Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-07-28
THE BATTLE NEAR BERRYVILLE.
CAHPNrAR BERRYvILLE, n Va,
July 10, 1854.
To III. Editor of IL. Wig:

800 j
To Tia Editor Of tie Wig:
Again victory has crowned our arms with success
Toe glory and laurels by the heroic Early and his
army of veterans 10 the late campaign seemed made
o1a.e compensation for their suffering. New honors
must be shoWered upon their devoted heads. The en-
Ragement Of yesterday has freely mado the bestowmeBt
Il app:ars that the enemy, feeling himself mortified
At the boldntsJ Of the recent daring campaign and of
his want OF power to reels. il, determined the ar.
,iya OF almost half of Grants army, to follow Us and
i1A ct summary punishment for cur impuience. Ac-
cordinsy they moved alter US with STOW OF fight but
nothing but their cavalry annoyed our march, which
occasioll lily attacked cur rear aGd tanks,
After skirmishpg for than "A hours at Smokers
Gan their infantry moved boldly doWa ravne 10 the
,s,ntaiu one mile north OF Smokers Ford and com
uepoed crossing, This was about 2 p NJ, and caused
an immediate c-aoge In cur entire line.
ByS P N. the enemys sharpshooters made their
appearance nearly mile this side OF the river who
were met by our sharpshooters. the meantime
divisions changing posi- ions, which called forth
tsirfc sh6llng from the enemys strongly posted bat
teres which we're on the hills east OF Inc Shenandoah
and oomna handed the approaches for three miles. But
Ltd = attention given thGm Notwithstanding IN
cAsonal etal aaFt soldier would fall to rise more.
ROdes occupied The left, Echos the centIe, aud Cor
don the right.
heavy and new line OF skirmlshsrs we're now thrown
on this eide of the river.
Bat few minutes had passed when q shout arose
simultaneously the line that sho the forest
tefistic OF the Army Of Norhtrn Virginia. The
contest had begun.
Rodes pressed hard on the left whilst Gordon dashed
like thunder bolt on the right EshOls line advancing
slowly in their 'front.'
Ia vain did the enemys batteries pour their deadly
sales iato the ranks of advancing battalOns
sulng a one in the occasional Woundng Of some sol
der 81 rap did columns advance that the enc
M, ceased firing from his batteries for minutes,
and seemed TO sTand amazed at the celebrity Of our
movements .a
F1ay his guns were buried to the passage that led
70 tho ford II spprehensive of victorious ool-
umns crossing. This was but signal Tor thousand
shouts to rend the air to tell the story Of victory and
triumph.
The days work was done, the boasted foe, south Of
the Shenandoah defeated and routed. For one mile he
had fed in confusion before charging aud victorious
hosts Who 20 TO battle but to WIN. Many droEned
in crossing The river Whit many fell beneath the shots
Of our unerrIng rhsmeD; took refuge in small
leland which, a. lick thought, was bned With their
dead csrcases, knspsaeks, eAneens aud guns. Those
making their escape took refuge in the mountains south
of toe river, seldom re urning shot,
Here began tee cad work OF tie day care OF ire
wounded and tie burial of the dead. Il the heated
and excited charge all tboughF and sympathy Il lost
but 90 soon as TIE of muskey and the deafebin
meals of artillery had ceased, Fiction and reason
turn to their Wonted paths
Oar loss was AZ killed and 248 wounded, mostly
slebt En- my loss over 1000. TEeit dead and wound
ed Law scattered thick thr fed the latter begging
ni,sonalV 10 bs taken to hospitals whilst the Oonled
ratss-Galant feoWs-that lay hero aud there, n ed
not gIoan but waited patiently for the atentlon of
thsir respeodve surgeons They were all well cared
for, tho dead deOsnty buried