I append the following dispatches:
“Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
“December 23d, 1864.
“Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War.
“On the 20th, Gen. Early reported one division of the enemy’s cavalry, under Gen. Custer, coming up the valley, and two divisions, under Gen. Torbert, moving through Chester Gap, with four pieces of artillery and thirty wagons.
“On the 22d, Rosser attacked Custer’s division, nine miles from Harrisonburg, and drove it back, capturing forty prisoners.
“This morning, Torbert attacked Lomax near Gordonsville, and was repulsed and severely punished. He is retreating, and Lomax preparing to follow. R. E. Lee.”
“Dublin, December 20th, 1864.
“A dispatch from Gen. Breckinridge to-day, dated at Mount Airy, sixteen miles west of Wytheville, says he had fought the enemy for two days, successfully, near Marion. The enemy had retired from his front; but whether they were retreating to East Tennessee or not, he had not ascertained.”
“Charleston, December 22d, 1864.
“To Gen. S. Cooper.