The Portland daily press., 1864-10-21

| Details of Sheridan,s Nd0,sifcent Victory
ue1' t Bed,ceu httted-Ge,.s. Wright, Grove
tnree Pieces of Artilery-Sheridan occas
pies Strasbwrg. 5G
WAR DEPARTMENT,
4a Washington, October 10Th, 1854.
To Mgj. Gen. Di1:-Another great battle
| was fought at Cedar Creek, threatening al
first great disaster, but finally resulting in q
victory for the Union forces under Sheridan
more splendid than any heretofore achieved
The Department was advised yesterday morn
| ing OF the commencement of the battle by the
following telegram:
RECToRTowN, VA, Oct. 10.
TO Maj. Gen. Ii. w. Halleck, Chief Of Staff:
Heavy cannonading has recommended in the
| valley and is now going on. .9Dw- s
Maj General.
HARPER's FERRY, Oct. 10.
To Hon. E. NJ s. anton, Secretary of War:
Firing at the front has continued during the
day. the direction seemed at intervals to Be to
the lett of Winchester as if at Berry's Ferry.
No news from the front. 49, -
(Sigued) JOHN D. STEVENSON,
Brigadier General, =
$40 P. NJ. Oct. 19.--Hon. q. M. Stanton:-
The enemy attacked our army with great inn
petuosity this morning at daylight. The at
tack was made on the left of the 9Th corps,
and was successful, they capturing some guns
prisoners and wagons. Our line was reform
ed and heavy lighting continued through the
day. Sheridan was reported at Winchester
this morning, and went out to the front. The
particulars received are not official, and are
not favorable. though no serious disaster could
have occurred without direct news from Sher-
idan. Respectfully, 5aia se
3 lSigned) JOHN d. STEVENSON.
Brigadier General,
Matters continued In the doubtful state rep
resented by the foregoing kilograms, until this
morning at half past niue. when the follow
ing telegram was received, unoficially report
ing the great victory won by Sheridan's army:
HARPER's FERRY, VA, Oct. 20,
$50 A. M.
News from Sheridan's headquarters at mid
night is to the effect that the enemy surprised
our forces yesterday morning, driving the
command in some confusion this side of New
ton, capturing artillery and prisoners. "a
Sheridan arrived on the field and re organ
lied our forces, drove the enemy beyond Stras-
burg, capturing, it is reported, 43 pieces of
artillery, 100 wagons and ambulances and some
1000 prisoners. The route Of the enemy is
said to be complete. go 4,
This is not official, but think reliable. "a
lSigned) JOHN D. STEVENSON,
a Brigadier General.
A few minutes later the following official
report OF his victory was received from Mai.
Gen. Sheridan:
y +" CEDAR CREEK, Oct. 10, 10 P. M.
To Gen. Grdnt:-I have the honor to report
that my army at Cedar Creek was attacked
this morning before daylight, and my left was
turned and driven In confusion. In fact, most
of the line was driven in confusion, with the
loss of twenty pieces of artillery.
on my return from Washington, and found the
army between Middleton aud Newton, having
been driven back four miles. / here took the
affair in hand and quickly united the corps,
formed a complete line OF battle, just in time
to repulse an attack OF the enemy, which was
handsomely done about p III.
Az L. NJ, after some changes of cavalry
from left to right Iiank, attacked with great
yigor, driving and routing the enemy, captur-
ing, according to last report, forty-three pieces
OF artillery and very many prisoners. L don't
know yet the number of my casualties or the
losses OF the enemy. Wagon trains, ambulan-
ces and calssons In large numbers are in our
possession. They also burned some Of their
trains. ~ 81 -
Gen. Ramseur Ia q prisoner In our hands.
severely and perhaps MORALLY wounded. /
have TO regret the loss OF Gen. Bidwell, killed,
and Gems. Wright, Grover and Ricketts, wound-
ed. Wright is slightly wounded Affairs at
times looked badly, but by the gallantry of our
brave officers and men, disaster has been turn
ed into splendid victory. Darkness again
interviewed to shut off greater results. now
occupy Strasburg. AS soon as obtained will
send yop further particulars. ~
(Signed) p. H. SHERIDAN
Major General
The battle was fought on the same day
(19th) of the month that witnessed Sheridan's
victory in September. SsE
What the liumber opposed to Gen. Sheridan
was, has not yet been reported to the Depart
ment, but the boldness, vigor and success of
the attack strongly indicate that heavy REIN
forceMents had been sent from Richmond with
the expectation of fulfilling Longstreet's boast
to smash up Sheridan.
Longstreet was known to be in the Valley,
and had assumed command of the rebel army,
and confident hopes OF an overwhelming dis
aster to The Union army were boastfully ex-
pressed for several days, backed up by rebel
adherents in Washington and Baltimore.
lSignedl EDWIN IA. STANTON, n
Secretary of War.