The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-28
IRON SHERIDAN

A Great Defeat and a Great Victory,
The Springfield Republicans dispatch
says, for several mornings previous 10
Wednesday our army in the valley had
been on the alert, expecting an attack
but apprehension had died away, and
on Wednesday morning the usual pre-.
cautions were omitted. 1t was fogg
morning, and the movements Of the
enemy were not discovered till they
were close upon our lines. With hard
~ q moments warning the rebels adj
vanced against Gen. Crooks position
in solid columns, pouring in volley
on flank and front. Only n portion q
our troops manned the breastworh
when the assault commenced 1t was
so energetic and deadly as to breas
the lines at once The men wen
swept from their breastworks, mh
which the enemy came flooding Ikea
sea, and swarming ON, firing, yelling
+ driving all before them, they entered
the encampments in rear Of the works,
where soldiers, scarcely awakened
were actually rising from their blank
/ cts
The 10th corps was equally sur
prised, driven from its position, and
fought retreating and partially broka
The scenery on the field, at this lun,
tire, was fairly appalling. The leftd
the army completely turned, half tle
army Of Western Virginia flying ID
dismay through the fog; the l9A
corps, fighting more or less stubbou,r
falling back and constantly losing m
stragglers, the entire country ab.n.
AIiddlctown and beyond, in rear, pop
ulated with IA demorMized soliieF]
the crack of rebel musketry, ere plg
/ further up on the left toward Middle
town hulrying wagons, ambulanees
/ caissons; the hiss and explosion Of t.a
enomy's shells from batteries .utoI
in front of the l5,h corps; the alpa
ances Of defeat, impending disasiera
most everywhere Gen. Wright under
took to arrest the current, and BY tA
aid of the 9th corps, partially succeed
Ell When the lines had reached
crest, Just to the right and rear d
/ Aliddletown, whore n second stand VS.
made, and when two terrific charge
Of the enemy were repulsed, neai
every fold officer in the 1st division
the 9th corps was wounded. There
suits of the contest were otAervA
gloomy We had been surprised 81.
driven out of splendid position -.
lost heavily in prisoners; had lost
pieces of artillery, 81 ambulanee' ID
Guiding all the medical Wagons o..
medical supplies of the 18th corps -,
several hcadquarter wagons. NeI@
yielded more than two miles Of 5a'lr
field TO the enemy; many Of our hie
officers were killed and disabled s%
the killed and wounded were '-A
around
A lull. The enemy relinquishei, y
attack, and contented himself VIII
lively use of artillery. At this mons
faint cheer echoed along the LE
the rear. Gen. Sheridan, who
ridden post-haste from Winch@~
was approaching. His appearancs Z
ated wild enthusiasm. Beginning
the left of the line, he rode along X
whole front Of the army, wayls
hat amid uproatious cheers. ha e.
was stopped in an instant rom .~ u,
time until 3 p m. Every nerve ~
strained to get the army into Oh 0u m
siye position, and at 3 ocIo1eA .or.
whole army, the 9th corps ID wy .;,r
tire, the 10Th corps on the n ,,Lr,
Crooks command on the LETT N'i'Ii'A
cavalry division on the eXife'~ IN
Clusters division on the extreme l.s
made a magnificent roslstleS' Ited
, which swept the enemy of the IN m
the earth before it eyerywhei,u
enemy had actually begun to INV .oc
breastworks, and was prepafin5
into camp when this charge W ,r nib
He was driven back at a doup| u a,
through Middletown, across OcO .1as
= where he came from, and was 4,
pursued by our cavalry thiou5 nss
beyond Strasburg. Forty-tl'I''''a hg
Of artillery, some the guns u',nrd
us during the day, were ca IDol vg
Shasbnrg also over a huna ll'oa, b
ons and ambulances, and cals ',.isoess
Vulnerable. Probably looo p II
were picked up along the ro"~ 1',ep d
hours of daylight would INV o
: the rebel army almost entire
| pon.nor.s Pen,le seem 70 %