Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-09-27

that single divison--a number greater
than the whole French army lost at Sol
ferino Through his own clothes five Min
ie balls lad passed; his horse had been
shot under him; and yet he had come out
without a scratch.
THE WINCHESTER wHIRL.
He was on the point of executing his
bold movement to the entmy's rear, when
wind came to him that Early, keeping
half of his army at Winchester, had just
sent the other halt down TO Mariinsburg
Here then was an opportunity TO beat him
in detail. He would fall first upon the
force at Winchester, then, after crushing
IT, would advance northward down the
Valley Pike against the Man tinsburg col
umn, which, thus cut off from its line Of
retreat, could have no escape.
Beyond the Opequan stretched a narrow
mountain gorge, through which lay the
rad Sheridan mast take in advancing up
on the rebel position at Winchester Along
this Wilson charged with one division Of
the cavalry, sweeping out llie rebel defend
ers, capturing the work at the exit near
Winchester, and securing space for the de-
ployment of the army. But Emory's
Nineteenth Corps was unfortunately de-
layed by its blunder in allowing the wagon
train of the Sx,h to precede it, and the
difficulty of the roads increased the de-
tenton, 50 that it was o'clock before The
lines were ready TO advance.
Before this time Early had recalled the
absent divisions, and concentrated his
army. Moving up, therefore, TO the attack
with the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps,
Sheridan met heavy and obstinate resis
tance. He still held Crook in reserve,
meaning, at the turning point in ihe battle
| TO throw him il on his left, aud thus reach
| the Valley Pike, and still gain the enemy''
! line of retreat. But now Early, hoping
! by powerful attack 10 break through the
/
plant himself on It's line of retreat, made
desperate onset upon its center. Tn
I line was completely broken; toward tht
gorg4 began rush Of confused soldiery
! from half the regiments the battle wa
almost lost. At this critical junctnr
Sheridan drew aside one of the brigade
4 in the line, which had just missed the ful
force of the rebel blow, and ordered it t
reserve It's fire. Early's attacking colum
rushed on after the fleeing regiment till
had unwarily exposed its flank. TheT
upspringing the brigade poured in lis fire
and rushed upon the enelnys flank an
rear. The diversion threw back the sur
cessfll assanlting column the corps com
manders excited themselves 10 reformthei
lines, and bring back the thousands f'or
the rear; and before Early could prepar
to renew his venture a compact wall c
infantry once more confronted him.
Along the center fierce line fghtinl pre-
crossed. each side lying close to cover, an
firing with deliberation and accuracy tbs
the long rank of corpses On the battlefield
afterward attested. On the right, howey
er, the storm increased and Sheridan be
gan to he fearful that il would be turnet
AT last he determined to avert this dangt
by abandoning his original design of pu
ting Crock in on the left, and by using hil
as a turning column on the right. II
attack was vehement and successful. Ju
as the enemy began to flee, one lookir
down the Valley Pike might see the re
of Sheridan's cavalry charging up. 1h,
: r,ada a long detour to the right, and rou
: ed the rebel cavalry up the pike and in
. Winchester. In the open oundin fro
of the town Early made last stand. b
: Wilson's cavalry was now pushing in
. the left to gain the pike in his rear; She
L idan ordered combined infantry and ca
" airy charge on the front; and the bait
was over. 1t was five O'Clock in the ev
) ming.
= In his hasty dispatch to the war depaI
mrnt from the battlefield Sheridan sai'
y @We have just sent the enemy whirlil
Z through Winchester, and are after the
. tomorrow. This army behaved splendi
u ly. We captured two thousand five hu
'i dred 10 three thousand prisoners, Fl
le pieces of artillery, nine battle-fags, al
= all the rebel dead and wounded. The
wounded in Winchester amount TO sor
III three thousand" He wrote exactly as
Is felt. He had been into the fight, Ia
lie thrilled with the rapture of the chars
n. and the pride Of the pursuit and it W
4 putting the cavalry enthusiasm into wor,
lie when in his lively phase be telegraph
rs TO the listening country, as he talked
IN the comrades around him, that they Il
r. sent the enemy whirling through W
IS, chester. How lie fed on the fighting
Of on food a hundred stories of the battle :