The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1864-09-22


r0sc -triviur IL the eu~my's skirmish line
he eaHsrtiy charged he enenys field works
With the frst brigade ard carried them al the
polnE 81 The sabre, capturing 30 Frisoners.-
To tbs cbasg~ Col BEInton of The 18th
Pealsyiysnia cavalsy was wounded within
few ieet u The enemy > works, whilst gals
lAnty les4ng bis regiment
Ibess felc works we're constructed by
the rebels &c guard BE iord a the Opeqasn
and prevent our passage al thai point. Our
cavalry bssInx secared a safe passage Tor
ths fplantry. the Oh Corps Vas moved across |
toe Ogaquon aud along The Pike towards |
Wfrchs.aer, leav ng IL tram on the opposite |
side OF lie stream II = pnior abous . mile and |
a bali disfsnf frcm tbs ford, where IL formed |
IN llae - battle ard threw out a sFouG skir-
msh iioe. At the same lime the artillery
opened on the woods into which the enemie
infantry had retired. aod kept mp an inces-
scot csnnoDade The enemy replied bfiskly
with tuo batteries. There was = delay OF n
lessl two hours caused By the non-arrival of
the 18th Corps. which. through mis-eoncep-
lion Of orders, bad failed TO report the prop
er tiae, Gen. Sheridan. having learned on
sunday that the main portion Of karly's
forces we're encamped in the vicinity OF Bun
kef Hill and Stevens0n's Depot, resolved %
ryyille Pike and BY a rapid movement hurl
them on Earlyis rear. There is no doubt
| bat the enemy were completely surprised
aud out GeneTslei by Sheridan. While his
different columns were being marched TO the
/ appointed place Of rendezvous. portion OF
/ our cavalry under Forbitt and Averill threw
a strong picket line along the entire bank OF
| the cpeQuan. and demonstrating IN force at
| Burns Pord be kept large portion of the
enemy II that part OF the field. which was
nearly ~ mice distant from the point where
| il was intended our infantry should operate
aud strike blow which should result IN the
i nai defeat OF Early's army. The delay IA
the arrival of the - corps. enabled Early -
move Gord0n's division al the double-quick
| from Bunker Hill, distant about 10 miles
and bring IL mp 10 time % form line OF tat
tie with Disadvantages corps aud Hade' :
command. which had already arrived and
we're formed 10 belt Of woods skirting the
Berrvvilie and Winchester Road As soon
a. the 18Th corps arrived. Il was found Ia 4
lines of battle about 5000 yards apart on the
right OF ,he 9th corps, aud everything being
in readiness. the advance was sounded al
about IL O'Clock, aud the different lines mos
Ell forward The two corps advanced IA
splendid style and composedly a. though
1 4
first line had not advanced more than 2Ou
wards. before IL became warmly engaged with
the enemy. who pere posted IN line about
SIX hundred yards distant At the same time
our artillery opened = furious caDnonsde
throwing shells AID solid shot into the OPP
posito woods where the enemy could be dis
rioctly seen moving up reinforcements
Orr different lines of battles continued "a
advance steadily uutil when withen nearly
200 wards OF tho enemy's line. when the eue-
NV opeoed furious cannonsde OF grape and
canister from lw0 batteries which they bad
previously kept secrcsed. and which ploughed
through our advancing line. moving down q
lsrse number of our men The nrst llnt
Vas obliged TO give way under so murderous
Ere, and 10 retreatng behind the second
line threw IL uto momentary confusion
AID Il also was obliged 10 tail back behind
me third llns which had In the meantime
been ordered 10 lie down, 10 order To ayoi1
the effects OF the wiiberlng IRE which the
enemys batteries were directing against ont
advancing lines. The artillery vas nov
| brought up and posted In a commanding Po-
; sition 10 silence the batteries oil the enom.
7 | which had caused so much annoyance aDc
our lipe VAS rslormed and again moved Tor
ward. obtaieing he advanced position which
they had held when they were ooiiged 10 tai
: back; but thi: success was not gai1e1 with
Out toe most obstinate resistance on TIE par
Of he sueuy Gen. Sheridan bad previous
~ ridden all along The linet add wss receives
everywhere with the greatest sothusiasnn .apt
~bsa they advanced, IL was With determi
nation 10 Win or die IN the ttsmpt. Havins
J regalnsd the advanced poe ton which We has
previously occupied the different linee OF oav
tie were ordered 20 lie down and walt 10
arrival OF Crook's corps. which was held u
= reserve on TIE eastern eide oil TIE Opequsu
Thsy were ordered up 10 lake a position OF
tho sKrsmo right OF Gus lue aud Ia order &
tountoract a movement on the part OF Oh,
s.neuy. who was mzssing troops on their lief
1sok sith view of turning our right. Pre-
oissly a. oc.ock, Crook formed on tbs
RIGGS % the ieib corps, lis fret division OF
. lhe extreme night OF our line aud the % d.
vision 10 tue rear supporting division OF th'
1871 corps. Geo. Crook having formed hi
nen. rode along the lines, aud was received
With the most v0ciierous cheers. the mes
|. promising 20 60 to aud wipe out Winchester
5ea Tos bit, with Merrill's aud AverilI
divisions OF cavalry. having crossed the Ope-
: buAn about o'clock at Burn's and Knox
osds. bad been hard at work lighting con
-ldefabie bodies OF the enemy's infantry anS
.ayalry Having been successful IN steadi
Y driving them before him, now arrived OF
our extreme right prepared 10 take part II
the final struggle. which secuted Us tho vic.
terry. Sheridan rode out 10 where Gen. Tor
6itt was stationed aud after consultation with
hin AZ 10 the part the cavalry were 10 take
ordered a 6nAl charge which was made with
an inpesuosity nothing could resist.
Our lines extended nearly three miles IL
length. and ADVANCED amid cheers and yells
shlch could De distinctly heard Tar above th.
noise OF artillery and musketFy. which To-
impetEoslty has seldom been Witnessed II
. any battle OF this war. Our mea had deter
mined 10 yin the day aud nerved themseiye
accordingly fCr the coming struggle, and a
our lines advanced closer and closer % thos'
, OF the enemy the bs,tls became more sn'
more fierce. The slaughter was now awful
aud at evetv discharge men could be distinct
" seen dropping al round, and the two con
fls,ing armies at some points could not hss'
been over 100 Yards part. Jass at tht
: critical moment. above the roar Of srtller,
and muskstry and the fierce yells Of the con
senji0S armies. could be distinctly heard th
shfih note. OF the cavalry oagles soaudin,
. tho charge. which Was the death knell TO Ear
{ Tvs ARMY. There could be seen the gsllan
| Custer ard Merits each With tag ia hs0'
? an eonspioaous snoas tno advanced squad
rons gallsotly leading the charge, which u
connect on with the desperate courage Of on
: infantry. ensured u tbs victory. The col
umn~ 81 me eaemy sefo forced - gave va
. and break before toe herce Onslaught Of on
oayaly, vh,. with .bre IN hand, them down
!. cuttioe tsem right aud let. and capturing
92l pflvatcs all noo-commss.ioBed officers
: With nins battle eaSs ADD mo. Generals. =
= The dem rallied div's ens conptitiaE Early
? cammaad nss del N Confusion. throwing
= awsy everything Which could IN any way IN
! pete thsis sat. snd slrewsd ths grosn'
~sh Their Arms and scou made Tor IN
hs-gh. esyoas Winchester, bu; hey yer