Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-21

at richmond Monday, November 9TH.
ALL QUIET BEFORE PETERSBURG.
The ReralFs 9Th Corps special says
The quiet prevailing in our front for sew
ersl days still continues. The most friend
ly relations exist between picksts- Our
cannon are also silent
A FIGHT EFFECTED IN THE VALLEY.
The HeraEds correspondent with Sheri-
dan, 18th, says the position taken upon
our right is unquestionably of great i'm
portance. 1t is here the rebels must at
tempt to turn General Shesidan's line if
they propose to engage in offensive move
ments. This correspondent, in closing his
letter, says fight is daily expected,
FROM sHERnAN's ARMY.
NEW YORK, Oct. 20.
The Worlds special with Sheridan's
army, under date of the 18th, sends the
following:
On every morning during the present
week but this, troops had been In readiness
at daybresk for an attack which inforns-
tion furnished by our scouts had led US to
expect. This precaution, which had proved
unnecessary before, was for some reason
omitted this morning, apprehensions of
another attack having died away.
The army was posted along the north
bank of Cedar Run, the Army of West
Virginia on the left OF the Winchester and
Strasburg turnpike the extreme left rest
ing on the Shenandoah; the 18th corps on
the centre, or right of the pike and the
6th corps on the right
In theabsence of General Sheridan, who
was just returning from Washington, and
who slept in Winchester last night, Gen.
Wright commanded the army, Gen. Rick
etts being in command Of the 9Th corps.
A dense mist enveloping the country,
favored the enemy's design.
On the previous night Geueral Early,
who proved to be still in command, had
massed three divisions of infantry, Pc
grams Gordon's and Ramssurs, alta con-
cealed point, threatening our extreme left,
the two remaining divisions, Wharton's
and Kershaw's, being moved from Fishers
Hill along the pike, threatening our CEN
tire.
Shortly before daylight this morning
while our army, dresmless of danger, was
soundly sleeping picket assault was made
on our right. Rapid and continuous dis
charge of sentinel muskets extended along
our front towards the left, when suddenly
the rebel infantry advanced against Cen
eral Crooks position in solid columns,
pouringa fierce fire on our flank and front.
Only portion of oar troops manned the
breastworks when the assault COM
menced. 1t was so energetic and deadly
as to break the lines at once. The men of
~ l.--:----- .----- - -
breastWorks, into which the enemy came
Aocd ding like the sea. They entered the
eneampnent in rear of the works, where
the soldiers, scarcely awakened, were ae-
tually rising from their blankets. TOsave
the artillery at the breastworks became
the desperate object when the assault was
first discovered, but the nature of the
| ground rendered this next to impossible.
Battery B, of six guns was captured en-
tire. By superhuman efforts all but one
gun of the 5th Regular Battery was saved,
leaving seven guns in the hands of the
enemy. f.aa.
In the meanwhile the enemy still ad-
vanced, completely turning the left flank
of our army, and were nearing the pike
on the heights above. The whole army
was by this time aroused. Wagons, am
balances and artillery we're making for the
rear.
The 18th Corps, which had stood firm
during the assault on Crook, now found
itself confronted by the second division Of
the enemy, which had moved up the pike
and attacked it 8ercely in font and flank
with musketry and artillery.
Colonel McCauley's Brigade of the ID
division, on the left, swung out of its po-
sition in front, to receive the flank fire Of
the foe. The assault increased in fierce
ness and the whole division reformed to
meet the shock. The rebels, advancing
mounted the breastworks, and with q
whitening volley, drove it back in retreat
The entire 18th corps, abandoning all itl
works, now fought retreating and partially
broken.
The left of the army was completely
turned, half of the Army of Western Viz
ginia dying in dismay through the fog
leaving its camps and the greater part Of
its camp material in possession of the enc
my. - aa.s. -y'
The remnant together with part of th'
Provisional Division and Col. Ketching'
command, which had been csmped in thu
rear, were fighting still for possession ofth'
turnpike. l ll I s. ILL.,.
The 18th corps were fighting, more o
less, stubbornly falling back and constant,
losing in stragglers.
The entire country about Middletowl
in the rear Of our army, is populated witt
demoralized soldiers.
The crack of rebel musketry creeping
5 farther up on the left toward Middleton
: hurrying wagons ambulance collisions
Kisses and explosions of the enemys shell
d from batteries planted in front of the lot
corps, appearances of defeat, impendin
disaster almost everywhere, might hav
b shook the hope Of fansticism itself
General Wright, with whom it was lei
te organize the plan which should chang
. this dismal aspect Of things, wss not
= whit discouraged, At this moment tn
,rl army of Western Virginia and 18th corp
i were found to be dehantly falling bacl
!. and he sent an order to that legion tha
never yet, on any field, had it failed t
achieve success