The National tribune., 1886-12-16
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ARMY OF WEST VIRGINIA.
It's Active Part In the Battle OF Opcquan.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A few weeks
ago ! contributed for your columns narrative
OF the defeat and retreat of the Army of West
Virginia at Winchester, Va, July -, 1864, and
now I will take up the thread o. the narrative
where ] left Off Ii would perhaps, he unin-
teresting TO give detailed account OF the long,
tedious night march from Winchester TO Mar
tinsburg: of the few hours stand made there
TO give the loyal citizens, ms well rs the rail-
road officials, an opportunity 10 get UP and get
out: OF the oldmg of the Potomac al Williams
port, under cover OF all the Federal artillery
in battery on the shores Of Maryland. The
scene brought very vividly TO the imagination
the popular rebel song:
"Tho Yankee horde is on thy shore
Maryland, my Maryland;
Arise aud drive him from thy door,
Maryland. my Maryland
The defeat at Winchester severed Gen. David
Hunters connection with the Army Of West
Virginia. OF him il might be said, whatever
may have been his errors in Judgment he was
BOTH LOYAL AND BRAVE.
The Middle Military Division was now Gre
atod, and the army reinforced by the arrival OF
the Nineteenth Corps from New Orleans, the
Sixth Corps, and Gems. Torbert's, Clusters and
Mewtts Brigadcs of cavalry from the Army
OF the Potomac, with Gen. =. IL. Sheridan in
command and IN position near Charleston
(the scene OF John Browns exeoution), eight
miles south Of HarPer's Ferry. Gen. Sheri-
dams force did not fall far short of $4,000 men,
with not less than Is pieces of artillery.
This army twice thanked Early's army out of
Winchester and twice made retrograde move
mcnts, from the time Sheridan took command
until the bloody, decisive and sanguinary en-
Eaeemeut was fought, known as the battle of
the Opequan. Sept. 10 1864. These advances
and retrograde movements prompted a rebel
wag 10 dub Gen. Sheridan with the sobriquet
OF " Harper's Weekly" from the fact that they
were made about once week between Har-
pers Ferry and Winchester.
About Sept. II Gen. Grant paid his trusted
subordinate a visit at Charleston, and from
the position OF his forces, as well as the fine
condition of his army, he saw that il WAS but
necessary TO say two words, 60 in" that he
might have has plans carried into effect. On
the following Monday morning
"HARPER's WEEKLY" WENT IN
with a vengeance. II was evident that the rebel
leader was ignorant of the attack 10 be made
on his position on the banks of the 0pequan, as
he had on this very morning detached two d.
visions (Ramseur's and Wharton to attack the
cavalry at Martinsburg, and which had arrived
at Bunker Hill, 10 miles north of Winchester,
simultaneously with the arrival Of Sheridan's
head of column at the fords of the 0pequan
River.
The crossings were made by the Sixth Corps,
under Gen. Wright, and the Nineteenth Corps,
under Gen. Emory, without great difficulty
and on the nights Just beyond was enacted one
OF the closest, most sanguinary and bloody con-
ficts OF the war. The attack was made with
great impetuosity, and for a time victory
seemed To perch on the Federal banners Gen.
Early seeing his right wing so seriously men
aced sent off in hot haste for the return OF his
two crack divisions from Bunker Hill, and
these arriving on the scene of conflict stayed
for a time the tide OF battle which threatened
10 overwhelm them. For hours in even bal
ance the battle hung"
On the morning of this eventful day in the
history OF the nation the Army of West Nir-
GINA, at the gray dawn of the morning,
marched across the camp-line while the boom of
A SOLITARY GUN
10 miles TO the south warned us that the ball
was being opened One of the privates, ar
rayed in some prophets discarded mantle, pre-
dieled that somebody is going 10 get hurt to
to-day" Ihusw kept step 10 the stern music
IN front, the solemn boom OF the single gun was
Joined by that Of others until, as we drew
nearer IL swelled into an unearthly chorus
which sent the blood whirling and dancing
through the veins.
Arriving ut the eastern bank Of the Opequan
the Army of West Virginia was held in reserve
until o'clock, when, in response to the orders
OF an AID, advanced TO where the roar of strife
was loudest. Beyond the river and on the
nights where the storm ragged sight presented
itself which was at once grand, magnificent
terrible. Leaden messengers filled the air with
their ceaseess ping" Great conical ribbed
shells ana proectiles bursting in air, describ-
ing magnificent curves, shriekiug through the
timber and ricocheting i'm every direction, left
al impression on the memory which
CAN NEVER BE EFFAcED.
A ceaseless throng Of wounded and manned,
some on foot and some in ambuances with
their cries and groans, sad wrecks of humanity,
passed 10 the rear and were gone.
This sad, pteous procession had its dispirit-
ing, dscourag.ng effect on the advancing sol
diew. Soon after the column had crossed the
river an officer. a nOble-looking man, splen-
didly mounted, haranEned the men in gallant
style as they iiled by him TO 60 into position.
de reminded them of their duty 10 their cOun-
try and their God aud of the fruit they might
expect 10 gather from their victory-the back
bone OF the rebellion broken an enduring peace
the comforts of the home and the fresde. On
the other hand he pictured what they might
expect from deieat-the prolOngation of the war
for another year, aud themselves driven into
the Potomac aud its waves stained with their
blood
The Army Of West Virginia was now In DO
sition on the right Of the infantry In double
line OF battle, and in usual supporting distance
IL was ordered TO charge the enemy position
behind stone wall. Far out over the wide
plain az far as the eye could see were the
squadrons OF Custer, Torbert and Merritt
RIDING TO BATTLE
There were glittcring saber, fluttering pennon
and neighinR stoed. There was a prolonged
cheer from 5000 Threats of the Army OF West
Virginia as they swept forward TO the charge
and as result every rebel was forled out from
behind that stone wall every piece Of artillery
there changed hands. The cavalry coming up
completed what had been SO auspiciously be-
gun, swept into a fort pell-mcll where a lot of
rebs had taken refuge, and at once every mus
ket was thrown down and every hand went up
IN token OF surrender The balance of the
rebel army rolled of TO The south like the clouds
OF worn out STORM while Sheridan sent his la
comic message over the wires which thrilled the
great Northern heart with delight: I'VE have
sent them Whirling mp the Valley, and are
after them 10 night."-JoHN II. PRATHER, Co.
Il. 9ist Ohio, Manchester, O.