The New York herald., 1864-10-24

alarm, offered some resistance 70 the rebels; but,
by orders, commenced falling back from their
camps form line Of battle. The reirograde movement
Of troops done under heavy muskery dre from
the enemy, and with deadly effect on our The
commands OF Generals Grover Bergc and Acting Brisa
der Generals McCauley and Moneaux kept their organi
Nations entire the rear until General Emory,
the corps commander, selected place TO form line Of
battle. The One Hundred and Fourteenth New York
regiment was detailed 10 act guard TO the corps train,
and did their work bravey, taking Oh tho ground and
out Of the enemys reach entire but not without heavy
loss In killed and wounded.
GEN wRiGBr COMMANDS GEH mBMDAHs AuERcE
General Wright Of the Sixth corps, in the absence Of
General Sheridan assumed command OF the army, turn
Ing bis own command TO Brig Gen. Ricketts, As soon
the alarm given be hastensd 70 the point Of A.
tack learned its nature, and not long in deciding
what necessary the army from q TO-
tal defeat The Sixth corps up this time occupied
ito camp TO the right and 10 line almost parallel 70 the
srasburg pike, its left resting 10 the rear Of the point
gained by the rebels He ordered the corps to change
position and form line Of battle right angles with the
pike, the left resting near Middesown.
The ground which the troops engaged rolling,
consisting Of dense woods sorghum fields and cleared
ground. All the time these movements being
cuted the enemy were advancing and pouring deadly
artillery and musketry FIRE ranks The Nineteenth
corps formed the right OF the Sixth corps and the
Army OF West virginia, which had received the shock OF
the first attack from the enemy, we're rallied by General
crook and formed the left Of position. In the rally
Ing OF General Crooks troops OF bis STAFF Captain p s.
Biers. Assistant Adutant General, met his DEATH Tho
enemy seemed think the prestige Of in their
and pushed forward triple columns Of attack
with impeuosity and apparent desperation seldom
witnessed on field OF battle.
THE ATTACK LINE BArILR
Our line Of battle was not fully formed before the
rebels in close range, and self General
Wright ordered the main action 10 commence. The
sixth and Nineteenth then opened Gre the rebels and
with good effect. The enemy checked aud
the engagement became general Gordons rebel division
occupied the right Of the enemy's iine Kershaws
next, wbartons and Ramseur's other commanders
still further to the left General Early superntended the
formation OF his line Of battle. The enemy pressed
the left Of line and forced t back until be gained
position the north side Of Aiddlsown. His
secured by stone walls, and hts artillery, which
merou fred Of woods TO the left Of the town.
In from camps the Nineteenth corps
portion OF its camp equipage Colonel Tnoburn, com.
mAnding First division Of Crooks corps, mortally
wounded Mddetowp while rallyng his men. Gen.
Ricketts, commanding Sixth corps, was wounded early
In the action.
GENERAL SHERIDAN ARRIVES
past ten O'Clock A. M when General Sheridan reached
the 6eld from his trip 70 Washington. He came into
lion with small escort, and his horse In heavy per-
spraton, having come on dead run for distance Of
thirteen miles As he reached the left Of line Of bat
tie, and bis presence known the troops made the
air reverberate with cheers. This feeling went like
electric wave through the ranks AS he passed he
spoke confidently TO his subordinate commanders and
troops. To the words Of officer engaged 10 the
tdant apriy l,yao IN
forcement OF twenty thousand veteran troops. He at
conferred with Genera, Wright, fully commencing
the latter sposon OF the troops, and sent orders TO
the other corps commanders TO advance and reoccupy
their old camqs. The ngni!ng was continued with obsti
macy both sides, charge aud countercharges Of in
fantry lines made the report or artillery in
cessant and the died with the noise OF whizz ing
shells and the whir Of Mime bullets The report OF
muskery fire surpassed. II seemed to roll In
load Of sound and continued TILL the close OF the
engagement with only slight intervals, when our troops
were ancag. Tue rebels would press right then
our centre and whole line; but front was
solid and imp pregnabe .*t
GENERAL SHERIDAN PLANK.
In The middle OF tho afternoon General sheridan deter
mined 10 make lnk movement the enemy's right,
ddetown aud for this purpose the Second division
OF the sixth corps, General Getty selected, sup
ported by the Second division or the Army Of Western
and two Of support, directly front OF the town OF Mid
dietowu. On tho slopes OF the co mmanding hills two
batteries OF The Fifth uaued States artillery were
posted while the sixth New York battery occupied q
position SIN further TO the left General Merrtts div
sion OF cavairy occupied . position on the left OF
infantry ine and were doing good service dur
ing the ertiro day. Tho time for the charge ar
rived General Sheridan in the rear OF the
third line, and when the word forward was given on
wen, troops 10 solid mass. The enemy soon
opened heavy fire Of musketry and artillery, and
for a moment seemed Incredible that troops could
withstand II. For moment they faltered, but few
words OF encouy agement their commanders sent
,nem forward with q shout The Nneteenth, on the
right and The Sixth corps were not idle The former
doing good work in doubling up the enemys hne
The The left successful rs was the At
acs on ,he centre right aud troops put the
rebels motion the retreat. Then came scene
rarely witnessed. The rebc ranks were melting away
under the charge meu. Tho rebel commanders
made almost superhuman efforts 10 retrieve their posi-
tiou but avail 0o, on went the rebels,
our cavalry troops close after them. The roads
strewed with guns, knapsacks, wagons and
artillery. The Nineteenth corps pressed the rebels hard
and forward with cheers and rapid speed mill they
gained their old camp ground rom which they bad been
driven IN the mornng The Nineteenth had hardly
reached their camp when they ordered forward TO
follow the rebels 10 strasburg They did this with
wiz, taking many prisoners a. they advanced. Their
infantry aud vairy reached strasburg, where the
houses town foulf hlcd with wounded rebels
The night Of tros,~ occupied Fishers Hi
white ,be cavalry pushed to Woodstock Gen Emory,
Of the Nineteenth corps, had bis horse killed under him
vcfoRf.
The re un OF our victory Is the capture of nfiy
pieces OF artillery, numerous wagons and
balances tile flags and nearly four thousand prison.
srs ,ol Lowe, of the One Hundred and sixteenth New
YORK captured the battle nag Of South Carolina regi
| men, and private Ira HUI. OF the Second Iowa reg.
meut tured the battle nsg OF Tennessee regiment
TARLys ARMY D spansnn.
Eariy army is dispersed, and upNl General zee
gives him another troops can rest on thar lauros
4 mn = ovuRlL cvr AND wouxpxo.