The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-22
sketeh Of colonel Iosenh rhohurn.

sketch OF Colonel Joseph Thoburn.
BY official dispatches from the Shenandoah
valley the death Of this valuable officer in the
affair near Cedar creek, Virginia, on the 10Th
instant is confirmed. Colonel Thoburn entered
the volunteer service as Colonel of the lst West
Virginia Infantry, aud was mustered in with his
regiment, for three years, in November 1851.
After serving faithfully in the various and bril-
liant achievements in West Virginia, he was as
signed TO brigade command i'm The Department
OF West Nirgnln, in October 1868. lie there
display ed the capacities OF an excellent officer
lie was next assigned TO Hunters Army of the
Shenandoah. On June 9Th, Of the present YEAR
he took prominent part in the engagement be-
tween General Hunter and the enemy nc Mount
Crawford, Shenandoah valley in which we're
captured large number of prisoners several
cannon, and the enemy driven in complete disor-
der towards WaynCsburg.
Pushing on, he occupied Stauntou with the
remainder of Hunters army. Colonel ThOburn
participated in all the subsequent movements of
this campaign. For meritorious services he was
soon promoted 10 the command of division, and
az the time Of his death was IN the Sth Corps His
loss will be deeply felt by his fellow officers.
Fishers Hill,
now rendered so conspicuous in the prosecution
Of the war by the brilliaucy of General Shcri-
dams movements, Is looked upOn bv military
critics rs one Of If not the strongest defensive
position in the Shenandoah valley When an
army ike that given to LongstrCct cvlruates Il
stealthily and under cover of darkness IL is then
placed beyond question that the Rebels have met
with disastrous and overwhelming defeat We
need no other than the simple evacuation Of the
position TO fully establish the fact referred TO.
Fishers Hill is strange place to look at--an
oddty and q curiosity Of natures own handi-
work. IL is fiankcd on one side by tho north
fork OF the Shenandoah river and on the other
by Little North Mountain. In front tho Win
chester and Srasburg pike finds It's way from
StrasburG, going up the valley along the base of
a pV1p sid nvNl v,assk a.
on the other As it reaches Tumbing run, n
small stream empiying into the Shenandoah, q
stone bridge or viaduct carries the road directly
up to and in front of the great hill
The road then suddenly turns and gradually
rising, continues along on the slope of the hill till
II passes up through a small valley and thence to
the top of the hill At the point where che pike
leaves the bridge over Tumbling run and goes
along the side of the hill this latter Is so steep
and partially wooded that persons on top of the
hill can roll stones oil of it sufficiently well to
drive small parties from OFF he pike aud do this
without fear OF capture, for the hill side is so
prccipitous that no one can reach the top except
by going on up the road or around the hill to the
right of the pike and over towards the middle or
dirt road
When General Sheridan fought what is known
as the battle of Fishers Hill, where he captured
the seventeen pieces Of artillery, two DAYS after
the Winchester fight, he hauleI the cnomys
works and The hill proper by advancing column
rom the direction of Little North Mountain. A
gonce 1t the map will mt once suffice to show the
reader how necessary this movement was towards
the success Of tue battle then and th sre fought.
The fOrtifcations upon Fishers Hill are of
rather extensive character They reach from the
mountain side to the river, and could be easily
held against an exceedingly large army. prO-
vided the troops possessed the usual standard
OF morale, and the leaders of them had an ordi-
nary degree of wits"
Behind Fishers Hill Is opeu space Of con-
siderable extent, bOrdored by woods. 1t was in
this open space that the enemy missod the greater
portion Of his forces, and when he had them, his
trains of artillery.
The line Of retreat taken by Longstreet was
along tho usual course, going up the valley on
the pike road, no doubt with view % attempting
an escape through Swift run or Browns Gap
both being in the Blue Ridge.