Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-29
GEN. sRERinAa's GREAT VICTORY.
Graphic Account Of Movements and Battle.


WINCHESTER, Sept 1e,-9 P. M.-Gen. Sher |
dans army has this day fought one OF the |
most successful and decisive battles o! the |
war. Victory again perched on our banner, |
and the rebel army has been defeated and ut |
terIy routed with the loss Of at least 5000 |
killed and wounded, including FIVE Generals,
namely. Rhodes Wharton, Bradley johnson, |
Gordon, York and Goodman, the first two of
whom we're killed and others badly wounded,
and we have captured $500 prisoners, bat
tle-hags, representing different regimental
organizations and pieces OF artillery with
Caissons.
Sunday morning Early sent Gordon's d.
vision of rebel infantry from Bunker Hill,
where it bad been stationed for the past few
DAYS to drive Averill out OF Martinsburg ana
destroy the bridges on the Baltimore ONO
Railroad across the Opequan, which they
eroneously thought had been repaired. They
occupied Martinsburg for short time with
out doing any damage to the railroad, and
were eventually driven by Averill as far as
Darkesville.
Gen. Sheridan learning this movement or
dered the whole command to break camp and
prepare to march. Accordingly, Sunday at 3
o'clock tents were all struck. The left divis-
ions were all under arms and prepared to
march at a moments notice. About g o'clock
orders were received from Sheridan for the
9th and 10th corps TO be ready to start at 8
o'clock and the Army of Western Virginia
under Crook at the following morning.
Shortly after 5 o'clock Wilson's division of
cavalry crossed the OpeQuan at Berryville
took the Winchester pike, moving his COM
mand rapidly along the road, driving the enc
my's skirmish line. He calamity charged the
enemy's field works with the first brigade and
carried them at the point of the sabre, cap
turing 80 prisoners. In this charge Colonel
Brenton of the 18th Pennsylvania cavalry
was wounded within a few, feet of the enemy's
works while CALAMITY leading his regiment
These field works were constructed by reb-
els to guard the ford at Opequan and prevent
our passage at that point.
Oar cavalry having secured a safe passage
for the infantry, this being ready the advance
was sounded at about II o'clock and the diff
ferent lines moved forward The two corps
advanced in splendid style as though march
ing at review or parade.
The first line had not advanced more than
200 yards before it became warmly engaged
with the enemy, who were posted in line
about 900 yards distant AT the same time
our artillery opened a furious cannonade,
throwing shells and solid shot into the oppo-
side woods, where the enemy could be dis
left line of battle continued to advance stead
lily, until within nearly 200 yards of the ene-
my's lines, when the rebels opened furious
cannonade with grape and canister from two
batteries which they had kept secreted and
which ploughed through our advancing lines,
moving down large numbers of our men,
The first line was obliged to give way under
SO murderous fire, and in retreating behind
the second line, threw it into CONSERVATION,
and it also was obliged to fall back behind
the third line, which had in the meantime
been ordered to lie down in order to avoid
as much as possible, the effects of the with
ering fire which the enemy'S batteries were
directing against our advancing lines
The artillery was now brought up and post
ed in a commanding position to silence those |
batteries of the enemy which had caused us |
so much annoyance, and our line reformed |
and again moved forward, regaining the adj |
vanced position which they had held when |
they were obliged to fall back but this sue
cess was not gained without the most obst-
nate resistance on the part of the enemy.
Gen. Sheridan had previously ridden along
the lines and was received everywhere by |
the men with the greatest enthusiasm, and |
when they advanced it was with the terrible |
determination to do or die in the attempt.
Having regained the advanced position |
ferent lines Of battle were ordered to lie |
down and wait the arrival Of Gen. Crooks |
corps which was held in reserve on the east
ern side of the Opequan. They were ordered |
up to take position on the extreme right of |
our line, and in order to COunteract move |
ment on the part of the enemy who were |
massing troops on their left flank with view |
of turning our right.
At precisely o'clock Gen. Crook formed |
on the right Of the 9th Corps, his lst Divis-
ion on the right of our line, and the I'd Di- |
vision in the rear supporting a Division of |
the 9Th Corps Gen. Crook having formed |
his men, rode along the lines and was receiy- !
ed with most vociferous cheering, the men |
promising to 60 in and wipe out Winchester. |
Gen. Torbett, with Merritt's and AverlPs |
divisions of cavalry having crossed Opequan |
about o'clock at Burns and Knocks fords |
had been hard at work all day fighting con- |
siderable bodies of the enemy's infantry and |
cavalry and having been successful in steadily |
driving them before them, now arrived on |
our extreme right and was prepared to take |
part in the final struggle which secured us
victory.
Gen. Sheridan rode out to where Gen. Tor
bett was stationed, and after a consultation
with him as to the part the cavalry was to
take, ordered final charge which was, made |
with an impetuosity which nothing could re-
sst
Our line extending nearly three miles in
length, advanced with cheers and wells which |
could be distinctly heard amid the noise of |
artillery and musketry, in charge which for
its impetuosity has seldom been exceeded in
any battle Of this war. Our men had deter
mined to win the day and nerved themselves
accordingly for the coming struggle.
Our men had determined to win the day,
and nerved themselves accordingly for the
coming struggle, and as our lines advanced
closer and closer to those of the enemy, the
battle became more and more fierce. The
slaughter now was awful. At every discarge
men could be seen distinctly dropping all
around, and the two contending lines at some
points could not have been over two hundred
yards apart. Just at this critical period,
above the roar of artillery, musketry, cheers,
and the fierce yells of the contending armies
could be distinctly heard the shrill notes of
the cavalry bugle sounding the charge, which
was the death knell to Early's army. There
could be seen the gallant Gustav and Merritt,
each with the headquarters flag in hand, and
conspicuous amongst the advancing squad
rons, CALAMITY leading the charge which, in
connection with the desperate courage of our
infantry, secured US the victory; the columns
of Early'5 command were forced to give way |
and break before the fierce onslaught which
our cavalry made upon them, who with sabre
in hand, rode them down, cutting them right
and left, capturing 721 priyates and non-com-
officers, with nine battle flags and
two guns.
The broken and demoralized divisions COM ,
prising Earlys command now fed in confu-