Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-22
FROM SHERIDAN.
Further about Wednesdays Battle
Sheridan's Loss 5OO0-IIis Cavalry
I'm Pursuit OF the Enemy.

Further uDOut wednesdays Battle
Sheridan's Loss 5OOO-IIis Cavalry
i'm Pursuit OF the Enemy.
New YORK, Oct. 21.-The Herald's cor
respondent gives the following account of
Sheridan's last victory:
1t was moonlight, and around was the
stiffness usual to that hour. While this
stiffness was prevailing, the enemy had
noiselessly massed heavy column of
troops behind the hills on the southwest side
of Cedar Creek, and directly in front of the
position occupied by our extreme pickets.
AT given signal, as we afterwards learned,
the enemy advanced rapidly in solid COL
umns of regiments. Our pickcts were
charged, some of them captured. and some
driven in hardly before they had time to
discharge their muskets; in fact what few
pickets did come in the enemy came in so
soon after, and so close to them, that it was
near n tie which party warned the slumber-
ing camp of the army of the danger near
at hand. Having driven in or captured our
pickets on the left Of the line of the infan-
try, the enemy charged across Cedar Creek
at the ford, and very soon after on the bridge
over said stream, and reached the side of
the hill and breastworks occupied by Thor
burns division of the 9Th army corps,
(Crook's.) The rebels hesitated not. but
pressed on overall barriers, completely sur
prising and in measure stampeding the
left OF Sheridan's line. BY this success the
enemy gained some artillery-I believe the
4th Pennsylvania battery and some pieces
OF regular battery. The suddenness of
the attack and its wonderful fierceness for
the time bewildered the troops; many of
them were taken prisoners, but by far the
greater portion got away, and with their
arms. The other division of Crooks corns,
which was allowed some time to form, did
SO and was soon formed in line by the rem
nant portions of ThOrburn's division. All
this while. the enemy kept pressing on and
pouring IN upon our men rapid and
murderous fire-a fire from musketry as
also from artillery posted upon the hills on
the opposite sid. of Cedar Creek.
Having directed column against Crooks
forces, the enemy quickly turned his atten-
ton toward the right Of the pike, where
the 10Th corps (Gen. Emory's command)
was gotten into line and his artillery to
work at short range. At this time bold
charge was made by the enemy under cover
OF his guns, to capture Emory's artillery;
and in measure this charge was success
full, although it was resisted with great
vigor, and by fire that would have done
credit to the best of veterans under the
most trying circumstances. In the charge
the rebels took one or two pieces of the lst
Maine battery, and, believe, portion of
the Chase battery. What most helped the
rebels was the exact range they got of our
pieces, the ones captured from the elevated
commanding position on the opposite side
OF the creek. AS soon as the fight COM
menced and 1t was known that the left had
suffered, the 9Th corps passed from its posi-
ton OF reserve over to where the Sth corps
was located in the commencement of the !
engagement. The trains, too, were got out
as speedily as possible, taking the pike road
to winchester, where they arrivedin safety. |
The enemy discovering the success of
his surprise, and believing that it was now
for him only to triumphantly advance-and,
by the way, L must mention that it was |
broad day-light-brought his columns and |
artillery across Cedar Creek to press the |
pursuit with vigor. While this was being |
done, and brief lull prevailed, our line |
was contracted and commenced slowly fall |
ing back. The enemy pressed the pursuit |
rapidly and with great persistency. Sheri-
dan was on his way from Washington back |
TO ms headquarters when the attack was
made. He reached Winchester the night |
before the attack, and remained there for |
consultation. Early in the morning he
heard the cannon, and mounted his horse |
and pushed forward to the front. On his
way up he met string of teams going to the |
rear, accompanied by the usual number of
wounded and stragglers, which proceeded
from reverse. Proceeding onward he
found some considerable opposition was
being made to the exultant Toe. He seemed
to comprehend the true state of affairs at a
glance, and at once proceeded to remedy
the evil, and recognizing his forces, then
more given to a retreat than an
he promptly changed the aspect of |
our military affairs and changed the tide of |
battle, so rapidly growing towards disas-
trous defeat into q glorious victory. The
cavalry was then sent upon the right, the
10th corps placed next to 1t, the 18th corps
In the center, and the 9Th corps on the left,
with Powel's division, which was for time
cut of, on the lett of all, and charge of
the enemy resisted and an advance made
successfully. k
Another Herald correspondent says: Our
cavalry is now in hot pursuit of the flying
enemy, with our infantry following as fast
as they can. Three rebel Generals are
known to be wounded, viz: Gen. Ramesur,
who Is prisoner, Lomax, and another