The New York herald., 1864-09-05
s 81 - R ! D a N /.
OPERATIONS or IHE UNION CAVALRY.
Longs Despatch.
ks.

division ordered 10 make reconnossance towTos
smiih1sd, some sisht miles from charestowa
Up to this date General Custer had been yns WIN ns
brigade at AntietAm ford, Nd The division started On
the expedition at seven A. NJ, Colonel GIBBS, with me
brigade taking tie advance. While De csno.A.
with his brigade brought up the rear, until joined ~
General Custer, who had marched from his position
the other side OF the Potomac dsybreak Nothing
Importance occurred until We arrived within about
mile OF Leeowp which point the was haNeA
and massed, General Merritt had cogsnt
surprising the enemy TO be near us Accordingly
the Second United States, under Lieutenant Has-
rison was ordered 10 forward and recon
noitre the town, while ths Fourth New Yors
sent by Colonel De Cesnola across tho country
wards Summit Point to make reconIossaace IL taas
vicinity.
pIcKxIs MEr AND DRIVEN ~
Only short time had elapsed when the second United
States sent back report that the enemys pckets had
been met, and General Merritt Immediately ordered
Colonel Gibbs to send another regiment 10 their assiss
Accordingly tho Sixth Pennsylvania, under MAJOR
starr, sharp skrmishiag had already con
menced, and the end OF twenty minutes or half aA
hour the reserve brigade ordered TO move up 70
eetown and part In the melee leaving De Cesnoas
brigade the Of the reconnaissance on ths
Sml,hdeld and Summit Point road Shortly afterwards
the Fourth New York reported slat
tns neghborhood Of smithheld aud General Merritt
ordered the regiment to 90 reoaed aud reotn the brgSs
1HE FIGHT IN rHr rows.
Msanwh,ie tho sSmishiue continued 10 Inc soWn, tns
enemy having taken possession trees housetops
nc. pouring destructive Are upon Tie First
United States ordered to charge through the town
ana oust the rebel r,emen from their osIon Seye-
raj gallant charges were made, aud the rebels
were at at driven from .ae town although Il must be
desperately aud made several charges upon the Frss
United states and portions OF the First New York dra
goons and sixth Pennsylvania cavalry IN all oi WHOA
they we're repuised with loss.
raK CHAR0SIBuTEaANr HOVER. FIRST REGULAR cAyALaY
KILLED.
In ne n ha m mana uVyn
Hoyer OF the First United states was Killed al the
head OF his squadron Coloue De Cesuoa VITO witnessed
the charge he has but rarely officer conduce
himset with such galautry. Lieut.. hoyer was tbs
nephew Of Hoo. simon Cameron he was brave ana
efficient officer and quite young and death - deeply
regretted by The entire command He entered tho army
during March, 1852 and was graduate OF West Point
RsREIs FORCED RACK
After oustiug the enemy from the town he gradu
ally forced back by Gbbs brigade distance beyond
hills little beyond the village, the left OF the road
support the reserve brigade that was very hoy 90
gagged. Finally the rebels fell back and showed -
further signs Of contest,ng the way when
vance pressed their rear guard Too closely
the enemy seemed inclined to dispute the way oass
Ills skirmishers, being conceaed IN the houesst
Merritt sent word TO he Cesnola 70 dslodye them "
Cesnola immediately threw forward strong line q
mounted skirmishcr to surround the town while hs a.
vanced eisurey with his brigade. When the 6ecoaA
brigade do Cesnolas entered tho town sharp fro va
opened upon from almost every house and street cor
and squadron OF the Fourth New York ordersA
charge through ana clear the streets. BY this time
skirmishers had almost surrounded the place. and v
avoid capture the rebes had to leave IN considerable
haste De Cesnoa followed them up smary. aud planteA
his batteries on the outskirts Of tho town. =
section being In tho road and . section =
the fields 10 the left. 10 positions that oo.-
manded the surrounding country for distance.
haste for grace or dignity, but when Lieutenant TayoP
opened upon them with bis battery thsy broke acros
the open country tho confusion, displaying
ASTONISHING depth Of bottom and soundness OF wind
They followed up Tor about two miles, and As It was
getting late aud rebels could be found, orders were
Custer who had Joined US during the day. enoamped %
tho right the reserve brigade the centre, while Ds
Cesnola formed the left OF the Winchester and Berry
vile pike
On the morning Of the 2sh General Custer ordered
to proceed across the opequan and stir the enemy.
| ss practcabIe He hsd hardly cro,sed the npeauas
however, whom no became hoy engaged with the enemy
Between ten and eleven O'clock ~ the nring gradually
pressed and was falling back and the almost
OF his plainly told that he strainuG
| every nerve to defend himself
For time previously heavy clouds Of dust had
been seen to rss on the Winchester pike and IL new
proved to bs column Of infantry. Custer held toe
| enemy until one O'Clock P M lighting with hts
usual determination yet the odds were vastly agaiass
him. and be obliged though reluctantly, 70 recross
tho opequan, where he met the balance Of the dvsoa
moving up TO his support. At 5mthned Custer brigade
Gbbs brigade also depoyed in front TO support him
ana instantly sent to De Cesnoa to bring hb
brigade TO tue town and suppor; Custer aud Gibbs
CKsNoLA'e OPERATION.
Although De Cesuoa ooeyod the order with the greAsss
just as the enemy was makngs furious onslaught upoa
our line He instantly dsmounted the Ninth New York
to the assistance OF the reserve brigade, which
furiously beset by the enemy The regiments
@ wsn wn S enesp anG
| ley, OF the Ninth New York, dangerously
| wounded In tho meantime Colonel De Cesnoa sent
| section OF Tayor's battery, under Leutenant
McGlvery TO the front TO punish the enemy McGvery
advanced MS pieces out upon the centre Of the ssrmas
canister His battery was 80 close and his range 30 gooA
that he soon swept the enemy from cesnoas 'front.' leav
ing them To fall upon GIBBS and Custer with greater Vie
than Assaled by such numbers the divisioa
last ordered fall back through the town and 70
formed Just beyond. As Lieutenant Cuyer was retiring
ono OF his caissons blown up by rebel shell Al.
most every house smthdeid soon became oiled wth
the rebel rGemen even the beifry Of the church was
occupied by the enemy's snspshooters AZ ths point
Lieutenant Cuyer lost two 10 his section by rebel
| shell
brought hi. batteries upon u.s. and the atr
for a while was hed with shells and solid shot and We
obliged to fall back about mics to the higA
ground where the division formed and batteries
placed IN position, and the enemy held 10 check unta
General Ricketts, division OF the Sixth army corps
up TO our support which was much needed, ~ 10 were
| GxsEaAla xEaaIrT AND RICKETTS, WIN rgs DAT.
General Merritt was on the field and directed tue oppe-
Of the division person His calmness, At the
most critical moments, inspired the command with tns
utmost confidence General Ricketts, formed bis dtvissoa
10 the position that had been held BY the cavalry, sr1
Merritt prepared TO advance again Colonel Gibbs formed
the rlgh, OF the infantry line and 10 Cesooa on the
lott and ths tide OF battle soonturned Tho eaemy,
perceving that had bsen enforced began 20 give
ground ard 6oaly started 10 full retreat towards smith
ned. We followed them Tar as the Upequan aoA
took possession OF Smithned whore We remained lntt
morning
coLorsL m OEsNofAs
bad expi cd tho 10Th instant he scruped to eave
the command in the midst of sctvs campaign, esps
csy after the gallant Devin had been disabled and
| trusted the Second brigade in bis hands and
General Merritt had made . written request tor
HIM to retain command of the brigade, the
when he 90 longer Sed vistas commend or rscsivsi
peouniary remuneration for hts services De Ccsno'a
about 10 leave ths command tor New York with por-
ton " nis regiment whose OF enlistment has ex-
pred trust will be long time before the Americaa
people forget tho services OF this gallant officer VINO
not only ono " taiys nobemsu but one Of natures,
~ho nobv rendered bis sword to our country -
her hour Of need
opYcnrs WOUNDED.
On the 3oth First division was ordered TO Berry