American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-26
Army correspondence.
HARR1soNBuRa, VA, Oct. l, g

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MEssRs. EDITORS doubtless your
readers, many of them at least, are anx-
ious to hear from their friends in Co. ii
l02d Regt., Pa. V. ", who are now bat
Ting for our country's rights in the Mid
die Military Division, operating in the
Shenandoah Valley, under our brave and
accomplished leader, Major General Shcr-
idan
September 18th, at 2 a. m, we broke
the temporary quiet of camp, which we
had enjoyed for over two weeks, and
marched in the following order toward
the Opequan creek, some four miles dis
tant from Winchester. The 9th Corps
was to march in two columns along the
Berryville Pike, leavin. the road for Ar
tillcry and ammunition wagons. The
18th corps to follow Immediately in our
rear, and the Sth corps and Cavalry to
move on the right, for the purpose of at
tacking the enemy at all points. Our
corps (6th) arrived at the Opequan, at
day light, but owing to the non-arrival of
the 18th corps, the grand attack was not
made to II, M, when the whole command
was ordered forward. The order was Civ
eu allalong the line to advance by the right;
soon the columns could be seen emerg ng
from clump of timber, one line after
another, across an open plain, then thro'
a deep ravine, and up a risin: piece of
ground to the enemy's hastily construct
ed rife-pits, but by this time, the 102d
had been ordered torword; soon we were
in their first rife-pits, (or rather rail piles
having charged in amongst them. Some
of our boys shot as fast as they could,
others, being in so close quarters, were
compelled to use the butts of their guns
but by this time our right had been tenn
porarily checked, and We being in a rather
unhealthy place, it was thought prudent
to withdraw back to the hill, from which
we had driven the enemy in such utter
confusion. Here we remained to 5, p. m,
when their left being turned, we made
another advance, which resulted in the
complete route aud utter confusion of our
now disheartened foe. They having be-
come panic stricken, their officers could do
nothing with them; thus it lasted to dark.
We, having driven them over two miles
across the Winchester Pike, thus leaving
the town in our possession. We captur-
ed five pieces of artillery, three thousand
unhurt, and over three thousand wounded
prisoners, besides a great many small
arms, and many other things belonging to
an army.
Capt. r. W. Lyon, being on General
Wheaton's staff, the command of the Co.,
devolved upon ], G. Stewart, I'd Lieu
tenant Our loss was seven in Co. III.
Capt, r. W. Lyon, was wounded through
the thigh, flesh wound two killed dead,
N. n, Parks and Frederick R. Shakely;
wounded, Corporals James Adams, thigh,
since dead, James B. Carson, back, slight;
privates, John Campbell, right thigh, Sc
we're c. S. Barclay, right thigh, severe
A. Ii. Barclay, slight, present; Jacob
Daub, right leg; Newton Matthews, both
thighs, since dead; Samuel r. Renfrew,
both thighs, since dead |; VIM. i. Daub-
enspeck, in the face, slight; David Mar
tin, stunned by she'll John Osenbaugh,
thigh, severe. Tuesday we pursued them
to Strausburs; Wednesday was spent in
reconnoitering their position, and Thurs
day our lines were being concentrated
around their position on Fishers Hill, so
as to flank them, and at 5, p. M, we made
another gallant charge, carrying their po-
sition at all points. Our regiment cap
tured five pieces of artillery; we planted
our colors on their works, before they had
time to leave, and when We did order
them to surrender, many of them refus-
ed to do 50, when we shot them down as
fast as we could load our pieces; they
were completely demoralized and scatter
ed in all directions. That night we fol
lowed them to- Woodstock. All along
the way was strewn with small arms,
blankets, over-coats, broken down wag-
ons, and all manner of things belonging
to an army our entire capture was 20
pieces OF artillery, HOO prisoners, besides
many wounded and dead left on the field