Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-09-27
Sheridan's Victories.

sheridan's Victories
We give our readers this week the glorious
news of the grand victories won by the Union
troops under Phil. Sheridan, in the Shenandoah
Valley las. week The battles commenced
Monday, and blow after blow was delivered
against the rebels under Early until, at last
accounts, they were flying, routed and de-
moralized rabbe, up the valley. The battle oil
Monday was one OF the hardest contested fields
of the war but magnificent charge Of cav
airy at its close decided the fortunes of the day,
and swept the rebels like chat before our gal
liant and resistless onslaught. Six or eight
cannon, thousands Of small arms, many battle
a,gs, most of the rebel wounded aud all Of
their dead, fell into our hands, and we captured
many thousand prisoners But Sheridan did
not stop here. lie pressed as rapidly and re-
sistle:sly as a thunderbolt upon the flying rebeis
and oyertakng them 10 an almost lmpreguable
position at Flshers HILL again swept down upon
them, with overwhelming. and crushing force,
driving hem poll nell from their positions, and
senIing them dying toward Richmond. ol1;aen
guns and thousands more Of prisoners attest
the declsiveness and completeness Of this iast
victory, and render i. certain tina: Early 3 army
is, beaten, broken, utterly demoralized, and
shattered, no longer an army, but a rabble
running for life. Sheridan's capture OF prs
oners number more than 10000 aud hall ~
many more rebels mus. have been put hors dH
combat during the weeks lighting No more
brilliant or decisive fighting has been done since
the war opened aud Phil. Sheridan las, by the',
splendid blows, proved himself worthy to be
ranked along side the best Generals IN The var
The disastrous effects of these victories upon
the rebels must be very great, and will be eiI
at once in Richmond The Shenandoah Valley
is DOW open to Lynchburg to Sherilan's yicto
rious army and nothing can prevent them from
rushing down upon al most the only railroad lei
to l. % to bring supplies to Richmond, unles
Lee sends an army to take the place Of the on
just destroyed in the Valley and this he can
not do while Grant stands ready to fall upoI
Richmond as soon as any rebels are withdraw
from its defences The rebellion in Virginia il
to-day in more desperate circumstances thai
ever before, and has received the most stagger
| ing blow yet dealt it; and that too in the Shen
andoah Valley, which has been, hitherto, val
ley Of humiliation to US.
All who love the Union have right to be Ell
ultant ut these splendid triumphs of our arms
for it is only through such achievements tina
Union is again possible. The rebels must b.
beaten, thoroughly beaten, before they will re-
spect or obey any national laws, and so far 81
Early aud bis army are concerned they haU'
been thoroughly beaten And Sheridan's tao
tics will win in the end. Blow after blow, vii
crush the rebel armies and the work then il
done. The time for mercy and peace is wher
the rebels ask for them, not when they spur
them. And us Ihey feel the rope Tightening
about their necks, they will begin 10 beg Tn
Chicago platform AMI the rebels are togethe
being rampled under the feet of our vicIoriou
armies; and because they are both being crushe
there i, hope Of an honorable, and lasting peac
and Union. uod bless our gallant soldiers, an
may their arms be nerved for the swift an
} successive blows which shall conquer a peac
and establish our nationality.