Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-26

---Fuii Details ofthe First BatfIe-.The
Attack "A Bepulse---Death of Gener.
WinehesIeF Ours-ExuitafiOn OF the
A1r'es FG-
We condense tho following details of
sheridAnh first great victory in the Shen-
andoah Valley from fall account in the
New York World. of Saturday ~
Information of the movements Of Cen
eral Breckihridges corps, and Rhodes
division Of Esrlys old corps, up the Valley
towards Aartinsburg had reached General
Sheridan in themorning. The movement
was supposed TO have been intended in this
wise: r odes' division was to attempt
the destruction Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, which the enemy doubtless sup
posed to'be building towards Martinsburg,
General Breckinridge's corps supporting
them in the meantime. General Sheridan,
who had kept his army in admirable trim
'fof weeks, was not unprepsred to act upon
the advantage thus afforded him.
At 4. N. Monday morning, September
18th, in accordance with Sheridan'a order,
the army commenced to move. s.a >. b.
The 9Th Corps, which had been disposed
along the Summit Point and Berryville
turnpike above Clifton, moved in advance
across the country, striking the Berryville
pike about two miles east of Opequan.
| The leth Corps, which had been posted on
the left near Berryville, marched next.
The cavalry division under General Viii
son WAS sent In advance at an earlier hour,
between the BerryYille and Winchester
turnpike and across the 0pequan, to force a
4 defle beyond the creek, where the enemy 8
cavalry and Rsmseurs division of infantry
we're knownto be posted. Gen, Torbert, with
Merritt's cavalry division, was ordered
across the Opequan on the right above, to
drive back the rebel cavalry ut that point,
and TO keep the infantry Of Breckenridge
and Rhodes engaged, while our main army,
moving on Ramseur's division below, en-
deavofed to overwhelm it, and get in the
rear of the main. rebel force under Breck-
inridge and Rhodes, above. Gen. Averilrs
cavalry was to cross the 0pequan still fur
ther to the right, and cooperate with Gen
To-bert in his movement
| General Wilson advanced, as directed,
across the 0pequan, on the Berryville and
Winchester pike, at daybreak, and sur
prised the pickets of the enemy at that
point. Dashing vigorously on, he drove
their cavalry Straight through the dehles,
a mile and half in length, and at last
encountered the infantry piekets of Ram
seur, nearly two miles west of the creek.
McIntosh's brigade charged Immediately,
almost surprising the camp of Ramseur in
turn, and driving his whole division back
ward from its first line of works. The
rebel infantry and cavalry reformed, and
the second charge of Mcintosh was met by
an unbroken front. Our cavalry were
driven back IN turn, but held the first line
of works which the had taken, and con-
tinued to hold them with musketry and ar
tillery until our infantry arrived IN the
early forenoon. 49,. ~.
Meantime the advance ofthe 9th corps, the
infsntry advance of the army, we're slowly
advancing. General Wright and staff
moved in advance, and Joined General
Sheridan and his staff on knoll overlook
ing the stream. Together the two caval-
csdes galloped up on the heights TO the
left, whence, under the beams of the morn
ing sun, we're to be seen the spires of Win
chester and the open country where Will
son was engaged, where the roar Of his ar
tillery and the report of his earbines were
distinctly heard. It was evident that be
was the driver, the enemy, for the time
being, having the worst of it. Calling to
one of his staff, General Wright told him
to ride to General Getty and tell him to
i bring up his command 20 Wilson's support
ETell him to hurry fast cried General
Sheridan, pand say that Wilson Is already
beyond the deale." In a few moments the
columns # the Second Division, under
Getty, were defling down the decliVity up
the creek and up the road, to the forest be-
1 yond. In a few moments more General;
Sheridan and Wright, with their stalls, al
so rode down across the creek, and thence
at a gsllop up the piketo the heights which
Gen. Mcintosh had taken ar ~. 5r-l.
70 -l GETTING INTO POSITION. r.s..-
The Worlds correspondents proceeds tc
give in detail the movements of corps anC
divisions to get into position. In coming
up to support Wilson, the Sixth Corps wa
for some time exposed TO terrible artillery
FIRE, quickly responded to by our batteries
Our formation for battle was delayed til
about eleven O'Clock by the non-arriyal o
the Nineteenth Corps. Our cavalry, how
ever, engaged the enemy along the whole
line About eleven O'Clock A. NJ, Early
managed to get his whole army tOgethe
across the BerryVille and Winchester Pix,
In our front 4 ea1 -s4 .-t-
THE POSITION.
At IL o'clock in the forenoon, therefore
the armies of Sheridan and Early confront
ed cash other between Winchester and th
OpeauAn creek in the following order: Tbi
rebel line extended across the turnpik,
covering Winchester, Breckinridge's corp
in the centre; Rhodes division of Early
corps on the left; Ramseurs division o
Early's corps on the right Johnson's cav
airy on the extreme right and Fitz Hugl
Lees, Lomaxs Imboden's and MeCaus
lands cavalry on the extreme left, oppos
ing our own The Union army, the Sixtl
corps 1.-TWO divisionsl on the left, crossinl
the turnpike, the Nineteenth corps on thl
right; the Army of Western Virginia OF
the Opequan in reserve; General Wilson,
cavalry on the left; Generals Merritts anC
Averilps cavalry on the right
AN b -i TIE SCENE.
Seemingly In a circle stood the noun
tains Of the Cumberland and the BLU
ridge. Unto their bases faded away stretch
es Of forest and woodland, and field, dot
ted by dwellings and sparkling with
streams, and glowing with the kisses o.
approaching autumn. The sunshine wa
mild, the breezes were faint, the Leaves
scarcely swayed in their passing, the spirei
of Winchester were silver threads. Be.
t1,o 4or-n ~ ,,flr,1 A.