Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-25
IMPORTANT FROM raE SOUTH.

IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTH.
Rebel News from Gen. Sheridan-The Bat.
tie OF the 10Th of October-A Very Nor
tifying Affair-Victory Spoiled BY De.
They got .sMixed up with the Federal
Guns-Extracts from Late Southern Pa.
pers.
From the Richmond Enquirer. Oct. 22.l
From the valley-Vlctory and Reverse in
A remarkable battle has been fought in the
| Shenandoah Valley. On Wednesday morn
| ing, at an early hour, our army attacked the
Eighth and Nineteenth Corps OF the enemy
Strasburg, carried their positions by storm, in
flicting heavy loss in killed and wounded, cap.
turing ,a0O prisoners, Is pieces Of artillery, all
their camp equipage, wagons, &c, and drove
the remnant of the two demoralized commands
to Middlerown, about two miles beyond Here
the Sixth Corps OF the enemy was entrenched,
and Eariy determined to complete, II possible,
his victorious work, now that the tide of battle
seemed turned in his favor.
Such glorious results as the complete and
unequivocal defeat of the main body of the en-
envy, and the capture, literally, Of almost
everything they had, might we'll have been
dazzling after the season Of defeat In which our
arms had well nigh began to droOp. But there
is work in victory, and in this it was crowded
heavily upon the energies OF our men to render
the first triumph of the day quite decisive
When our troops came before the breastworks
ward with all the eagerness and enthusiasm
with which it is possible for victory to inspire
men; but they had done enough for the day
enough physically and moraly-but neither
much they may have been inspired by their
triumph, they lacked, unfortunately, the in.
SEPARATION that would warn them to 60 no fur
Their. They charged the enemy's works, but
were repulsed. Nothing daunted, they
charged again, but were once more turned
back.
A third time they went full tilt against the
foe, and again they were repulsed They be-
gan to find out, too late, that they had been
carried too far; it was evidently impossible for
their jaded columns to push through that fresh
and unexcited line. And when they withdrew
it was with that sort Of despair that makes the
heart sink. The enemy made demonstration
they had so gloriously won. The enemy's cav.
airy alone pursued over Cedar Greek, their In
fantry remaining behind. All OF the camp
equipage captured on the creek in the morning
was retaken by the enemy, aud at Strasburg,
the captured artillery becoming, by the demor-
aliZatlOn of the drivers, mixed up in the street
whole OF it was abandoned. The prisoners we
had taken, the most useless and Unacceptable
Of our captures, were alone left to us as tro-
phies Of the morning. BY night our army was
picked and mortified by the results Of the days
operations, but growing cheerful by degrees
and sanguine Of ''better luck next time
Our loss in men was not heavy. In this
there is some consolation in knowing that the
enemy suffered by far the heavier. In the
mornings operations the slaughter of the
enemy was represented as having been very
great.
Omcial dispatches received yesterday state
that General Early attacked Sheridan's camp
on Cedar Greek before day on the 10Th, and
surprised and routed the Eighth and Nine
teenth Corps, and drove the Sixth Corps be-
yond Middletown, capturing eighteen pieces
of artillery and thirteen hundred prisoners,
which were safely brought off; but the enemy
in, fr,yv,o
tackled General Early, causing his line to give
way. On the retreat the enemy captured thirty
pieces Of artillery: Our net loss was twenty
three pieces OF artillery and some wagons and
ambulances. Our loss in killed and wounded
was less than one thousand, Our loss in pris.
oners is thought to be small.
The enemy's infantry is reported to be very
badly demoralized. He did not pursue. His
loss was very severe. General Ramseur was
seriously wounded " lille acting with gallantry
and was captured by the enemy.
Another Account OF Early's Defeat.
From the Richmend Examiner, Oct %
Early has been defeated, but the disaster is
not so great as the public, unenlightened by
correct information from the proper sources,
1t appears, from all that we can gather, that
on Wednesday morning Early attacked Sheri
dan, drove him two or three miles to a second
and stronger line of work, which he assaulted
and would have carried, had not the enemy's
well-trained and superior force of cavalry
again repeated one Of those flank movements
from winch we nave ALREADY Sunered SO much
Early was compelled to retire, with the loss of
most Of his artillery and artillery horses, but
with comparatively small loss Of prisoners He
fell back to Fishers HILL it is said, in good
ORDER but there is little hope Of his holding it,
it be that Peeitio.. 10 ilsef 81
untenable that Jackson always avoided it, and
all his artillery is gone.
One scout represents that Early, previous to
the flank movement Of the enemy's cavalry,
captured eighteen guns, but subsequently lost
these and twelve additional pieces It is also
said that he captured 200 prisoners.
In the absence OF official intelligence, this is
the best account we can give Of this affair. Be-
fore going to press we shall doubtless receive
some authentic particulars-two whole days
after the fight occurred, and that, too, when the
telegrs phi reaches New Market, which Is only
q few miles from Fishers Hill.