The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-10-24
LATEST FROM THE NORTH.


the Goth and 2lst instant and give condensation
of the intelligence they contain:
THE FIGHT vALLEY-aCcorST OF TUE EN-
rMy's suRPRIsE-APPEARANcE SHERIDAN ON
THE GRorSp--TBE ALLEGED CAPTURES FROM GEM
ERAL FARLY-
The Hera!d of the DIST is full of accounts of the
fight near Straaburg on Wednesday last, illustrated
with maps &c. It appears that the Confederates
had the enemy completely roated, but made halt
after crossing Cedar creek; and, in the meantime,
Sheridan, who had been absent a visit to WASH
ington arrived on the ground and reformed his
scattered troops In the first portion of the fight
the Yankees admit d loss Of five thousand. with
General Bidwell killed. and Generals Wright Rick
etts and Grover wounded letter in the Herald
says of our attack on Wednesday:
AT a given signal las we afterwards learned) the
enemy advanced rapidly solid columns of Tegi-
ments. Our pekets were charged-some of them
captured and some of them driven in-hardly be-
fore they had time to discharge their muskets. In
fact, OF what few pickets did in. the enemy
came in 80 after, and close to them, that it
was near Il tie TO which parties warned the sum-
bcring camp Of the army OF the danger near at
hand
Having driven in captured piekcts on the
left OF the line of the infantry of the army, the
enemy charged across Cedar creek ut the ford, and
soon after on the bridge over SAID stream, and
reached the side Of the hin and bTeastwoIks occu-
pied by Thorburn's division, of the Eighth army
corp=Crook's. The rebels hesitted not but pressed
on as a dashing cataract, over al barriers, COM
pctcly surprising, and III measure stanpeding, the
left OF General Shcrdan's line. BY this success the
enemy "aincd some artillery, | believe the Four
teert pennsylvania battery and some pieces OF
regular battery. The suddenness of the attack and
its wonderful success for short time bowildercd the
troops 80 suffering. Many of them Were taken pri
soners, but by far the greater portion got away
and with their arms. The other division of Crooks
VIII NJ mo IN firm i'll
and joined in line by the remaining por
ton of Thorburns division. All this while the
enemy kept pressing on and pouring in upon our
men rapid and murttcrous fire-a tire from mus
kerry also from artillery posted upon the hills
the opposite side of Cedar creek.
Having directed a column against Crooks forces
the enemy quickly turned his attention toward the
right OF the pike where the Nineteenth corps (Gen
era Enory's command) was gotten into line and his
artillery to work at short range. At this time
bold charge was made by the enemy under cover of
his guns to capture EfnOry's artillery. In mea-
this charge successful, although it was re-
sisted with great vigor and bya fire that would have
done credit to the best of veterans under the most
trying circumstances In the charge the rebels took
ofc two pieces of the First Maine battery and
believe portion Of the Chase battery. What most
helped the rebels the exact range which they
got of our pieces-the ones capturcd-from the eIe-
waited, commanding position on the opposite Sldc of
the creek.
As soon as the fight commenced and it was known
how the left had suffered, the Sixth corps passed
corps was located III the commencement of the en-
gagtmCHt The trains, too, were got out speedily
as possible, taking the pike road to Winchester,
where they arrived in safety
The enemy discovering the success OF his surprise,
and believing that it WAS now for him ONLY 10 tr-
unphantly advance, tand, by the way, must men,
ton that 1t now broad daylight brought his
columns and artillery across Cedar creek to press
the yllrSt with yjgor While this vas being done,
and brief lull prevailed, line contracted,
and commenced slowly falling back. The enemy
messed the pursuit randy and with great persist
enry.
rrt ~ to,,, I,,, o,, J., Il, r, so,,o ,f q, .
ti'' ~''' ~ 0
movements which took place previous 10 the hSh''
which arc lnpoTtans a; we'll as interesting
,,, H.. ~ .1 ai1 ,--,, W., s~+ +o
ot.' t,a u'S ~ - az" tba t'., ,,o,,iort
FiohI h"E tie i.',lhui ti.t 81 ri 'I
tHal II WA "oout iilof'nE ~ 49,
"if'i', ana t'i1 i'5h'o' itacie" te <i'en5
Nh'tt no T'n1 Itutsu we ''o . "rD' " I
cru '''t,'lu''ii ,nt t'it o " - ,.,,t WV - ~ 49,
,! anI n,osd in th, reserve nosit,dn shown
cl'.i , 'ii'I' i'o',' e.. ~ ~ So ] ~ Ii ,,ti
upon ga, mp. 'I', I t' 80 ~
to position lahed, 't'h'Iti Hh'ft''il one eve
ling proceeded 10 tlt he"utriaIttlS ol '"iEliei
iv"eu' toi,t'iH'lidn1 te '7c'o az '9"ii VI t M
then near Front Royal and studied out plan with
General l".b'it' Cih'i "i ct'iifti yoI OK, ~ & &H'
Vu""fHt '"t"', '", '"., "'.1 - @ " In; ~;
latter purpose Merritt ana FoWtfS cavalry diVi-
Si"ns, during the same l'3h'' |'ie NOV" uti"S9
h"th p'ah iles 81 'h' 'l'''i4'''i,i @ l'"
morning Il oNptt'h "!@ 'dl't"'',i NOM ''i''''''
~a'''S' ~ - t''' i''iiN' ~
tile latter thtt sicthl l"iili"icehll WE ON t' -
way 70 J"iit MN 70 'l''i' hi"i 10 crush
Out oi '.e N.dte3 III |TnS'i"el'.' u Wv.
OF thiN diHltth' ti!t C'Na4iS hlOFoh"I Wa "''i'-
d"nad Io"tli n manning near front Royal ON the
left Of Sheridan line, ahd Merritt MOVING btch
again towards the lIShi ol tie army ilhF' hl ui'
rear of Custer. Next morning after the abandon
Incnt OF the cavalry movement, General Sheridan
took slntl escort ana som" 4" ms stan ana pro-
oecded rapidly 10 PIEDMONT Where ne was met py
General Au@rr. lie tlltn sent ms escort PACK, ana
procreGed to " dShlhgton direct. FROM "aStlhS'
ton he next moved TaplGiy [" Maltni9e'us. mere;
leaving Inc railroad me- He mounted III, l''fs i
plkcd u up |" lhCIeStcF, arriving teto Oh ihe
evening ot the lSth. 'hrhi% lae "ir5ie Ilhlc con,
Sumeu D! hih Journey ne was improved III t'iG n'oo
important EdL!ler ana toward u!t accompaniment
OF an end that dalc not now MAKE punte-
arriving az "ih iiss'1r, me ueieih itni'l''u II l
There "t the E4it ~ u'"i"I w ~ o''A"'' nv '" "
urea ot uaNttl1S' oHL u'uae Il "9 hScS9.'i i
should remain there lof purposes "~ttciuaht ~ on
consultation on th@ POT ., u,stlii. ul9ie 'i'''
ON the morning of the 18th, General Sheridan
-,,-I his 'front.' linz Of batfIr lie T1maincd but
short time and then took horse toward the scene
of conflict
If. left Winchester about half-past seven in the
morning, and reached the field of battle i'll tive
hours aIteTwnrd
HIS presence upon the Held was indeed heeltdailo
desired. He found the army in anything but
pheasant position, ia ANYTHING but position Sulta-
be to the interests If the country, and certainly Il
the wishes and ambition Of commanding general
On hi, way up the General met string" Of teams
going to the rear that would have had tendency Il
! discourage, IN measure, even Napoleon. H'
found the road full of straggers and wounded men
men without aims OF me o"dy, iiIt iH4s 'iioit
without arms OF the United States. ite foIind d