The New York herald., 1864-10-24

Of ths infantry line occupied ineDcnea possops bst hs
avaYy divisions did not.
THE ADVANCE ov THE lRsny.
At four O'Clock In she morning there general 3D.
vance Of the enemy. He made fenis oil along the line;
but the real point Of his attack was General Crook .
corps Custer rather smarly besss bus no dspoyed
. skrmish line and held them In check for time and
then, accordance with his usual custom, be charged
them, and, being only cavalry force, be drove thsm
before him like nocK Of geese through their iinss
Of infantry. a
AZ rst no one thought that anything serious was tho
matter on the morning previous the rebels bad made
similar demonstration for the purpose sobbling up
our pckets which they succeeded in accomplishing and
almost every thought the present affair but re
petition Of the same man@uvre. 4uf
DisoRDER THs nGHYB coRRs. tas M
The rebels fell upon the Eighth corps so unexpectedly
and with SO much fury only feeble and Intellectual re-
sstaoce could be made; and sorry TO say that the
Eighth corps, which 10 truly noble one, was utterly
routed, and tho men fed from the eaepy In
all directions In the utmost disorder. II is but Just 70
say that Crook, and many Of bis ofncers used every
sxertiou to rally their surprised and panic stricken men
but their endeavors met with little success for time
The immense throng OF sraggers rushed through the
camps Of the Nineteenth and Sixth corps and into
the cavalry lines on the right, their numbers rapidly
swelling as they proceeded The rebels kept swinging
our left around driving everything before them, until
they had the village OF Middleown pos session.
and possession OF the woods hills to the east
and northeast OF the town. How far the rebels would
have pressed the advantage they had gained 10 impos
sble to say II they had not Unexpectedly encountered
General Wrights famous "walksrs"
SHs CHECK or sSENY.
The Sixth corps met them and repulsed them hand
thava Tins
this corps Tho prisoners claim TO have been much sur.
prised when they the nsgs with the "crosses.
they had been told that corps had removed
from the valley.
GENERAL SHERIDAN ON TIE rruD.
General Sheridan was at Winchester when the fight
commenced and he made all possible haste reach the
held Affairs assumed different aspect the momeot 10
took command The strasgers began return and she
demorazed soldiers began to gain fresh courage-cvsn
the wounded and dying by the roadside and tho
ambuances chsersd General Sheridan no dashed up
the pike.
sIRAG0LHRs RETURNED TO rnE FRONT.
General Devins brigade engaged for several hourv
in driving back the straggers the road and fields
between Mlltown and Middletown literally swarm
ing with them. Until about four O'Clock the afternoon
the rebels held the town. and showed inclination
give up single foot Of the ground. Although skir
mshers stubbornly contestns the way with them
and our batteries from number Of toeraby good
vations kept up almost Gre OF shot and she'll
THE rSExY COMMENCES TO YIELD.
General Merritt at last threw his division ost the
left Of the pike and massed between that aad heavy
forest OF oaks in the hOows among the hIs Lowelps
brigade was little in advance. Martins battery was
position close up TO the edge OF the woods andhsed
the enemy's skrmishers and batteries for long time in
splendid manner. Tayor's battery in position
Aartns little to tho right Al about four O'Clock in the
Afternoon when the Sixth corps charged the enemy
the right Of the pike Merritts division charged the
left while Custer who was engaging the enemy on the
right Of the Sixth corps, Also charged him. When this
charge made, the enemy concentrated such heavy
ERE o. musketry and artillery that line broken
places, and checked and obliged retire
few hundred yards to reform. But little time lost
forming o line, and another charge was ordered
The boys splendid style 10 fact the Second d.
vision Of the Sixth corps did lis BEST Our line Of cavalry
and infantry swept down on the enemy with an impe.
tuosity which nothing could resist. The enemy
driven from their position In hurry, and SO promptly
followed that quite impossible for them 70 halt and
rally their routed ne for our men were so closely upon
their heels that halt 10 be captured bayoneted
They were driven ous Of Middletown and across the
country towards strasburg. We followed them up IN
line for distance Before reaching Cedar creeK,
however, broke into column, the sixth corps follow
ing up the pike while Gen. Devns brigade, With that OF
Col. Lowell, followed up on ne lefI through
the open fields Custer was sti pushing
them back on the right with his division Iu the charge
Custsr's division made in connection with the Sixth
corps completely shattered the ier. OF the rebel line
which the fret actual advantage bad gained sud
did much towards securing US she ultimate victory.
COLONEL LOWELL NoEAnY WOUNDED.
In the charge made BY Merriu's division upon the
rebel battery and line OF battle the lcf Colonel
Lowell, commanding the regular brigade, received =
mortal wound In the spine. BE was young oflcer Of
most distinguished bravery and there no doubt but he
would have been made brigader general had his
life been spared Wien dying he said be had nothing
regret that ho could no longer serve his country
REBHIs UNABLE 10 RALLr.
The rebels did not attemps 10 make stand between
Mddletown and Cedar creek. Such attempt could
have succeeded the sixth corps batteries followed
closely as keep them under FIRE. The regu.
lar brigade did not follow up very far before !,
dered back. Al the bridge Cedar creek the rebels
made faint attempt to bold Us n check, but was
iutie one Captain Farmer, with the Sixth New York
cavalry made dashiug charge across the bridge,
cevins a terrific voey from the rebels the other
side crossing was effected, however, and the rebels
on the opposite oxpK driven away.
DARKNESS
BY this time IL quite dark and could Scarcely
see the horse he was riding, s We continued TO press
thsm Tho most Of Devins brigade crossed the creek
the ford rods further up the stream opposite the
mill.
rBB REBEis AGAIN DRIVEN.
About three.fourihs OF mile from the ford the rebels
had hospital grove OF oaks where range OF high
hills on TO the left. Here they attempted TO make
another stand, but Devp charged them in front while
Custer Who mad crossed the creek distance below
mp and charged them their left nank, which
broke them up again. and they skedadcd into the darh
ness large number Of rebels were killed and wounded
10 this charge and fen into hands, with number Of
abuauces stretchcrs and other hospital appuronance
eioaiovs nv csspnir psvs's BRleAox
Devin with his little brigade kept swoopng down upon
ther rear gobblng up their officers sns by
Tie pressed them hard impossible 10 get their
artillery Of mis- way, their wagons and ambuiances
The drivers and csnnopicrs dismouuted and
OF into the woods either side OF the road
ard I'm dason N