Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-10-20
From the Richmond Enquirer, 18th int
ALLEY CAMPAIGM SIEnIn.


RECORD.
The following official dispatches from Sheridan arc
published in the Northern papers. No previous ema
nation from the pen of this creature has so fully deye
oped the abyss of demonsm which enguphs bis heart
for the reason doubt, that the i1tOxcaton of 81
aud unexpected had been wanting to drown the
bitterness and the fears suggested ky previous disa
teIs:
WOODSTOCK, Va, Oct 10 Pm.
1t. Gen. .. s, GRANT:
have the honor to report my command at this point
onIght. l commenced moving back from Port Re-
public Mount Crawford, Bridgewater and Harrsou-
burg yesterday morning.
The grain and forage in advance of these points had
beer previously destroyed.
In moving back to this point the whole country from
the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain has been rar
dered untenabe for rebel army.
have destroyed over two thousand barns f!Gd with
wheat and hay and farming implements, over seventy
mils filed with -four and whsat have driven in rci
Of the enemy over tour herd of etoci, and have killed
and issued to the troops not less than three thousand
sheep.
This destruction embraces the Luray Valley on Lit.
tie Fort Valley, as we'll as the main Valley.
A large number of horses have betn obtained O pro
per estimate of which l capnot now make.
Lieutenant John R. Meigs, my engineer officer, VISA
murdered beyond Harrisonburg, Dayton. For
this atroGous act all the houses within area of FIVE
miles burned.
Since came into this Valley from Harper's Ferry,
every raia every small party, ard every straggr has
been bushwhackcd By the people, many OF whom have
protection papers from commanders who have been
hitherto in the Valley.
The people here are getting sick Of the war Hereto,
fore they have had reason to complain because they
have been living in great abundance
have not been followed by the enemy to this poiut
with the exception of sma force OF rebe cavalry that
showed themselves some distance behind my quad
| today.
| A party of one hundred of the EigbtL Ohio cavalry
| which bad stationed at the bridge over the North
Shenandoah, near Mount Jackson, was attacked by
Mcneil with seventeen men while they were asleep
and the whole party dispersed or captured. think
they will all turn up learn that fty-sX OF them had
reached Winchester. Mcneil was MORALLY wounded
and fell into our hands. his fortunate, he was
the most daring and dangerous of all tie bushwhacker5
in this section of the country.
P. II. SHERIDAN,
Major General.
His second despatch:
| STRAsBURG, VA,
October 9--Midnight
Lieutenant General Grant, C1ty Point:
| In coming back to this point, | was not followed
up until late yesterday when large force Of cavalry
appeared in my rear. l then halted my command to
offer battle by attacking the enemy l became salts.
fled that it only all the rebel cavalry OF the Valley
commanded by Rcsser, and directed Torbert to attack
at daylight this morning ard finish this Saviour of the
Valley.
The attack, was handsomely made. Gustav com.
manding the Third cavalry division, charged On the
back road, and Merritt commanding the First cavalry
division, on the Strasburg pike.
| Merritt captured five pieces Of artillery Cusar
captured six pieces of artillery with caissons, battery
forge, &C.
The two divisions captured forty seven wagons arr.
balances, &C. Among the wagons captured are the
headquarter wagons of Rosser, Lsmax, Wickham ara
Col. Pollard The number of prisoners will be abcG.
| three hundred and thirty.
The enemy, after being charged by our gallant cas-.
airy, broken and ran. They were followed by
men the jump 26 miles, through Mount jackson, and
across the north fork of the Shenandoah 1 deemed it
best to make this delay of day here and settle this
new cavalry general.
The eleven pieces of artillery captured today make
thrty-six pieces captured in the Shenandoah Valley
since the 18th of September Some of the artillery was
new and had been fred. The pieces marked
"Tredegar Works"
| P. II. SHERIDAN,
Major General.