Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-12-08

disgraoeful defeat and make the same de-
spatch that carried the news Of the over
throw Of his army carry the slso thrilling
tidings Of its glorious victory.
1t vas half-past three o'clock. Sheridan
had two firm lines formed across the valley.
Massachusetts men stood in Vermont regi-
ments, and Vermont men stood in Western
regiments. but all under one hag-the stars
and stripes. The shock of the morning had
brought about strange associations, but IT
Was life or death now. and men forgot every
thing but the impending strife. Suddenly,
without a moments warning. the order ran
down the line for a general advance. Men
were struck dumb with astonishment, but
hesltated not a moment, and sweeping over
the slight breastworks, swept on into the
open field. to grapple in the terrible sirug-
gle. II WAS a magnificent sight. The two
armies met; the rebel batteries poured a
storm Of shot and she'll into our ranks, fol-
lowed By tremendous yolleys Of mu.ketry
the shock was awful, aud our lines we're act
ually rent before them. For moment all
seemed lost again. as our troops slowly gave
way To the ~ithering flames. while the pierc-
ing yell OF the enemy rose above the battle
a horrid reminder of the morning But
Sheridan was with Us now. At the sight Of
his army struggling against such fearful
odd. the lion Of his nature was aroused. and.
instead OF being overwhelmed. be rose above
II, and. galloplng amid the broken ranks, he,
BY his thrilling appeals and superhuman ef-
forts. ,nstehed victory from the very jaws Of
defeat The wayerlng lines instantly closed,
ss II eenentcd BY some unseen hand. and
the Union army thtcw itself the second time
into the fire Of death. this time to be beaten
back al one or two points.
At this moment a Wild shout was heard
in the center. and the cry ran swiftly up and
down the line The rebel. are giving way
The rebels are giving WAY" | remember
the CRY As though uttered but Yesterday, and
no tongue can describe the excitement that
instantly followed the very air seemed
charged With electricity. Regiment after
regiment flung itself reckle.sly upon the
rebel host. Slowly but surely the rebel
army NAs giving way TO our lmpeiunus
charges. The volIey. Of mu.ketry were
deafenIns and the PLAIN shook With the roar
Of aTfil!rrN sheridan shOnc ike pillar Of
fire as he dashed furiouslv. unmindfui of dan
ger, up and down through the regiments.
urging the men on. Men seemed 70 lose
al fear OF death they were intoxicated
SIih excitement. and. although the field pre-
.cntrd a ghastly spectacle. the dead and
wounded lying everywhere. nothing could
cheek the wild enthusiasm Of both officer-
and men. Cannon AFTER cannon battalion after
battalion. were captured by the infantry.
and the trained squadrons Of Clusters and
Mcrrltt'' cavalry came ihund-ring down upon
the doomed rebel army. doubling up their
a .tt IL. -
their ranks. The rebel ruut ~l- complete
and great victory won. True to hi. word,
Sheridan ordered the different rrgiment.
that night to take possession Of the camp
grounds from which they ~ere driven in
the morning.
The closing scene Vas grand aud awful.
Darkness had settled down on the hattie
he.d. the rctrcatIug army ~As cruSd ding
and struggling across the valley and creek
on the bank aud from the old carthwork.
Of the morning twelve or hhcen pieces of
artillery were helCh!ug forth angry flames.
dealing death and destruction in the terrified
ranks Of the retrrat!ug foe This closed one
Of the most remark able battles in history,
Other lost field. have been won. but rarely
bN the presence Of single man. Napoleon
Lost Narrngo but won it again by the az
rival Of General Drsai1 with his fresh col
umn. But here lost battle was Won b,
the arrival Of Sheridan alone. Our lo>,
va. over siI thousand men. The enemy
captured from our troops in the morning
twenty four piece. Of artillery. These we're
reoaptured, and twenty four more were
taken from the enemy in the afternoon,
making forty eight pieces. len battle hag.
were also captured and several thousand
prisoners. General Sheridan changed horse.
once during the battle. lie rode the ia
nous black horse from Winchester TO the
field Of battle and on the field until the final
charge, jus, before four o'clock, when. Gov
cred with foam. It's neck still proudly arch
ed and eyes flashing fire, il Vas led awsy
with honor enough for one day. and Sheri-
dan mounted ms gray horse winch he rode
tll the battle was over