The National tribune., 1892-10-06

William w. Averell and James II. Wilson,
with seven batteries Of horse artillery under
Capt. La Rkeit l.. Livingston. the whole
cavalry force under the command OF Brig. Gen.
Alfred j. A. Torbert.
The Sixth Corps, preceded by Wilson's Cav
airy, moved i'll advance. followed by the Nine
teenth Corps. Tho Army of West Virginia.
now generally called the Eighth Corps moved
farther to the south, with orders to connect
with the Sixth Corps at Opequan Creek, and
tho two divisions of cavalry under Gems.
Avcrel and Merritt were in the vicinity of
Bunker Hill. The cavalry of Gen. Wilson
crossed the Opequan about 5 o'clock in the
morning, charged along the pike. which passed
through narrow gorge or canyon. and drove
back the pickets of the enemy to their line OF
fledworks, capturing an earthwork at the
mouth of the canyon. He was closely followed
by the Sixth Corps The Nineteenth Corps
was somewhat delayed, and it was nearly y
o'clock before the line was formed and prepare
tions completed for the attack. The orders
were then given, and the Sixth and Nineteenth
Corps advancing were opened upon by Early s
whole line. Soon the enemy made charge
and drove back the center. This charge WAS
met by Uptons Brigade, of Russell's Division,
who fell on the attacking column and drove 1t
back, regaining the lost ground and re-estab-
fishing the line. Gen. Crooks Corps, which
up to this time had been held in reserve, was
the left OF the enemys line and strike 1T in
flank or rear. This movement was promptly
executed, and the corps went into action just
as Merritt's and AverelPs Divisions of Cavalry,
under Torbert, began to drive the enemy's
cavalry up the Martinsburg pike. The Sixth
and Nineteenth Corps were now ordered to ad-
vance, and Wilson's Cavalry, which was on the
left flank, was directed to push on and gain the
Valley pike south of Winchester.
The fiphtIny the right WAS now very
severe. Gen. Torbert was ordered to collect
his cavalry and charge, which was done stimuli
taneOusly with the infantry advance, and soon
Eary's broken and confused columns were in
full retreat The fugitiyes were followed un-
til dark. when pursuit ceased. The total loss
of the Army of the Shenandoah in this battle
was 5,01S killed, wounded and missing; of this
number the Eighth Corps lost 104 killed.
6S3 wounded, and seven captured or missing;
total 794. At day break on the goth the Army
of the Shenandoah marched up the Valley pike
in pursuit of Early, who had during the night
continued his retreat to Fishers Hill. The
cavalry had preceded the infantry-Averell on
the Back road, Merritt on the Valley pike,
and Wilson on the Front Royal pike. The
Sixth and Nineteenth Corps arrived at aud
went into position on the nights fronting Stras-
burg during the afternoon Of the Goth, while
the Eighth Corps which had been in the rear.
was halted at Cedar Creek. The 2lst was
spent in making preparations. Torbert with
two divisions of cavalry was sent by way of
Luray Valley to New Market to intercept the
enemy should he be driven from Fishers Hill.
Gen. Crook with the Eighth Corps was sent
around to gain the left and rear Of the position,
and on the morning of the 22d was nassed in
the timber near Little North Mountain. Gems.
Wright and Emory had in the meanwhile been
pushed up to within a few hundred yards of
Early's front.
Everything being in readiness, about A
o'clock, under cover OF a cavalry attack, Crook
moved and struck Earlys left and rear driv-
ing that part of his line; at the same time the
Sixth and Nineteenth Corps advanced on his
front, which was soon broken. when his whole
army retreated in great disorder and fed up
the Valley.
The cavalry under Gen. Torbert failed to
reach New Market, having encountered a large
cavalry force in the Luray Valley at Milford.
Early's army therefore escaped capture, and
what was left of it sought and found shelter in
the passes of the Blue Ridge. The pursuit was
continued by infantry and cavalry as far as Port
Republic, and by the cavalry to Stanton.
The total loss of the Army of the Shenandoah
in this fight was 52S killed, wounded and miss
ing, of which number the Eighth Corps lost
4 Gen. Sheridan now took position around
Port Republic and Harrisonburg, and at once
proceeded 10 execute the OTueIh VI beu dTduL
to see that nothing should be left to i'll
vito the enemy to return" On the 9th of
October the movement down the valley
menced, the cavalry stretching from the Blue
Ridge to the Alleghanies, with instructions to
burn all forage, drive off all stock, etc. On the
10Th the army crossed Cedar Creek and there
occupied the nights, the Eighth Corps on the
east, an,l Nineteenth on the west side of the
pike, with Clusters Division of cavalry on the
nd Marrif,r- IN rtUnt I'm tho 18th
the Sixth Corps, which had started for Wash
ington en- route to the Army of the Potomac,
returned to Cedar Creek, and was placed on the
right aud rear of the Nineteenth.
While in this position shortly before daylight
on the 10Th the enemy attacked, striking first
the Eighth Corps, and driving it back; the Nine
tenth next followed. The Sixth Corps now
received the combined assault Of the enemy and
fell back slowly, finally reaching point about
a mile and half northeast of Middletown,
where final stand was made
About this time Gen. Sheridan, who had
been summoned to Washington on the 18th, ar
rived OH the field. He Immediately took
charge Of affairs and succeeded in uniting his
corps and reforming his line just in time
to repulse an attack Of the enemy made about
/. p. IN.
Gen. Sheridan now made preparations to adj
vance, and about 3 p. IN. he attacked the enemy
and completely routed him, capturing 1000
prisoners, "A Confederate guns and retook the
"a lost by the Union troops in the morning,
also all the captured ambulances and So of
Early's.
The Union loss in killed, wounded and miss
ing was 5665, of which number the Eighth
Corps lost s59
The battle of Cedar Creek, with the ex-
ception of a few affairs of small consequence,
closed military operations in the Shenandoah
Valley for the remainder of the year.
In December the First Division of the Eighth
Corps was detached and ordered to join the
Army of the James, and the Second Division
was withdrawn from the Valley, and went into
Winter quarters with Headquarters at Cum.
berland, Md.
The only event of Importance occurring in
1865 was the capture by 60 or 20 rebel cavalry
of Mai. Gems. Crook and Kelley, and Capt.
Melvin, A. A. G. This band secretly entered
Cumberland early on the morning of the 21st
Of February and proceeded to Headquarters
and took these officers from their beds and
succeeded in escaping with them scot free into
Virginia.
The following is roster of the Corps, Divis-
ion and Brigade commanders of the Eighth |
Corps proper and the Army of West Virginia.
CORPS COMMANDERS.
Mai. Gen. John E. Wool, from July 90 to
Dec. 22, 1862 Maj.-Gen. Robert c. Schenck,
from Dec 90, 1862, to Dec. 5, 1868. Brig Gen.
RI. II. Lockwood, from Dec. 5, 1863, to March |
%. 1864. Mai. Gen. Lew Wallace. from March |
%, 1864, to July 10, 1866. Maj. -Gen. w. S.
Hancock, from July 10, 1865, to discontinuance |
Of the corps.
The following officers exercised temporary |
Brig. Gen. w. w. Morris, from
Aug 16 to 10, 1862; March 12 to 49, 1868; Aug. |