

Brigadier-General.

Brigadier-General CULLUM,

Chief of Staff, Washington.

CUMBERLAND, MD., January 5, 1864. - 9 a. m.

(Received 11. 30 a. m.)

My re-enforcements have all arrived. I am now ready for Lee and Rosser. Thoburn is yet safe at Petersburg. The enemy have kept beyond the reach of his guns. As soon as the men get rested we will relieve Thoburn. The railroad, telegraph line, and public property are yet all safe-9 a. m.

B. F. KELLEY,

Brigadier-General.

Brigadier-General CULLUM

Chief of Staff.

CUMBERLAND, MD., January 7, 1864. - 8 p. m.

(Received 10. 15 p. m.)

Dispatch just received from Colonel Thoburn, First Virginia Infantry, commanding at Petersburg, advises me that the rebels have fallen back from the valley of the South Branch toward the Shenandoah Valley, and will doubtless join Early near Strasburg or Mount Jackson. Quite a number of deserters have come into Thoburn's camp. They report the troops in South Branch Valley to have been three brigades - Lee's, Rosser's, and Walker's-all under Fitzhugh Lee. They report their failure to take Petersburg, New Creek, and Cumberland to be because they could not get their artillery forward, in consequence of the roads. They had no train; were compelled to subsist on the country. They have suffered terribly. The raid thus far to them has been severe, while they have not been able to inflict any injury on us.

B. F. KELLEY.

Brigadier-General.

Brigadier-General CULLUM,

Chief of Staff.

CUMBERLAND, MD., January 8, 1864-9 p. m

(Received 11 p. m.)

The following dispatch just received from Lieutenant Myers, commanding scouts. The force referred to in this dispatch is the same that threatens New Creek. The troops that were threatening Colonel Thoburn at Petersburg retreated through Moorefield toward War-