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

Aettcr from the Sunbury Guards,
NEAR MrbDLKTowN, Va, Oct FL, 1864.
DEAR WnvERT
On Wednesday morning, October 10,
at o'clock, the rebels under Early made an
attack and by a flank movement nearly un.
done the glorious work and victories achiev.
eel during the last month. Early's forces
were reported, the evening previous to the
attack, to have left Fishers Hill and were
moving up the valley towards Staunton The
report caused less vigilance on the part of
some one in command, and at the hour men,
toned the Johnneys came on the left flank
OF tfe 9Th corps, taking them by surprise,
and pouring in such deadly fire that they
were forced to leave their breastworks. The
10Th corps was ordered to their support
that they Ohe Sth) might form their broken
ranks, which they did, but the terrific fire
of the enemy forced them back, and as they
were unsupported, they fell from line to
line, pouring into the rebel ranks the dead
liest fire, until they fell back to 9th corps,
who had just come up. The fighting then
was desperate, but by some means our flanks
were exposed and our forces fell back mile
east of Middletown. Here our men made a
decided stard and held their position.
Up tc this time we had lost twenty-five
pieces of artillery, a portion of our wagon
train, ambulances and a number of prison
ers, At this critical moment Gen Sheridan
who had been on toWashington, arrived
HIS presence was received by the troops with
cheers that made the valley ring. Gen.
Custer was so elated that he dismounted and
embraced his beloved commander. A Gen
eral rode up to Sheridan and said, "Sir, we
are badly whipped The General replied,
"You may be whipped, but the boys are
not, and tonight they will encamp on their
old ground" and turned his horse and rode
in front of the entire line. When he review
ed his troops and had matters fixed to suit
himself, orders was given to charge. This
was done and with such impetuosity that the
Johnnics could not stand it, and then COM
menced the tallest running that has yet been
done on the sacred soil by any of the chival-
ry. Our infantry followed in pursuit across
Cedar Creek to Strasburg, when they halted,
the cavalry however, following up the re-
treat to liarrisonburg, and perhaps further
for aught know to the contrary. We re-
captured oU our guns, besides twenty-six
pieces of the enemy, that they had just
brought from Richmond, We rc-captured
our wagons with one hundred and fifty of
theirs, any quantity of small arms and four
thousand prisoners. The road to Strasburg
showed plainly their eagerness TO escape
Ambulanccs. caissons, torn horses, small
arms, &C., filed the road. The retreat of
Early, ut Winchester. was big thing on
ice; but this beats anything / ever saw and
i, beyond my powers of description. 1t was
II great and glorious victory and shows
what confidence the men have in that great
little man. Mnjor-General Phil. Sheridan.
This victory was, to us, of company c,
dearly bought, and will bring with it sor-
row to more than one in Sunbury. 1t Is my
peini"l dnty to inform you of the and news
and will now give you our loss in killed
wounded and missing.
KILLED.
Sergeant William Pyers,
John Bartlow,
Privatcs-Theodore Kiehl, jasper Gard
rer, John e. Will James Brown, George
keiser.
WOUNDED.
Captain y. Oyster, right arm.
Bclas Rodrigue, slight.
Joseph Walters slight.
George Blain, thigh.
Jacob Grubb. tive wounds in lpc.
Jesse G. Green, two wounds in leg.
David Weikcl, arm and side.
William Michaels, WRIT.
Alry Given abdomen.
Richard Ol{ourke, face ana shoulder.
JOHN Lunken, nose.
Perry Colvin, twice in head, slight.
George EiepIer, slight, head.
ii. Keiscr, thumb.
p. Swiuehart, side.
William Finck, leg.
MISSING.
1st Sergeant William Fry, prisoner.
Martin Berger, prisoner.
George ID, John,
Isaac Kramer, prisoner.
y H. \. Shiier,
Joseph Smith, "
John w. Firth, LATELY released from Tyler,
Texas
The loss in the 47th Reg't. was one hun
drcd ard seventy-one Q7D in killed, wound
ed and missing. The wounded are getting
along well. and | am assured 10y the Sur
gcons that none of them are dangerous
The rest of the boys are we'll. Please re-
member me to friends,
Yours, Fraternally, II. d. W.
%Mr Shitfer has since written a letter to
this place, stating that he was at Baltimore,
and was wounded in the thigh.-ED.