Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-08
THE BATTLE of WINCHESTER.
sHERIDAN's GREAT VICTORY.
HEADQUARTERS Cru Army CoRPs,)
ARMY UNDER SHERIDAN,
Sept. 1854. }

tie armies of Sheridan and Early confronted
each other between Winchester and the Ope
duan creek, i'm the following order: The
rebel line extended across the turnpike, Gov
ering Winchester, Breckimidge's corps il
the center, Rhodes division of Early's corps
on the left, Ramseur's division OF Early
corps on the right, Johnson's cavalry on the
extreme right, and Fitz Hugh Lees, Lomax's
/ Iinboden's and MeCausland's cavalry on the
extreme left, opposing our OVID. The Unior
army, the Sixth corps 1.-TWO divisiOns) on the
feft, crossing the turnpike, the Nineteenth
corps on the right, the Army of Western Vir
ginia on tie 0pequan in reserve, Genera
Wilson's cavalry on the left, Generals Mer
ritts and Ayerill's cavalry on the right.
The cannonading, which had continued sc
| fiereely throughout the forenoon till these
dispositions were finally established, partially
ceased. As l rode to height directly in the
rear Of the Sixth corps, overlooking most Of
the field occupied by our infantry, the ole
but infinitely beautiful panorama OF all battle
| fields, made still more impressive by the nat
ural aspects of this most lovely OF valleys
was spread before and around. Seemingly in
a circle stood the mountains of the Cumber
land and the Blue Ridge. Unto their bases
| faded away stretches of forest, and woodland
and field, dotted by dwellings, and sparkling
with streams, and glowing with the kisses Of
| approaching autumn. The sunshine was mild
the breezes were faint, the leaves scarcely
swayed in their passing, the spires of Win
| chester were silver threads.
| Beyond the town, and along the pike the
enemy's wagon train, making for the rear,
meandered like a white serpent. Nearer
| could be seen faint columns of their line oil
battle, moving masses, flashing bayonets and
| sabers. Their sharp-shooters and skirmsh'
ers were white specks in the cornfelds, were
| clustered in groups about barns and houses,
and nearer still our own skirmish lines post
ed along the edges of the woods, behind rail
fences, across fields, waiting the signal. Still
nearer, directly beneath and around, the
| splendid marching columns of our infantry
| had debouched from the pike and woods up
on the fields and plateaus; some waiting IN
| hollows behind the crest; some forming in
position for an advance. The flags of the
| regiments had a proud look, an elastic tread
was in every rank The 9th corps was all up
and mostly ready. The 10Th corps, ascend
| ing the heights to the right opposite the
| pike, were slowly wheeling into line. The
| levels and hollows between the main army
and the skirmsh line were crossed and re-
crossed by gallOping staff officers and order
| lies, carving and receiving orders. Gems.
1
| with their stats along the lines, looking well
to every point of advantage, upon the ground
examining with their glasses the position OF
the foe, and completing all dispositions for
an attack. For a moment, on this scene OF
beauty and expectation, there stood perfect
calm For only moment the musketry and
artillery were still, the smoke wreaths OF
our batteries standing silent in air mists as
| the skrmish line faded away.
The pickets and sharpshooters along the
vast line of battle took breath In that mo.
ment, although save the advantage obtained
| by Gen Wilson in the morning (neutralzed
and more than neutralized by the delay which
afforded the enemy time to concentrate his
army in the fornoon,) everything was yet to
begin and to be gained. No one who glanc
| ed at the spectacle ofconfdence and strength,
disposed for miles along the country within
view, could feel his heart throb with serious
| doubt.
The signal long expected, was given at last
| Gen. Wright, to whom was assigned the com
| mand of the Sixth (his OWN and the Nine.
| teenth corps (Gen. Emory), gave the order &c
attack 1T precisely twenty minutes to twelve
The Second (Gen, Getty's) and the Third
| (Gen. Rickett's) divisions of the Sixth corps
| Joined in the advance, the First (Gen. Rus
sel's) division being held in reserve. The
Nineteenth corps, including both divisions
| under GEN Grover and Dwight, advanced en-
tire. The lines, at the signal, were posted, fol
the most part in the edges of woods, through
which the troops advanced giving their fire
to the enemy. For few seconds the CLEAN
| ing lines of our bayonets vibrated, before
they entered the timber and were lost to view
| in the shadow of smoke. The enemy, receiv
ing severe and continual volley along hi:
entire front, gave back at first volleys as Sc
we're, but was forced to retire slowly before
the attack. The roar of battle as the two
| lines fairly met became thunderous The ar
tillery opened simultaneously on either side
The hollow clang of musketry in the forest
was like the fierce clangor in the wilderness
The bombs bursting in the air and the woods
dealt in bursting the havoc, and had in noise
the horror of the fiercest battle fought By
Gen Grant from the Rapidan to Petersburg
The precision and quickness of the enemy'
cannonade was almost alarming. Their guns
| posted at first in well-selected overlooking
positions, never knew moments rest.
| counted, during the brief interval be
tween orr first advance and the crisis which
succeeded it, at least forty shells per minute
which fell along every portion of our lines
and sought in some instances, the pike in the
rear, where portion of the Nineteenth corp
was still advancing to the front, and where
some of our cavalry were lying in wait
Neither these nor the musketry fire which
met our infantry checked the ardor of on
troops. Their fire remained unslackened 70
an hour, during which we had driven the en-
envy at some points back nearly half mile
The determination to win the battle, which
seemed to inspire every man among our army
urged certain parts of the line along some
what too hastily in advance. Gen. Berge'
brigade, attached to Growers division of thu
Nineteenth corps, pushed forward so impetu
ously in the charge as almost to isolate itsel
from the division. The enemy ere long per
ceived the advantage and charged in turn
threatening the gallant brigade on their flank
and it was forced to retire. The rebels, still
coming on in overwhelming force at THU
point, pushed back and confused another bri
gade of the division in support, and the EN-
| tire left of the division subsequently gave
way.
The enemy from battery, hitherto uncov
cred, opened this time on our flying troops
following up their advantage. Their shel
defending among the broken columns o
Grover, demoralzed and shattered them still
more. The entire infantry line of the enemy
recovering it's courage at the sight, charged
in turn, pouring in severe and rapid volleyl
to ward the point of breakage. Their troops
still advanced at do, BILE quick, firing ant
| filing past, and almost turning the right flanl
of the sixth corps, led by General Ricketts,
division, in their pursuit of Growers infantry
The moment was fearful one. Such sigh
rarely occurs more than once in any battle az