The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-27
Trlrgraph
THE LATE BATTLE IN TIE VALLEY
vvsrr OF GEN. CUSTER TO NEWARK.

I'M A~@
VISIT or GEN. CUSTER TO NEWARK.
The Newark Daily .4drey1iser Of Monday
evening says!-
.Briradier-General George a. Custer, com
msndlpg the Sd Division of Cavalry IN General
sheridnn's army, was in this city yesterday, thC
guest Of Mr. William d. Russell. General Custer
visiied Washington ON Saturday, having IN charge
ten batilc.aags captured from the Rebels in the
hattie Of wednesday last, and subsequently came
10 this city to spend a few hours with his wife,
who has been staying here for several days past.
He LEFT again for Washington last evening, and
riiI return to his command to-day.
general custer represents that the victory of
wednesday was the most complete and decisive
which has yet been achieved In the Shenandoah.
BEFORE she charges of our cavalry the Rebel forces
were scattered in utter confusion, throwing of
everything that could impede their flight. Gus
ier's Division pursued the cuemy from o'clock
In the afternoon until Q IN the evening, driving
them into the fields and mountains, capturing
whole companies at time, and putting hundreds
of the fugtiYes hOrS ne combat Our men fOurht
ss they never bad fought before, feeling that the
annihilaiion OF the enemy depended upon their
blows.
advantages we're with Early: aud had be bccn
content with capturing our guns and eight hum
lrcd prisoners, aud driving our army from its
POSITION, bis victory would have been one OF The
rInost signal OF the war. But when he undertook
10 pursue with the torco at his command he in
yited the very disaster which befell him. His
advance on Tuesday night was made with great
secresy and caution his men were stripped OF
their canteens and put In light marching order,
and by dawn on Wednesday morning were
massed In battle order inside Of our lines, with
nothing whatever TO ob5truct their progress on
our encampment Their captures of men and
cannon we're oil effected before sunrise. Letters
written by some Of Early's officers after his
movement commenced, and captured by our
forces EXPRESSED fears of the result character
izing the movement as mad and perlous, and
likely TO lead t. the complete destruction Of the
enemy in the valley.
ssThe enthusiasm of our men after the defeat of
she enemy is described by General Custer as mag
nifcent, and their confidence in Sheridan is so
great that an army one-third larger than ours can
not now stand before them. It is generally
believed by our officers that there viii be no more
serious lighting in the valley, IL being impossible
for the Richmond authorities to reinforce Early's
wasted columns, now scattered IN disorder along
the lines Of retreat.
"General Custer states that the cannon cap.
TIRED by our forces numbered over fifty; he
counted forty-nine az Shoridan's headquarters on
Friday night and several pieces had not vet been
brought from the field. General Clusters Division
captured forty-one pieces and several batte-hags,
including the headquarters flag Of General Ram
seur, which bore the inscription, 'On to Victory,
presented by Mr.. W. T. Sutherin' General
with many horses, mules, &c. 1t is a curious
coincidence that the Rebel General Ramseur who
was killed was a cassmate of General Custer at
West Point. Before his death, Ramseur sent for
the latter, and the two, thus strangely brought
together, reviewed, in the presence Of death, the
"reminiscences of their cadet life.
"Our losses in the fight Of Wednesday, as near
rs had been ascertained when General Custer
left the front, were about four thousand in killed
wounded, and prisoners. The loss of the enemy
was some six thousand, and as stragglers are
brought In, will probably be found to be greater.
"General Custer, who, OF the outbreak Of the
war yanSr,d as first lieutenant in the 5th Regular
Cavalry, and has now ,1,,-nbably the stars Of a
msjor-general within his reach, Is only tWenty-
four years of age, and a splendid specimen Y. the
finished soldier. He speaks in the highest terms
of our New Jersey soldiers in the valley, and
especially commcnds the Sd Cavalry, which he
says have achieved better reputation, consider
ing the time they have been in service, than any
regiment in the department"