Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-22
212

| perched upon our banner and tho reboi
army has been defeated and utterly ronted
with a loss of at least 1000 killed AM
wounded, including FIVE Generals, namely
Rhodes, Wharton, Bradley 7. johnson
Gordon York and Goldman; the two first
were killed and the others badly wounded
We have captured $500 prisoners. min,
oettle flags, representing nine different reg
mental organizations, and five pieces d
a tillery with caissons.
On Sunday morning Early sent Gordon ).
Division of rebel infantry from Rnrko1
Hill, where it had been stationed the mas,
few days, to drive Averill out of Martins-
burg and destroy the brid e on the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad across the Opequan
which they enormously thought had been
repaired. They occupied harrisburg for a
short time without doing any damage tc
railroad, and were eventually driven by
Averill as far as Darksville.
General Sheridan learning their move
ments, ordered the whole command TO
break camp and prepare to march, and
accordingly at three O'Clock Sunday the
tents were all strRek. The different Divis-
iona Iaea'a ssrsIoz and ro1zsruJ 70 Inuyg
at a movements warning.
About nine o'clock orders were reeeived
from Sheridan for the 9th and 18th corps-
to be ready to start at three o clock. and thJ
Army Of Western Virginia, under Cook
at i've the following morning. Shortly sf.
ter o o'clock Wilson's division of Cavalry
crossed the 0pequan at the Berryville and
Winchester pike, moving his command RAJ
pldly along the road, driving in the ene-
mys skirmish line. BE gallantIy CHARGED
the enemys field works with the Ist BRIG
sde, and carried them at the point of the
sabre, capturing 80 prisoners. In this
charge Col Brinton, Of the 18th Pennsyl-
yania cavalry, was murdered within q few
feet OF the enemys works whilst gallantly
leading his regihtnt.
The field works were con tructed by the
rebels to guard the ford at Opequan and
prevent our passage at that point. Our
cavalry have secured a safe passage for in
fantry, the 6th corps was moved across the
0pequan, and along the pike towards Win
chester, leaving its train on the opposite
side Of the stream, to point about mile
and half distant from the ford, where Il
formed in line of battle and threw out
strong skirmish line At the same time
the artillery opened on,the woods into which
the enemy's infantry had retired, and kept
up an incessant cannonade; the enemy
replying briskly with parts of two batter
les. There was q delay of at least two
hours caused by thenon-arTival of the 10th
corps, who through misconeeption of or
ders had failed to come up at the proper
time 14 5-e Ia -7i- =
General Sheridan having learned on
Sunday that the main portion of Earlys
forces were encsmped in the vicinity of
Bunker Hill and Stephenson's Depot, re-
solved to mass his forces on the Winches-
ter and Berryyille Pike and by rapid
movement hurl them on Early's rear.
There is no doubt but the enemy were
completely surprised and out maneuvered
by Sheridan. While mis- different columns
were being marched to the appointed place
of rendezvous, a portion of our cavalry,
under Generals Torbett and Averill, kept
up streng picket line along the Opequan,
that that pa part of the Hsid, winch was neatly
miles distant from the point where it was
intended our infantry should operate, and
strike blow which should result in the
signal defeat of Early s army.
The delay in the arrival of the 18th
| Corps enabled Early to move Gordons di-
vision on the double quick from Bunker
Hill, about ten miles, and bring it up in
time to form in line Of battle with Breck-
| inridges, Rains and Hoods commands,
who had already arrived and were formed
in a belt Of woods skirting Berryville and
Winchester.
AS soon as the 18th Corps arrived, ii
was formed in five lines of battle, about
1 An a-l- - ka -sr-hF - ~ Qkh
Corps, and everything being in readiness
the ordnance was planted at about twelve
O'Clock, and the different lines moved for.
ward.
The two corps advanced in splendid
style and as composedly as though march
ing at a review, or on parade. The frs
line had not advanced more than 20
yards before it became warmly engaged
with the enemy, who were posted in lin
about 600 yards distant At the same tim
our artillery opened furious cannonade
throwing shells and solid shot into the op
posite woods where the enemy could b
distinctly seen moving up reinforcement
Our different lines of battle continue
advancing steadily until within 200 yard
of the rebel line, when the enemy open
ed furious cannonade with grape an
canister from two batteries, which the
had previously kept secreted, and whic
ploughed through our advancing hne!
moving down large numbers of our mel
The first line was forced to give wa
! under so murderots fire, and in reatres
ing behind the second line, threw it INT
momentary confusion, and It also wi
obliged to fall back behind the third Lin
which had in the meantime been ordere
to lie down to avoid as much as possib
the whitening fire which the enemy's ba
terry were directing against the advancin
lines. The artillery were now brought U
and posted in commanding positions,
Q silence those batteries of the enemy wbic
had caussd us 50 much annoyance, and OF
T line was reformed and again moved 70
y ward, reguining tho advanced PositiC
e which they had held when the left we
Z obliged to fall back. s-i- l-l,.-
o But this success was not gained withol
Q the most obstinate resistance on the pa
g of the enemy. General Sheridan had pr
viously ridden along the lines, and was 7
/ ceived everywhere by the men with Il
b greatest enthusiasm, and when thay a
: yanced it was with the terrible determin
g ton to do or die in the attempt. HsviI
# regained the advanced position which '
had previously occupied, the different lin
e of battle were ordered to lie down and wa
/. the arrival of General Crooks Corr
o which was held in reserve on the easter
d side of the Opequan. They were ordert
. up to take their position on the extreu
y right of our line, and in order to counte
n act a movement on the part Of the enem
= who-Were massing troops on their le
e. flank with view of turning our right
le Precisely at three O'Clock General Gro,
b. formed on the right Of the 10Th Corps, /
o first division on the extreme right of o
n line, and the I'd division in the rear, su
d porting a division Of the 18th corps. Ge
$ eral Crook having formed his men, ro
along the lines, and was received with &