Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-22

a1a along Inc pike towards Winchester leaving it's ira
POI VI tse opposite side Of the stream to point abo
vnT mne ana half distant from the ford where il foe
- nns Of bsttie and threw strong skirmsh line nm
whIcS ins s nms ine ARTILLERY opened the woods 10.
two the enemy replying brsky with part
nsers was delay of least two hours caused by Iii
nonrarrva Of the Nineteenth Corps who tbranab 80
OF orders had failed to come no at the promo
e. zen Emory had moved his column in rear of IN,
co6msns cn.ed rue sixth Corps instead Of keeping
the SIXTH Corps i 75f G1ig - .lA 'ou"n' q
I aslaw % GEN sHERIDAN's INTENTIONS. ,, Y.
Con sheridan having learned on Sunday that the main
I'm forces were encamped 10 the vicinity
and Stephensons depot resolved 10 mas. bis
iorcss On The winchester and Berryvlla pike aud bv
RAPID movement hurl them on Early's rear 1T = :
.as no douot but the enemy We're completely sur
prsed and outmanGlvred By Sheridan Whilst his diGer
ent columns were baIug marched to the appointed psc
portion Of the cavalry under Generals Tor
One sna A sns l. ksRs W ston pcas. Line al along
Kept large portion of the enemy at part Of the field
mncn was nearly twelve miles distant from The point where
was intended our infantry should operate and strike the
now which should result in he signal defeat of Earys
| army. - \
The delay in the arrival of the Nnetsenth Corps enabled
Eary to move Gordons division at double auok from
Bunker Hill, disan about len miles and bring m in
time to form in line Of battle with BrecknrdRe,s Ram
sears and Rhodess commands who had already arrived
and Winchester pike. AS az the Nineteenth Corps
arrived WAS formed in four nes of BATTLE about three
aanarea yards apart on the right Of the Sixth Corps and
every tnDg being IN readiness the advance sounded Mt
about twelve IL o'clock, and tho different lines moved
forward, s..,t.ss b
ADVANCE UPON THE ENEMY. tla "a
The two corps advanced in splendid STYLE and as COM
possay though they we're marching ut review or on
paradedrums beating and coors flying presenting such
an imposing spectacle has seldom been witnessed in the
The first line had advanced more than two hundred
yards before it became warmly engaged with the enemy
who were posted in line about hundred yards distant
ade throwing shells and solid shot into the opposite wod
forcements. s@'.g IL t' 100
Our different limos Of battle continued to advance stead
lily until they had approached within nearly two hundred
yards OF the emys line when the rebels pened furious
cannonads with grape and canister from batteries which
Iney had previously kept secreed aud which ploughed
through our advancing lines moving down large numbers
OF our men The first line was obliged to give way under
30 murderous fire. and 10 retrratpg behind the second
Obliged to fall back behind third ne which had ia the
mean Time been ordered to lie down in order TO avoid
much as possible this effects Of the whitening fire which
lines.
Our artillery was now brought up and posted in CON-
mandnR positions to silence those batteries of the enemy
which had caused much annoyance, and line
reformed and again moved forward eganing the dvanced
position which they had held when they were obliged
fa back But this success not gained without the
"
Cen Sheridan had previously ridden along the lines and
was received every where by the with the greatest
enthusiasm and when they advanced it was with ter
rDlo CONCENTRATION " to do or die in the attempt"
CROOKS COMMAND BRoUGHT UP
Having regained the advanced position which we had
previously occupied the different Ines Of battle were or
dered to lie down and the arrival of Crooks Corps
which was held in the side Of the Ope
guam They were ordered up to take position the
treme right OF the line, aud in order to
ment on the part oil the enemy who We're msssng troops
on their left nk with view If turning right.
Precisely at three O'Clock Crook formed right of
the Nineteenth Corps the first division the extreme
rp ht of our ne and the second division in rear support
ing division of the Nneteentb Corps General Crook
having formed his men, rode along the lines, and
ceived with the most vociferous cheering
ARRIVAL OF ToRBEnT's CAVALRY
Gea Torbert with Merritt and Averils division of cav
airy having crossed The Opequsn about o'clock Buross
and KooIs lords had been hard at work all day fighting
considerable BODIES Of the enemy infantry and cavalry
and having been successful n steaiy driving them before
them, now arrived on our extrems right aud
pared to take part in the final struggle which secured
the victory.
THE FINAL CHARGE
Gen Sheridan rode to where Gen Torbert was alta
toned and aer consultation with him as to the part the
cavalry were to take, ordered the na charge VIII oh
made with an mpetuosiy which nothing could resist
Our line, extending nearly three miles IN length, ad
vanced amid cheers and yes which could be distinctly
tery and the continuous Of musketry which, for its
mpeuosity has seldom been exceeded in any battle of this
ouf 10 WIN the DAY, neTved
themselves accordingly for the coming struggle and
lines advanced coser and closer those OF the enemy
battle became and fierce until u point Of des-
perate and fierce carnage it will compare favoraby with
any sim lar contest Of the The slaughter now was
truly awful at every discharge could be drop
ping all around, and the two cpntendng lines some
points could not have been two hundred yards apart
CHARGE OF THE CAVALRY
At this critical period above the roar of the artillery
and musketry snd the cheers end fercer yes Of the
tending armies, could be heard the shrl notes OF
cavalry buge sounding the charge which was the death
kue 20 Eary's army. Thcrs could be- seen the gallant
Custer and Merrill each with headquarters flag in hand
and conspicuous amongst the advancing squadrons gal
lanty leading the charge which, cOnnexion with the
desperate courage displayed by infantry secured
tn victory All honor to those gallant chiefs who have
| done noby.
Those who have never witnessed cavalry charge can
form idea OF it's magnfcence Of the demorslzipg
effects when well executed, which II has enemy
The stubborn columns Of Earlys command were forced
to give way and break before the fierce onslaught which
our oayalry made upon them who with sabre in hand
rode hem down, cutting them right and left, capturing
seven hundred and twenty priyates and
/ RoUT OF THE ENEMY
The broken and demoraized divisions comprising Ear
Tvs cemu aud hzd in confusion throwing away every
thing which could in any way impede their fight, and
strewing the ground with their Some made for the
heights beyond Winchester but they speedily dis
lodged by Avert forced to beat hasty and gnomnous
retreat up the Valley where such of Earys command
/ are lett to him now rcattered
Our victory was glorious one, and well calculated
to thrill tue heart Of every loyal with i'm pulses OF
kut RI al that