The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-09-22

oe'ng 10 foroc at buree ford kepe large
portion Of the enemy ct that part Of the
ford, which was hsarly IL miles distan,
from the point where il Vas intended On
infantry should operate and strike . blow
which should result in .hs signal defea.
of ksrly's army.
The delay in the arrival Of the 18Th
corps enabled Early to move Gordon's di
vision 1t tho double quick from Bunker
till, diatans about ten miles. and bring j,
up N tias 70 form in line Of bsssIs, With
Breckinridgs's, Rsossy's and Pos's com.
mands, who had already arrived and ver~
formed in belt Of woods, skienishiny
on the Berry yviIls and Winchester pike.
and - soon - the 18th corps arrived /,
vac formed in four lines OF battle .bout
300 yards apart on the right Of the 9th
corps, and everything being in readiness.
the advance was sounded at l2 O'Clock.
and the different lines moved forward Il
The two corps advanced in splendid etyle
40 though marching at review or on o..
rade. The 6rst line had not advancsd
more than 200 yards before il became
warmly engaged with the enemy, who
we're posted 10 line about 600 Yards. and
at the same time our artillery opened /.
furious cannonade, throwing shells and
solid shot into the opposite woods where
the enemy could be distinctly seen NOV
ing up reinforcements.
Our different lines of battle continued
to advance steadily till within nearly goo
yards Of the enemys line. when the reb
els opened furious cannonade with grape
and canister from tso batteries which
they had previously kept secrsted, and
which play ed through our advancing lines
moving down large numbers OF our men.
The frst line was obliged to give way
under so murderous Gre and in retreat.
ing behind the second line threw it into
confusion. and il also was OBJ
liged to fall back behind the third line.
which had in the meantime been ordered
TO lie down in order to avoid as much as
possible the effects of the wi,heriny FIRE
which the enemys batteries we're direct.
ing against our advancing lines. The ar
tllery was now brought up end POSTED in
commanding positions to silence those
batteries OF the enemy which had caused
us 30 much annoyance, and our line was
reformed and again moved forward. re-
gaining the advance position which they
had held when they were obliged to fall
back : but this success was not gained
withou. the most obstinate resistance OF
the part of the enemy.
Gen. Sheridan had previously ridden
along the lines aud was received every
where BY the men with the greatest en-.
thusiasm, aud when they sdvanced it va.
with the terrible determination t. d, or
die 10 the attempt.
Having regained the advanced position
which We had previously occu pied. The
different lines OF battle we're ordered to
lis down and wait the srrival Of General
Crooks corps, which wss held in reserve
on the eastern side of the Ope a uan.
They were ordered up to tske position on
the extreme right of our line. and 10 or
der TO connteract movement on the part
Of the enemy We we're msssipr troops on
their left flank, With the view Of turning
our right. Precisely nj 3 O'Clock General
Crook formed on the right OF the 10Th
corps, his frst division on the extreme
right Of our line and the "a Divsion in
tho rear, supportiog > divisios Of the
10th corps. Gen. Crook hsviog form ed
bis men rode along the liIes aod Was re-
ceived with most vociferous cheering, the
mea promising to 90 ia aud wipe ou.
Winchester. Gen. Tarbott, with Mer.
rill's and AverilI's division. Of cavalry,
having crossed the Opequsn, about 9
o'clock at Burus and knox's fosds, had
beer hard at work all day fighting con.
siderable bodies Of the enemy Infantry
and cavalry, and having been successful
in steadily driving them before them, now
arrived on our extreme right and we're
prepared to take part in the fual strug-
gle which secured us the victory. Gen.
Sheridan rode ou, to where Geo. Tarbotl
was stationed, and after consultation will
him as to the part the cavalry were to
take, ordered final charge, which vas
made with an impetuosisy which no line
could resist. Our line extending nearly
three miles in length, advanced amid
cheers and yells which could be distincsl,
heard above the noise OF artillery and mus.
kesry, which for its irpetaosity, has sci.
dom been exceeded in any battle OF Til.
war. Our men had determined to vii
the day and nervsd themselves accor
dinghy for the coming struggle, and :,
our lines advanced close and closer to thos,
of the enemy the battle became more ,ne
more fierce. The slaughter nov was ~
full. At every discharge men could b
distinctly seen dropping all around, an
the two contendiog lines at some point
could not have been over 200 yard
apart just At this critical period, sbov
the roar of artillery, musketry and cheer
tho fierce yells Of the con,ending armies
could be distinctly heard the shriii note
Of the cavalry bugle, sounding the charg
which was the death knell 70 Elrl7's u
my. There could be seen the gallan
Custsr and Merritt, each with Headqua,
; ter's fao 10 hand and conspicuous anid.
advancing sqnadrpns, CALAMITY leadin
the charges, which with tn desperH
courage Of our infantry, secured Us th
yictory. The columns Of Early's con