Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-10-28
The Battle Of Bell Grove.

Nt Ddtaio vi Dell Gr0fo.
When we issued cur paper last
week a rumor was prevalent that Gen.
Early had whipped the enemy near
Cedar Greek, which we stated merely
as rumor, no definite information of
the results of the fight having reached
U.s.
The facts, as nearly as we are able
to get them, cleaning from Yankee
statements as well as our own are as
follows
On Wednesday the 10Th inst, Gen.
Early attacked the forces of Sheridan
Bell Grove on Cedar Creek, about
o'clock in the morning, having con-
ped the greater portion of the pre-
phs night in getting his men into
proper position. So cautiously were
The movements made that our forces
gained the rear of their left flank IN
discovered and completely surprised
them. We had possession of their
entertainments and many of their guns
were captured and turned upon them
before they were fairly appraised of the
situation. The Eighth corpsaaYas
first attacked and, before I
make any resistance, was o.
headlong rout from its encaffplnel|
The Nineteenth corps, likewise being
completely fanked on the left, and
vigorously pressed in front, vainly es-
sayed to extricate the Eigth from its
.perilous condition and stay the ferebel
Rdyance" which, says a Yankee cor
"a pendent, "relentless as fate and
. i'd as thought" "with wild yells
Dwithering volleys, both front and
:, continued" and though the
lyh corps was ordered up to its re-
was driven back, tcgelner with
Sixth and Eigth corps, to some RI
g ground where they took a posi-
lion, facing due East, from which they
were again driven and made the next
stand on still higher ground some dis
tance- to the rear. Says the same cor
respondent "the Rebels, however,
seemed determined to push their ad-
vantage to the utmost and again di-
rected their efforts against our left
flank. This position was destined to
be held but short time," when they
were again compelled to retreat, our
forces pressing them, to position be-
yond Middletown when Gen. Early
halted his army to reform them, many
having struggled, allured by the rich
booty Of the enemy's vacated encamp-
ments.
The plan of the battle was grand
and its execution thus far brilliant
BY ten o'clock we had gained a glo-
rious victory, having routed two corps
and driven back a third, capturing
over 1900 prisoners, many wagons and
ambulances, and over twenty pieces-of
artillery Says the same cor1espon.
dent on this point.
"We had been surprised and driven
out Of a splendid position ; had lost
multiplyingly in prisoners had lost
tmanty-four pieces Of artillery, thirty
four ambulances, including all the
medical wagons and medical supplies
of the Nineteenth corps, and several
headquarter wagons. We had yielded
more than two miles of battlefield to
the enemy /; many Of cur finest officers
were killed and disabled, and the
killed and wounded were thick a.
round"
At this time, Gen. Sheridan, having
arrived on the ground in hurried haste
from Winchester, reformed as many
of tho struggling mass as possible, and
prepared to resist the further advance
of Gen. Early. Until 3 o'clock P. M.
affairs remained quiet, when Sheridan
advanced to attack. The first at
tempt was made against our centre,
which was repulsed easily, when they
threw their forces on our left which
gave way, brigade after brigade, before
IA very feeble effort of the demoralized
enemy and the order was given for our
bole line to fall back, which, with
ebt exceptions, was done in order,
peing pursued by the enemy's in
outiI OCOdL OItch WdS Lt'dI tO
naturally the tanks converged
centre, titus massing our troops
ecompactly. While in this con-
ION, many of ours and the captured
CONS, ambulances and artillery pie
y, owing partly to bad management
and partly to the breaking down of a
bridge, were blocked In the road, caus-
ing some confusion out of which grew
an uncalled for; stampede, some assert
by an attack on. the artillery and
wagons &c, by a small body OF. caEal1
ry, while Others say without .easik
in. which all. the wagons, artillery &C.
&c, in the road were left unprotected
and were recaptured without an effort
at defence on our part, and by a small
squad of Yankee Cavalry.
nv,o T. n