The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-22
ShGridan'S Victory.
FULL AND GRAPHIC DETAILS.
Enemy's Loss Nine Hundred.
MONDAYS OPERATIONS.


HARPERs Ferry, September 2O.-In accord
ance with orders received late on Sunday night
the 9th and 18th Corps and General Crooks COM
mand, with the cavalry, were under arms at day
light, and about five O'Clock took up their line of
march towards Winchester. The order of march
was as follows-the 9th Corps in the advance,
moving ont on the Berryvlle pike in two columns,
parallel with and thanking the road, upon which
they were instructed to keep their ammunition
trains and batteries; the 10Th Corps followed the
9Th on the same road and preserving a similar
formation in their line of march.
The kanawha Corps, under General Crook,
were TO strike out simultaneously with the re-
mainder of the army, and pushing through to
the southwest, were ordered to form junction
with the 9th Corps at the Opequan creek, near
the Berryvile turnpike. Our cavalry, consisting
of the 3d Division, were meanwhile to take the
extreme advance and secure Il safe crossing for
our advancing columns of infantry. Merritt aud
Ayer were TO amuse the enemy on our imme-
date front and conceal our thanking movements
sHERIDAN's PLANS.
1t will be readily perceived that the intentions
| Of General Sheridan were TO turn Early's right
| flank and so gain his rear, and for this purpose
he changed his lines from in front of Bunker Hill
| to turn left by massing his troops by rapid and
| simultaneous movement on to the Benyvilie
| pike, and so threaten Winchester, eventually to
| gain, as have said BEFORE the enemy's rear
| BY one of those unavoidable and ineXplicabe
mistakes so frequently the stumbling stock to all
| nicely balanced plans, the Commanding General 5
| tentions partially thwarIed. Owing TO a miscou
ception Of orders, General Emory unfortunately
failed TO connect with the Och Corps as soon rs
intended by General Sheridan, and thus two
valuable hours were lost by the entire army not
being concentrated ut the appointed time.
| The delay caused by these untOWaTd cirCum-
stances enabled Early to reinforce his right, con-
! sisting of BreCknTidges, Rhodes, ana Ramseur's
| Divisions, by rapidly marching down to their sup
| port GOrdon's Division. All of these divisions
suffered terribly in the engagement that after
wards ensued, and BTeckinridge the only
division commander who was not killed. While
| our opening movements were going on Generals
! Avcrill and Merritt threw out a IA sayy force OF
skirmisheis along the line Of the Opequan,
directly in front Of the position Of the enemy at
| Bunker Hill, and by various other movements
attracted their attention, aud kept them en-
| plOyed. This manwuyre was doubtless tue cause
OF the great success OF the day for IL enabled our
troops to gain the right flank of the Rebel army
| without serious opposition and In q measure
deceived karly rs 10 our ultimate intentions.
THE BATTLE.
Immediately after the capture Of the lunettes
| commanding the ford, the 9Th Corps moved for
ward, leaving The trans in park on this side OF
the creek, and pushing up the pike towards VIM
| chester some two miles, formed line Of battle,
| throwing out a heavy line of skirmishers, the
| artillery attached to the corps no the same time
| taking up position and vigorously shellng thl
works IN which the enemy mad Iakeu shelter.
| Every thing WAS now ready tor an onward
! movement, when it was suddenly discovered
that General Emory had failed TO connect with
General Wrighrs Corps, but was still on the
| other side Of the creek. Orders were instantly
despatched TO correct this error, and as soon "a,
the 18Th Cops arrived il was formed in iOur line,
Of battle iu semi-uiyisiOus, few hundred yard
apart, on the rilht Of the 9Th Corps ald then the
! advance began.
The first line of battle had advanced but few
| hundred yards when they received q heavy vol
| ley from the enemy, and soon became hOtly en-
| gagged with the Rebels, then some six hundred
! yards distant. Our batteries simultaneously
| opened a searching fire, pitching shell and shot
into the woods spoken of before with great rapi-
| dity, and harassmg the rear columns Of the
! enemy, and embarrassing the movements of rciu-
| tOrCCmCnts, which could De seen moving mp.
At this time General Sheridan rode along the
lines, and was received with great enthusiasm
| by the men, and his presence seemed to animate
| them with renewed determination ana an untinch-
| ing performance of their perilOus duty.
Our troops continuing 10 move forward, des-
pite the muIderOus fire of the enemy, they sUn-
ceeded in getting within two hundred yards of
the Rebel lines, when % furious clnuOnade broke
out from some batteries hitherto concealed, and
by their repeated discharges OF grape and
canister moved down large numbers of our
men. SO heavy and destructive was the
| fire from these batteries that our advanced
! line was compelled 20 fall back, thus mOmenta-
rily dcrGnging the formation Of the second and
third lines Of battle The order was quickly
given tor the men TO lie down. in order TO avoid
the effects Of the showers Of grape that were
pIOughng through their ranks.
Our artillery was then rapidly brought up and
given commanding positions, from which they
soon commenced vi herring CannOnadiug Of the
| enemy 5 advanced position, under the protection
OF which our lines, now reformed, again advanced
aud aitcI desperate resistance on the part OF the
Rebels, the enemy we're compelled to fall back
ana we once more game d the position we had lost
After this achievement both corps were ordered
to lie down I'm the lines Of battle as they were ~
J order 70 await The arrival Of General Crook