Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-13
sHERIDAN,S RIDE.
Details Of Gen. sherIdan's Victory at
WaynesBOrO.

the following account OF SnerloAns recenb
up the shenandoah, and his
brilliant victories over Early:
The command, consisting of the First di-
vision, Gen. Merritt; the Third division of
cavalry, Gen. Custar, and one brigade Of
the Second cavalry division, Colonel Cap
hart, of the Second Virgins, commanding,
with two sections, or four pieces, Of artil-
lery, the whole under the command of
Major General Sheridan, left their camps
near this town early on the morning Of the
9th ult. The weather fer some days had
been stormy and the roads in bad condi-
ton, and the streams and rivers in the val
ley much swollen by constant rains and
melting snow. Notwithstanding the SEEM
ingly impossible obstacles to march, the
Lieutenant General gave the order to
move, and it met prompt scguiescenee from
General Sheridan. AS the troops rode
through the town, the columns were we'll
closed, the men looked fresh, and there was
a restiveness discernible in the ranks to
once more get dash at General Early and
his army, whom they had so often van
ouished. There was another inspiring ele-
ment which conduced to make the men feel
confident. It wss in the simple but forci-
BILE fact that General sheridan was to &C
company the expedition.
The Third division, General Custer, as it
passed through the town, was particularly
remarked for their soldierly appearance.
At its head was its gallant leader, who has
won proud name by his intrepid deeds.
His appearance on this occasion was unusu-
ally striking. He looked more youthful
- 1,a1-- a.
his shoulders, and his jsunty velvet suit of
clothes, his sailor shirt, adjusted after the
most approved msn-of-wsr style, looked
quite picturesque.
The troops took the macsdamized pike
up the valley, marching in column by fours.
The first day they advanced to Woodstock,
thirty miles, the next to Hsrrisonburg,
twenty-seven miles, and the next to within
four miles OF Staunton, twenty six miles.
General Sheridan had at this iuncture
learned pretty accurately of the position of
the enemy. He learned that up to the day
previous Early had his headquarters in
Stsunton that his force was small, but
that there was probable chance 10 cap
TUE the entire force. It appears that Gen.
Early was spprised of the advance of our
troops, for the day previous to the entrance
of our troops into Stsunton he notified the
citizens that the Yankees were coming,
and it was possible he might not be able to
hold the town. The inhabitants acted on
this advice, and removed their valuable
property to place of safety. It is said
that among other things removed was the
enormous sum of one million of dollars in
gold, the property of the banks in the
town. This treasure was sent 70 Char
lottesville.
at nine P. N. on the third day, two or
three hours after coming into camp, Gen
eral Sheridan ordered General Deyin's
brigade, of Merritt's division, TO break
camp, and move forward. The night was
dark, wet and unpleasant, but under the
direction of the faithful guides and scouts
they moved on to the town of Stsunton,
driving the enemy's piekets peI nell be-
fore them, passing through the town al
most without opposition. From Staunton
the brigade took the Roekfsh Gap road,
which runs esst-south-east from the town,
and proceeded to Christians creek, which
is seven miles distant. At this point they
destroyed trestle bridge on the Virginia
Central Railroad. This was accomplished
without opposition from the enemy, when
Gen. Devins returned to Staunton, where
he rejoined the main column.
1t commenced raining very hard on the
fourth day, yet no time was to be lost.
Sheridan saw his goal near at hand, and
he had the men, the commanders and the
will to accomplish his designs. He there
fore ordered General Custer's division to
move 10 quick time on the Rockfsh Gan
road to Waynesboro, where he learned
General Early was in force. The distance
to the objective point was thirteen miles.
Leaving Stsunton, the route. was on q
common dirt road. This was softened by
constant rains so that the mud was nearly
two feet deep. The march was nscessarily
slow, but hGtroops were in excellent spiF-
its, and only too eager too meet the enemy.
When General Custer reached Fisher
vile, five miles from Waynesboro, he came
upon the rebel Videttes, but these he sent
flying to their camps in quick time. On
nearing point near Wsynesboro the col
umn was halted, and q detachment s.nt
forward to reconnoitre. This party soon
discovered the enemy posted on a range of
hills near Waynesboro and South river.
The rebels had five pieces of artillery in
position, commanding the front on which
Custer was approaching. General Custer
Immediately dismounted and deployed two
regiments as skirmishers. In the rear Of
them and on either side of the road were
solid regiments. The movement on the
enemy's works was the work of moment,
Our skirmishers advanced with rapidity,
firing at the enemy, and then the whole
line moved on the enemy's position. The
rebels fred one volley, and then ran like 9
flock of sheep. Their attempt to escape
was fruitless, as Custer closed his lines on
them, and surrounded nearly the entire
force of the enemy, capturing eighty-seven
commissioned officers, eleven hundred and
sixty-f7e enlisted men, thirteen State and
battle flags, seven cannon and one hundred
wagons, ambulances and other vehicles.
Among the rebel officers, captured we're
General Early's entire statf-ColoneI Orr,
chief Of artillery, and Colonel Vosburg,
commanding brigade.
General Early did not attempt to rally
OF encourage his men, but fed when ne
saw Custer and his troops manueuvering
for position. He rode of on feet horse,
attended by an orderly, and proceeded
through the Blue Ridge, MA Rockfsh Gap,
and toward Charlottesville.
1t seems that General Early despaired
of making any successful defense against
Sheridan, and on the morning of the day
Custer attacked him ne caused all surplus
stores andsi pieces of artillery to be placed
on railroad train for transportation else
where. This train was also captured by
General Custer, together with all the
spoils, including large quantity of artil-
lery ammunition. The artillery was all
destroyed, burst or spiked, and the gun
carriages destroyed, on account of the
muddy condition of the roads.
The victory was almost q bloodless one,
as we only lost ten or twelve in killed and
wounded.
All the rebel wagons captured from the
enemy were destroyed for the same reason
as above stated.
General Custer remained at Wsvuesboro |