Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-11


and Fictory-General Early not Taken
The Union Loss Trifling-Troops Ad.
vanein: on Lynchburs-R eperted Cap.
The correspondent of the New York Herald,
writing from Winchester, gives some details
OF General Sheridan movement up the Val
ley, and defeat OF General Early near WaVnes.
boro'. The command, consisting o. the FIRST
Division, Gen. Merritt; the Third Division of
Cavalry, Gen. Custer, and one brigade of the
Second Cavalry Division, Colonel Caphart of
The ID Virginia, commanding, with two sec.
tions or four pieces ofartiIlery, the whole under
the command OF Major General Sheridan, left
their camps early on the morning OF the 21th
uitimo. The movement OF The command was
very rapid. marching from tweuty-six to
thirty two miles each day.
General Sheridan had learned pretty ac-
culaely OF the position OF the enemy. He
learned that up to the day previous General
Early had his headquart ters i'll Staunton: that
his force was small, and that there was @
probable chance 10 captRre the entire force.
At i. NJ. On the third day, two or three
henTs after coming into camp, General Sheri-
dan ;ordered General Deyines Brigade, of Mer-
ritt's Division, 10 break camp and move for
ward. From Stanton the brigade took the
ROckfsh Gap road, and proceeded to Chris.
tian's creek, which Is seven miles distant. At
that point they destroyed trestle bridge on
the Virginia Central Railroad. This was ac-
compiished without opposition from the enemy,
when General Deyines returned to StaGnton,
where he rejOined the main column.
1t commenced raining very hard the
fourth day. vet RIO time was to be lost Sheri-
dan therefore ordered General Custar's Diyis-
ION 10 move in quick time on the Rockfish Gap
road 10 WaynesborO, where he learn ed Gen.
eral Early was in force. The distance to the
objective point was thirteen miles.
Leaving Stanton, the route was on a conf
mon dirt road. This was softened by constant
rains, so that the mud was nearly two feet
deep. The march was necessarily slow, but
the troops were in excellent spirits, and only
toe eager to NEE! the enemy.
When Gen Custer reached FisherVille, five
miles from WaynesbOro', he came upon the
rebel videttes, but these he sent flying to their
camps in quick time. On reaching point
near WaynesborO' the column was halted, and
detachment sent forward to reconaoiter.
This party soon discovered The enemy posted
on a range OF hills near WaynesbOro and
South river. The rebels had five pieces of ar
tiliery i'll position, commanding the front which
Custer was approaching. Gen. Custer imme-
diately dismonnted and depl0yed two regi-
ments as skirmishers. In the rear of them, and
on either side OF the road were solid regiments.
The movement on the euemy's works was the
work of moment. Oar skirmis hers advanced
with rapidiy, firing at the enemy, and then the
whole line moved on the enemy's position.
The rebels fred one volley. and then ran like
focs off ieep. Their attempt to escape was
frnltiess, as Custer closed his lines on them,
and surrounded nearly the entire force of the
enemy. capturing - commissioned officers.
i,i6j enlisted men, I3 State and battle 1iags, :
cannon. ITO wagons, ambulances and other
NehlcleS. among the Tebel OHcefs CAPTURED
We're Gen Early's entire staf-Col Orr chief
of artillery, and Col. Vosburg commanding
brigade.
General Early did not attempt 10 rally or
encourage his men, but fled when he saw Gus.
ter and his troops manGuvring for position
He rode ,off On fleet horse, attended by an orc
derIy, and proceeded through the Blue Ridge
via Reckfish Gap, and towards Charlottes.
Vile.
1t seems that General Early despaired of
making any successful defence against Sheri-
dan. and on the morning OF the day Custer at
tackled him he caused all surplus stores and
six peces.of artillery to be placed on a railroad
tram for transportation else where. This train
was also captured by General Custer, together
with all the spoiis, including a large quantity
OF artillery ammunition. The artillery was
all DESTROYED, burst or spiked, and all the gun
carriages destroyed, on account of the muddy
condition of the roads
The victory was almost a bloodless one, as
we only lost ten or twelve In killed and
All the rebel wagons captured from the ene-
my were destroyed for the same reason above
stated.
until General Sheridan, with the'matn column,
came mn, and then pushed on through Rock
fish Gan to Greenwood, at which the force
mentioned at the commencement OF this report
was detached to escort the rebel prisoners to
th g point.
At last accounts direct from Sheridan Gen.
eral Custer was within a few miles OF Char
Iottesville, an important station ON the Vir.
einia Central Railroad. General Sheridan