Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-10-29

wounded and fell from his horse.
Relentless as fate and rapid as thought
the Rebel columns advanced. preventing the
formation of a perfect line of battle by the
Nineteenth Corps. Lapping over their flank
and pressing on in front came the Rebel line
OF pattle General Emory commanding the
corps, mad his horse shot under him while
encouraging and forming his men. He in
stantly mounted one belonging to an Order.
ly, and was fortunately able to continue at
the head of his men. General Grover at the |
same time had the heel of his right boot |
carried away by shell, but, singular to re. |
late, neither the General nor his horse sus- |
tanned any injury.
With wild yells and whitening volleys the
Rebel advance, both front and flank con- |
tinued. At this moment old Jubs Early's
bosom must have sweled with pride at
witnessing the magnificent impetuosty of
his grey-coated soldiers, and his heart doubt
less beat high with the hope of at last
annihilating the Yankee army. The Nine.
teenth Corps, however, stood firm for some
time longer, although outfanked and out.
numbered. The wagons and ambulances
were being driven rapidly away in a west
erly direction. The greater part of General
Crooks ambulance train had fallen into the
hands of the Rebels at an carly stage of the
| battle. The Sixth Corps had come up from
| their position on the right. 1t was then
under the command of Brigader- General
James b. Ricketts,.
General Wright on seeing the Nineteenth
Corps so completely outhanked, ordered
both the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps to fall
back to some rising ground on the west side
of the small stream already mentioned in a
former part of this report. The Sixth Corps
covered the retreat, and gave the Nineteenth
and Eighth Corps ample time to cross the
the stream, when the Nineteenth went into
position on the right the Sixth in the centre,
and the Eighth on the left.
1t was now about halfpast ten o'clock in
the morning. Long lines of infantry had
commenced to file off through the woods,
| and the battle was over for time.
The wagons had been passed down the
road to Winchester with but slight loss,
although the Rebels had made several despe-
rates efforts to secure so valuable prize as
the wagon train of the Union army.
ARRIVAL OF GEN. SHERIDAN ON THE FIELD.
Close on to eleven o'clock General Sheri-
dan arrived on the field, and at once assum-
ed command of the army He had heard
the news of the Rebel advance at Winches.
ter, and rode up from that place on a hard
trot. He arrived on the field with his horse
tSShSu Nith lpdbl VHtt butnCi III
ton. While passing along the road he was
loudly cheered by the men, when the Gene
raj raised his cap, telling them that it was
all right, that he wanted them to 20 back to
their old quarters, and that he intended be-
fore sunset 20 make his headquarters in the
same place where they were when he left.
The Generals escort came up far in his rear.
When the soldiers laughed at them for not
keeping up, they replied that "Thc devil
might keep up, but they could not"
The different corps were promptly halted
and they presented strange scene of war
like confusion, and apparently no ordinary
efforts would be needed to restore order to
the chaotic mass. Long lines Of wagons
and ambu!ances were still filing down the
middle road towards Winchester; pieces OF
artillery were with great difficulty being
drawn through the woods in an oblique di-
rection towards Newtown. On every side,
close at hand and far away in the distance,
were lines of troops, upon whose arms and
equipments the sun shone with great bril-
liancy. Horses stopped to grasc, and the
men who had been deprived of their break
fas. by the Rebels early movement, began
quietly munching hard tack, and loudly
telling Of their teats during the last few
hours.
General Sheridan preceded to form his
line OF battle about mile to the north Oi
Middletown. The Eighth Corps was placed
on the left and held the Winchester turpike
General Wright's veterans took the centre
of the line, and the Nineteenth Corps the
, right. General Clusters cavalry was alsC
placed on the left to guard the flank of thC
, Eighth Corps. The Rebel line of battle wa:
formed on the outskirts of Mildetown.
) RENEWAL OF THE BATTLE
During this intcrmission in the storm oi
: battle, the deadly elements were quietly
gathering strength to renew the dreadful con
tiict. Shell from the Rebel batteries were
constantly dropping in and around oul
lines, but the men suffered little from thi,
firing. Our batteries were also employed
waking up the Rebel troops, but no fighting
of any Importance took place for over an
hour.
SHERIDAN DRIVES THE REBELS.
About half-past one o'clock General Shcri-
dan commenced driving the Rebels. The
Nineteenth Corps lircs were thrown for
ward, and with their batteries playing brisk
ly on the Rebe! position, affairs began to as
sumo more cheerful aspect. The Rebels
had apparently got hoarse from their efforts
in the morning, for their yels at this time
were DOtn lalnI ana lar between. Our lines
continually advanced, slowly, it is true, but
surely.
At this time General Grover was hit on
the wrist and the ball traversed his arm,
lacerating his flesh in very bad manner.
The charge which decided the fate OF this
eyenttul day was made at four o'clock in the
afternoon. Fifteen minutes before that time
Gen. Getty's Division of the Sixth Corps
formed in two lines of battle on an open
piece of ground on the right of the turnpike.
The other division of that Corps, and also
General Emorys command (the Nineteenth
Corps formed in similar manner, but un-
der cover of the woods.
At four o'clock the lines commenced to
move forward. More than half the distance
was taryersed and scarcely shot was fred.
Then suddenly the Rebel batteries opened
with terrific effect on our advancing lines
The spectators held their breath or asked in
hushed and eager wisper whether the
troops would meet with the success their
bravery merited. But mingling with the
roar OF artillery and the din of exploding
shells was heard now the roar of musketry
The firing was the most constant and
rapid which has ever been heard in the
valley, and was never equaled on this conti-
nent except the battle Of the Wilderness
Citizens of Winchester left their houses, and