The New York herald., 1864-10-22
Fishers Hail.

now rendered 20 conspicuous in tho OF the
war by she brilancy or General Sheridans movements
tA looked upon by military critics Of not the
atrongest defensive position In the Shenandoah valley
When army like that given TO Longsreet atea
steathy aud under Of darkness, is then place
beyond question that the rebels have Win disas
trous and overwhelming defeat We need 10 than
shs simple evacuation OF the position fully establish
. she fact referred to.
FIahcrs Hill ID . strange place to look at oddy
snd curisiy OF Natures handwork. I, Is fa.ked
side by the north fork Of the river
and on the other by Little North Mouotau. III
winoheser and Strasburg pike it's war firm Stras
burg, going up the valley, along the base
Of high ridge side and next to
an opeu dat on the other. IA reaches ram.
bliag run, small stream smptsing into the Sheuan
doab bridge viaduct the directly
up and In front Of the great hill lhe road then
dcoly turus, and gradually rising continues along the
slope the hill tin II passes up through sual val ey
and thence 70 the top OF the hill Al the pont
pike leaves tho bridge over rumb'ps and gocs
along the side or the bill this steep aud
partially wooded that persons top or the hill
dan roll stones on OF il ,suincieatly we'll
10 drive small parties from or the pike do with
out fear capture for the hill sIce precpous hat
reach tho ton except by gcps up road
the hill to the right OF the pike aad
wards the middle or dirt road.
The map which We give 10 day Of Fishers Hill and the
Immediately surrounding neighborhosd shows the posi-
<on n which Lougssrest retreated the night Of the
l0sh and which position he evacuated (!esvpg only
insignacant guard behind 10 his movements
before daylight on the following morning.
whcu General Sheridan fought wha, ia known th .
battle OF Fishers H where he captured the seventeen
pieces II artillery two days after tho Winchester nghs
be Hsukod the enemys works and the hill proper BY ad
vAnoIng column from the direction o. Lutte North Noun.
tain. A glance at the map will ai suffice TO
, ohow the reader how necessary this movement was
the OF the hattie then and there fought
The fortidcatons upon Fishers Hill o. rather
extensive character They reach from the mountain
side river, and could be easily held against
9eedngy large army provided the troops possessed tho
SuA standard morale Tie leaders cf them had
ordinary degSee or wits"
Behind Fisxer's Hill open space OF considerable
extent bordered by woods. II was In this open space
shat the ooey massed the greater portion Of bis f,rcs
and, When be had them, his traios u artillery
The tue Of retreat taken by Longstreet along tho
usual course, going up the valley the Pike read
doubt with view to attempting eseare through
Swift run or BrewAs Gap both being the Blde Ridge.
sketch of Colonel Joseph Thob,rsa.
BY official dispatches from the Shenandoah valley the
aeath OF this valuable officer, N the affair Cedar
creek, Virginia. the 18TH inst, confirmed Colonel
fhoburn entered tho volunteer service as coonc OF
First West Virginia infantry. and was mustered IN with
bis regiment for three years, In November, 1861 Aftor
serving faithfully in the various aud brilliant achieve
1nenis West Virgins, he assigned to . brigade
commsnd the Department Of West Virgins in October
1862 lie there displayed The capacities Of an excellent
officer. tie Was next assigned TO Hunters Army
of the Shenandoah. On June OF the presen, year ho
took prominent part In the beweea Gene
raj Hunter ard the enemy at Mount Crawford, Sheosn-
aosh valley, in which we're captured 'srse number
Of prisoners, several cannon aud the enemy driven in
complete disorder towards waynesbarg. Pushog on, he
occupied Staunsos With tho remainder Of nter's army.
Colonel Thoburn participated in all Of the subsequent
movements Of this campaign For meritorious services
he promoted TO the command Of dvis on, aud
a the time OF bis death in the eighth corps His
loss will be deeply felt by HE f,iow officers.