The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-06-30
FINDLAY, OHIO FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 30, 1876

| Shenandoah, was completely surround
ed bv two divisions of the enemy's
cavalry, but fought his way out and
rejoined Cen. Crook Oh the 23d at Win
chester On the 9th Crook advanced,
easily driving the enemy's cavalry. sup
posed to be covering the rebel retreat
up the valley, when Suddenly, near
k-rnstown, Early's whole army devel-
Cped itself in battle array close upon
the left flank, and pouncing upon
Crook, compelled him to fall back
rapidly on Martinsburg. Col. Hayes
covered this retreat on the left with
his brigade, and stubbornly resisted
Early's impetuons advance, saved
Crooks forces from material loss, and
enabled him to draw off safely all his
trains and artillery. A series of marches
and countermarches was now inaugu-
rated which, though bringing on no
general engagement, were characterized
by many daring exploits Gen. Sheri-
dan took command of the new Middle
Department on the 9Th Of August, and
selected the kanawla Division, inelud-
ing Col. Hayes Brigade, to act with
his cavalry in repeated assaults on
Early's lines. Sheridan was not quite
| ready for IL general advance, aud it was
in part the object Oh these assaults to
keep the enemy occupied and prevent
him from detaching any portion of bis
force for the assistance of Lee at
Richmond. Several times Early un-
dertook to do this, and as often was
| prevented by Sheridan's vigorous de-
monstrations, which sometimes rose
to the proportions of serious battle.
Seldom "A week passed without two or
three of these attacks being made, Col.
Hayes often forcing his way with his
brigade, not only through Early's for
midable picket lines, but through his
main line, compelling him to develop
his full strength and even to seek new
positions. So bold and hazardous were
these raids that it was often IL matter
of grave surmise with officers and men
in setting out, whether the brigade
would ever return again to the main
body, and many times tl.e chances
seemed to be decidedly in favor of its
capture or anDihilation. But it always
managed to get back in good fighting
trim, and its habitual success greatly
increased the confidence of the men in
themselves and in their leader
At length Early was provoked to re-
taliate, and at daylight on the 23d of
August made a vigorous attack OH
Sheridan's onposts at Hailtown. The
attack was not followed up, however,
and at Gp. III. Hayes brigade sailed
out and drove in the enemy's skirmish
line, capturing lot of prisoners from
kershaw's Division. This was a bold
and brilliant charge, the bewildered
prisoners, as they were captured, ex-
claimed in astonishment, "Who the |
HI are you uns?" On the 2ith the
sortie was repeated, still more success
fully, and resulted in the capture of |
sixty officers and one hundred men, all |
from Kershaw's Division. Things passed |
quietly from this until tile evening of
September 81, when Duvars Division,
including Colonel Hayes brigade, he
came involved in a severe engage mcnt |
at Berryville. The fighting was des- |
perate, and occurring mostly after |
dark, the flashes of musketry and ex- |
ploding shells, IuinglinS with the fierce |
roar of conflict, made scene that was |
frightfully grand. This affair was Il
severe test to the valor Of the troops, |
but their lines, though in imminent |
jeopardy of being overwhelmed, never |
wavered. The battle ceased by mu-
tual consent about 10 o'clock, and the |
Ticket lines were re established.
BATTLE OF oPFQUAN.
Sheridan had, by this time, pretty |
thoroughly reorganized the mixed /
forces placed under his command, and |
on the 10th of September was visited |
by Gen. Grant, who states in his re-
port that he saw that ''bnt two words |
of instruction were necessaIy.-'G in"
Accordingly Grant gave them and
Sheridan went in. The battle of Ope-
guam, or Winchester, as it is usually |
called, took place OH the 10Th of Sep
tember. Early, at this time, held the
west bank of Opequan Creek, occupy
ing a series of strong heights overlook
ing, like an amphitheater, an irregular
valley, and standing With regard to
each other line n series Of detached
Notifications. Sheridan proposed to
pass into the valley by means of n mar
row ravine which entered it by crook
ed course between steep and densely
wooded hills, then dePloy, amuse the
enemy's right, vigorously fight his cen
ter, and ouiilank and overwhelm his
left. 1t was Early's design, OH the
other hand, to permit the deployment
to proceed to certain extent, then
overwhelm S!lrIi,i,n'sl IT cut his army
in two, and beat it ia ,.etItil
The battle opened at l0a H., when
the Sixth Corps emerged from the
ravine, followed by Tia" Nineteenth,
and taking ground to the lett pushed
impetuously forward against Early's
right. Crooks command, comprising
Duval's and Thoburn's division, now
debouehed into the valley, and pass
ing behind the other two corps, moved
rapidly to the right, intending TO turn
the enemy's left aud charge him lii
flank and rear. Ricketts, division OF
the 9th Corps and Growers OF the 10th
leading the attack on the left, charg-
ing furiously over broken ground,
driving the enemy from his sheltered
position behind rocks and thick woods,
and carrying his first line. Early, in
turn, seeing that every thing was at
stake, hurled two fresh divisions upon
Grover and Ricketts,, forcing them back
in great disorder. AT this moment the
battle seemed lost, but the broken reg
iments were finally rallied, poured in
to the triumphant enemy II yolley
which staggered him, then advancing
recovered much of the lost ground,