The New York herald., 1864-10-14
'EHENANDoAH.
The Successful Operations Of
tho Union Cavalry.
Tho ROut Of the Rebels
Under ROsser.
Interesting Details OF tho Chase
AIsng the Valley,
&s.s &s., e.


4 Mr. Finley Anderson's Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS, sRAR STRAsRuRa, VA,
SHkSANDoAH VALLEY, Oct u, 1864.
Congratulations sti heard every hand over the
splendid achievements OF cavalry lest Sunday in tho
Shenandoah valley Justice 10 the troops engaged sug
gess that together with additional Details there should
appear . succinct account OF the sfair. Al
DBPosi1Ioy CAVALRY.
J when General Sheridan witndr, r,wpg his forces
from their advanced position the division or cavalry
formerly commanded by General Averiii, but now by
Colonel Powell, went down tie Luray valley while the
pthsr two divisions updsr Generals Merrts and Custer
kormcd the rear guard Of the main body OF tho army
which came down the Shenandoah. Merritt took the
turnpike. and Custer what wa IS the Back road
The latter several miles further to left you
down. and tue base OF the range mountains
FIRST APP AwANcs InE ENEMY
1t was not until Sat rday G. instant, that any
considerable body Oft enemy found to be follow
rng our retiring forces On that afternoon we ascer.
1aned that the troops which were troubling const
euted all the rebel cavalry depar tment Among
She documents toun In tn capt, 'splundern was an
order dated October 8, assigning The rebel General
Rosser TO the command OF ttz Lees division In the
valley, and trapserrin Roers old brigade to his rev
division The rebel cavalry opposcd insisted OF
swo divi i0ns-Rosscr's and Lomax s-ooth under CON-
nand OF Ross"r Rosscrs division is composed en-.
Wickham's old brigade. now comm anded by Colonel
Aumford, Wickham having been elected member of the
rebel Cong gess; Lomax's old brigaic, mmanded by
Colonel Pane, who has been twice prisoaer and Ros
ser's own brigade, commanded by Colonel Dulany.
Lomax's division s composed OF Bradley I. Johnsons,
AcCauslans and Imboden's brigades, Ia known az
the Valley Cavalry. Imboden died few days ago.
Prsouers say they seldom called him General Jmboden
nut that his brigade was popularity styled "Mr. Bodens
cavalry" The rebel cavalry was accompanied by two
batteries OF art lery-the from B.,m,re aud tho
other Captain Pehams celebrated battery which had
won sach distinction Ia the for It's operations with
Stuarts cavalry. In the accompanying the rebel
broops there ordnance wagons and
ambulances FOR the wounded.
SHE AFPAIR SATURDAY.
On Saturday aiternocn, while Colonel Kdd's brigade
was pressing back the eutmy the turnpike Colonel
Loweips regular brigade, assisted by dsposable
hetachments from the other brigades and Taylor,s
battery, all in Merrtt's division, moved towards the
Back road and striking flank the FORCES which were
following Custer, engaged them successfully and had
driven them bsck perhaps mile. when darkness closed
shc contest on that evening Merritt then withdrew
Colonel Lowcls command 70 tho turnpike.
PREPARATIONS sSxMY IoR TIN FIGHT on SUNDAY 4
The rcbel commander made dispositions OF his /
troops during the night, ard whereas nearly all his
troops aplenred 10 be concentrated tho Back on
Saturday cv nDg considerable forcs found on tho
tusnake on Sunday morring. Rosser operated manly
on the Back rood opposed to Custer and Lomsx the
turnpike, opposed to Merritt
OPERATIONS cusTER's DIVISION.
In obedience Gen. sneridans wishes General Tor
bert, commsudng cavalry corps, Instructed Custer
and Merritt to their divisions designated
on Sunday msrDiDg. attack tie enemy and whip him.
Soon after six O'Clock Gen. Custer aftcr driving tho
emy piekets, formed his division the attack. Col
Pennington ofthe Third New Jersey, commanded one OF
bis brlgades and Colonel Wells Q, the F,Ts. Vermont,
che other he Eyheenth renusylv mia, Major Phillips
and the Fit6 New York. Major Kroo,, commanding,
depoy front OF the division line skirmshers
The Eighth New York, Colonel Benjamin. and the TWEEN
~ secoud hs;cr Moor twho IL temporarily transferred
from the Eighth 70 command the Twenty second moved
formed In NDe Of battle the right, and the Third
New Jersey MAJOR Robeson, and the second Ohio, Lieu
tscant Colonel Pennington the left Lieutenant Porces
New York cavairy, under MAJOR Hail Tue First New
Hampshire, Colonel Thompson, and the First Vermont,
whole DIVISION The general formation WAS pre-
served during the operations Of The tho two last
others In the front
IN. enrmy vas posted in str. ng position battery
OF artillery wss planted hill where IL could shoot
the trt OF formed in line sb Ut the base.
just ,usets division advancing to attack. the
left The artillery and cavalry cn both sioes were
closely engaged. The eneiny's artillery, like our
Cuser's lot force IT back On the right however,
beisg covered from tho artillery ire by intervening
Kept steadily advancing and closing round by the right
until the rebel battery taken IN nank, aud almost
don It's position When th- rebel guns we're
seen wheeling down the Ii the left oi Gus
up tie trot, ard theu the whole line, with
drawn abros, dashed forward in grand charees and
retreaug enemy about half me to where the rebel
battery bsd gained position ou another Great.
opened them, and, the rebel cavalry having made
stand, charged back rpo6 them from belt of timber
palIy by The First Vermont FIRST New Hampshire and
Fifth New York. Tho regiments ON our right kept
line on tie centre and lett advancing also The rebel
guns were again timely taken from the bill, and
by his staG and escort, dashed forward win his
Gag. .in tho mos! heroic manner, and joined
the cnemys artillery. was extremely Interesting
and exciting scene The artillery rad wagons beng com
urcd but troops we're chased aoy miles over zelda
opsa.rross or GESxRAL nrnarrrs DIVISION.
Willie Custer routing Rcsser the right, Merritt
was thrashng the lett In the morning, when
90 as TO form connection and eosb'e both divisions TO
upera'e together. Colonel Kdds Michigan brigade
Cusers Io Far, Of Colonel Devios brigade was formed
Ia the centre, and Colonel Iowers regulars the turn
pikc and the left Of ~ CaItan Martins New York
bsMery was broush. into action at the commencement
c qhe aght. Tho line from Clusters right 70 Merritts
.luft Was fonc three miles or nlore Ia extent.
,,~NAsp the skrmshers in front Of Mcrrt's division
wcfe advancing they net With determined oprosision
1oSvemsar 1o5 on Msrrirs left smolsns similar % he
.sne or Cus1sr's, and with Almost simisr result
section Of faylor's Frs. United states battery was
baltimore battery Of the enemy. Loweils brigade
then advanced In splendid STYLE ana as moved moved
the enemy in ccaiusion from We lrcn'.' From that
MON ems tho retreat WAS turned into rous. COLONEL
Toyell on the pike, having good road TO travel on
essed the retreAtpg rcbes bard that they did NOS
Get on opportunity TO form another line. The other hri-
alcs followed closely the character OF the country
would permit Lowel1s brigao captured four guns and
evns one The rebels ned iss ~ tbcir horses could
,nvrv them When hard pressed the drivers OF wagons
r the traces and leaving the vehicles 10 be captured
.ede GOOD their escape with tho horses We captured
sxsrvtSinr on wheels both roads except one gun
ina turnpiks That the gun that Merritt was n
apx,ous 70 Obtain and for WHICH hc and bis stan with
ther ordces made the hist darog cnrrgo on The turn
nike.