, 1865-03-14
Correspondence Of the 4. z. Hetald.],
w1NcrIrsTE vs. Msrrb q 1efS

| lRe Lieutenant GcncFa1 ~EaFo L1e Oldef 10
move: and It met prompt ucquiescence from
Gen. Sheridan. AS the troops rode through
town the columns were we'll closed. the men
looked flesh. and there was restfVeness dis
cernatlc In the ranks 10 once more get q dash
ut Gen. Early and his army, whom they lad
Eo Often yanquished. There WAS anot her In-
tpiIiEg element which conduced to make the
torcib.e fact that Sheridan was to accompany
the expedition.
The Sd division, Gen Custar, US It passed
through the town, was particularly remarked
for the:r @ s9}dieIly appearance, At Its head
name BY his intrepid deeds. His appear.
ance on this occasion was unusually striking,
H. looked more youthful than ever HIS
golden locks STRAINED over his shoulders, md
III 1aunfy velyet suit Of clothes. his sailor
SHIRT, adjusted after the most approved man
ofwar style, looked quite picturesque.
I1e tIcops passed through Kernstown,
M1ddlctoEn. Strasburg, and crossed Cedar
Greek, IumblIng River, Toms Brook ami
before dark, whrre tho troops went in;o
biYouac, having marched distance of thi, ty
miles. The tioops bad tile wet fields lor
their couch, ard the canopy Of heaven
tents.
Up to this time no enemy had appeared Ia
dispute our advance. 9lckcts wele set in
roper places, and the first night of the ex-
petition passed off quietly.
The second days march was pursued With
out thcoccuucnce Of anything OF particular
interest. The troops crossed Nurrow Passage
PASSED through the towns Of Edenburg and
Hawkirsburg, crossing the north fork Of the
Shenandoah on pontoo1' bridge ut point
between Mount Jackson and New Market.
Nine men Of the Sd division were drowucd
whlie crossing the stream. The command
7 n$ 3r1r 1tSSs An$1 NJ,
Market and Hatrisonburg, having marched
twenty-seyen miles during the day.
On the third day the troops broke camp at
SIX O'Clock 4. L., the 1rst brigade of the first
| division, Big. Gen. Desins, In the advance,
On This days march the troops crossed
| the latter nine miles northeast from staun-
ton, passing through Hayrisonbusg and by
Mount Crawford. Mount Sidney and Fort De-
tiancc. After crossing Middle river the troops
pushed on TO point within four miles Of
Stanton, where they went into camp. The
distance marched on Ills the third day was
| twtnty-siE miles,
General Sheridan had at this iuncture
learned pretty accurately the position OF the
| cntmy. lie learned that up to the day pre-
yicus Gen. Early had his headquarters ut
siaunton; that LIS force was:small, and that
there was probable chance to capture the
entire force. It appeared that Gen. Early
Was npp1tsed Of the advance Of our troops,
for the day previous to the entrance Of our
troops into Staun:on he notified the citizens
possible that he might not be aole to hold the
town. The inhabitants acted on his advice,
and removed their valuable property to q
place Of safety. It Is said among their things
removed Was the enormous sum Of one mil
lion dollars in gold, the property Of the banks
in the town. This treasure W2s sent to Char
lotteEvilIc-
AT nine p. m. on the third day. two or three
hours after coming into camp, General Sheri.
dan ordered General Deytns' brigade, OF Mer-
rit,'s division, to break camp and move for
ward. The night was dark, net md IN.
guides and sconts they moved on the town Of
S'a1nton, driving the cnemy's pickets pelr
nell before them, passing through the town
almost without opposition. From Staunto<
the brigade took the Rockdsh Gap road,
which runs east-southeast from the town, mud
proceeded to Christians creek, which, Is seven
miles distant. At that point they destroyed
t1estle bridge on the Virginia Central Rail
road. This vas accomplished without appo-
sition from the enemy, when Gencpl Devins
returned to staunton, where he sejolned the
1tcommenced mining very hard .ou the
fourth day, yet no time was to be lost. Sheri-
dan saw his goal near at hand, and he had the
men. The commanders, and the will to nc
complsh his designs. He therefore ordered
General Custar's division to move in quick
time on the Rockflsh Gap road to Wayncs-
boro Ehere he learned Gen. Early Was in
forcc. The distance to the objective point
WINS thirteen miles.
Leaving stau1 ion, the route was on COM
mon dirt road. This Fas soflened by con
slant rains 80 that the mud was 9early two
feet deep, The march was necessarily slow.
but the troops we're in excellent spirits, and |
only too eager to meet the enemy.
Mhtn Gen: Custar reached Fisieryille, tive |
mi f. 1VoVnrCrfFn In
rebel E1dcttes, but these he sent lying to |
their caurs In quick time. On reaching a |
point near Waynesbors the column was halt.
ed, and detachment sent forward to recon-
noitre. This party Eoan discovered the cne- |
ny, posted on range Of hills near Waynes: |
pieces Of artillery IN position, commanding |
The front on which Castar was approaching.
Gen. Custar Immediately disuounted, and /
deployed two regiments as skirnishers. In |
the rear Of them AMI OIL either side Of the |
road were cold regiments. The movement |
on the cnemy's works Was The work of mo- |
mcnt. Our ski7mishGs advanced with rapid |
i!y. firing nt the enemy, and then the whole |
line moved on the snemy's position. The |
rebels fired one yolley, and then run like
fock OF sheep. Their attempt to escape was
and surrounded nearly the entire force Of tie
enemy, capturing eighty seven commissioned |
officers, eleven hundred and sixty.dge enlist |
ed men, thirteen State and battle flags, seven
cannon, one hundred wagons, ambulances
and other vehicles. Ancug the rebel officers |
captured were Gen: Ea1ly's cntire ataff-Col,
Orr, Chief Of Artillery, md Col, Yosbura.
commanding brigade.
General Early did not attempt to rally or
encourage his men, but led when be saw
Custar and his troops maneuyc,ing for posi-
tion. He rode Oft on 1lcct horse, attended /
by IN c,dcly, and proceeded through The
Blue Ridge, via R3ckf(sh Gap, and toward I