The sun., 1864-09-24
&C., &C., &a
GENERAL SHERIDAN.
Review Of tho Advance.

The preliminary operations which resulted Ia
The brilliant victories In the Shenandoah Valley
commenced during the latter part Of last week, by
. reconnaissance under General Getty. In tho direc-
don Of the Opcqusn. On Friday tho enemy we're
found " have fallen back in the direction OF Win
chosssr, presenting . weak line upon our right
wing. This opening was promptly taken advantage
st and on Sunday General Averils csvslry attacked
and drove the rebel General Gorion's division Of
infantry from Martnsburg General Early mani
fssssd disposition to advance in hrce W sustain
Gordon, when General Sheridan determined To fall
upon bis rear, In the direction n Berryviile Tho
entire army WAS pAced in marching order on Sun
day night and before dayligh, on Monday morn
ing The Nineteenth and SIKH corps advanced.
followed by General Crooks command = few
hours later. The two corps moved in
parallel columns along the Winchester road,
while General Crook'sl moved in = south
westerly direction the open country, TO form,
junction with the two Army Corps At a point on
she road. While thess movements were going on
sssinst the ensmy's rishA the cavalry, under Gem
srsl Avsril demonstrated the len, so ~ ~ di-
vert The attention of the enemy. The entire move
msns was splsndidly executed, only slight de-
fAngsmept occurring FROM the failure Of the Infantry
" connect at the proper time. and the delay AZ
forded time to General Early ~ bring up part Of
bis forces
TIE battle commenced at noon with the advance
Of shs Sixth and Nineteenth Corps across the ope.
Qusn. General Crooks force remaining as a reserve
on the east bank. The enemy opened with . fu'
rious dre, which compelled our men to fsl bae <
and await the reserve, which was ordered TO cro,'
the river and support our advance. About three
o'clock General Sheridan was joincd by his va
ri0us cavalry divisions, and advanced along ,h'
entirs line, the infantry and srtllery both aids
being snC aged. The infantry moved on the centre
supported BY eayslry on .be left ana right TANKS.
About four O'Clock u splendid infantry charg'
was made by the Army Of wes, yiryinis unde
General Crook. The enemy were pushed bach
from the FIRST, but retired in comparatively goo,
order, until our cavalry under General Torber,
coming down on the enemy's right, struck the
flank mile or two north Of Winchester, and drov
II completely OF tho turnpike, with the loss Of sew
ersl hundred prisoners. The cavalry under Gen
srsl Averill now joined in the battle and abou
dark the route was complete The enemy fed
all points, hurving through Winchester undo
cover Of the darkness, and pressed by our cav
Our losses IN this engagement are est mate
st from three 20 four thousand. The enemy lo'
more than twice that pumtar. In this engsgener
al srms-srtillery. infantry aud cavalry wor
equally engaged. The enemy fought with gre
courage and desperation. The csys'ry made SOIL
OF tho Anest charges in tho war. In no case di
,hs rebel cavalry venture 70 iroes sahrcs At OF
Sims General Torbert chased them distance
sight miles. The infantry, Of course, offered II
moa serious opposition. splendid charge
General Cusaer's and Lowslls brigades little b
iorsdusk resulted in tho capture Of three guns,
stands Of colors and eight hundred men, includiI
nxty officers. Three thousand rebel wound
we're found In Winchester, and their dead 81
wounded lined every rosd and aeld. An hour
two more Of daylight would have rendered the d
sruction Of the rebel army complete,
During The night The enemy retired towAr
rsAe's Hl, whsrc II wss subsequently, discover
~ - nads aaaA TAas Slses y ssaaa sAs