The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-10-18

from enc oUc who va formerly "a ihis -
Gee, as il gives an excellent account II The
part taken 10 ne recent oampagn by TIE
Vermont Brigade. and 90 equally graphic
DESCRIPTION = ,hc manner q lie IN the She
nandoah Valley
CAAr 5rH VI. NoLuNrEgRs.
Near Harfisonburg. Va, Seps "a, '64
Dear Parents SIT is with indiscnbatle
feelings that | scat myself Ibis morning, to
communicate 70 you the account d another
weeks hard agh,ing aud marching in the
Ola Shenandoah Valley
We broke camp near Berryyiile on the
morning o. the 10th, between tbs hours Of
two and three, and took up cur line Of march
on The pike-road towards Winchester, our
cavalry leading the advance. About SIX
o'clock they became engaged with the enc
my's pickets, about four miles from the city.
They fought them until the infantry came
up and then they we're relieved. Our Brig.
ade led the corps, and was therefore the
first on the ground. Our regiment was
commanded b. Capt, Brown. and oriag to
The regiment being so small and without Of
hcers, We were BY order consolidated into
ave companies, aud officers from other reg
iments ia the brigade assigned to their com
mand, As the General was at home on fur
Tough the brigade was commanded by Col.
Warner, Of the 18th VI. This was the shape
in which the old Yermontw as led into battle.
AS | said before, we were first on the ground
we moved forward 10 line Of battle up to
where the cavalry had held and fought them
from daylight; in doing this we were ex-
posed to a heavy fire Of shell from the enc
N.Y. batteries and forts, | ut strange to sta e
we reached the ground without sustaining
much injury. Here VIC halted and waited
until the whole army had gained a position
on the line, which took several hours the
artillery keeping upa continuous fire. Now
came the bloody work Of the day. The ar
t%illery cea'ed firing on both sides, and our
whole army was ordered forward; rs soon
as We came through q thick growth Of small
timber and brush. the cncmy's whole line
opened upon US a Calling FIRE Of shot and
she'll. We pus cd forward on a double
quick from one %rayiue to another until we
reached the crest Of a bin whore We stopped
to take breath. The rest Of The way was an
open plain. We were again ordered forward
on the double quick, with q yell. The ter
rife shower from their lines greatly scatter
ed our columns, and then il was every man
for himself We had nearly gained their
lines when The 18th corps, that was on our
right, was forced bock in great disorder
which nearly created a panic along the whole
line. BY their being driven back we we're
obliged 10 do the same. which We did N Ike
ma mel, every one for his own dear lie.
Wien they saw us FILLING back they imme-
diately wheeled gheir cannon that we had
obliged them to draw back some distance
upon us, and opened upon us as we retreat
Ell with grape and canister. 1t was u ter
rible sight to behold. We gained a rayinc, III :
der cover Of our artillery aud as soon as this
wa. done our caunon oPcncd all along ne
liBe to prevent them tollowin ing Us up or gain
ing any ground. 1t now seemed rs il We
had lot all that we had gained. We re-
manned in these %rayincs nearly three hours
until We hid formed our lines ngain, during
this time s,rctcher bearers were busily en-.
gagged carry ng Off our killed and wounded.
1t had got to be nearly 3 %o'elocG before
another forward movement was ready. BY
this time we had gained breath, and We
moved forward in line in splendid style,
keeping the lines well closed as fast MS the
we're broken; we advanced up to a board
fence that ran parallel with our lines and
laid down aud commenced firing. We con-
tinued SO to do for many minutes when the
18th corps made a splendid charge on their
(encmy's) left flank aud completely routed
them; and then their whole line gave way
and rctreated IN great disorder. Our cayat
~ made o dash upon their retreating col
umn and captured several stand. u c%alors,
and many officers and men. Atthis moment
our line pushed on with a yell That could be
heard for miler; we followed them up to the
city when we stopped to rest, they keeping
10 full retreat and our cavalry tight to then
heels. They left many Of their wounded al
the houses in the city. We eamped the 9th.
er side Of the city for the night; started mex
morning at daylight. and marched 70 stras
burg. Here they had made a stand and 10.
tended to stop US st fll hazirds. We cross.
ell Cellar Geek, which runs near the toxin.
and camped for the night. Next day about
noon we advanced towards their lines and
built up works Of rails to shelter US from ih'
minutes, while our ar Iiery opened Ere /,
ascertain their exact position. Here We bac
cur Brigaas color bearer shot dead. AbouI
dark oGr Airmishers aud sharp-sbooteri
made a charge, aud drove their skirmisher,
in to within a quarter II a mile q their for
tidcations. After dark We again advance.
up 70 The position hell BY cur skirmisbers
aad commenced throwing Up breast Hortst
and by daylight We had them completed
We laid behind them until Afternoon, sbel
We had orders to adyance and charge On
their works. II looked ike reckless move,
meni to al, even GeRs. Wright aud Crook
we're opposed 10 il. But Gen. sheridan
knew that hs could dig them OUT y he trisd