Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-14

nj BOARD. OF the Fffty-eighth virginia,
h.inr killed. Grant now wrote HsilecA
"a scnd back to him the sixth and Nine
teenth corps before Early could get BACK
90 Lee; but Early was toe quick for DIM
ON the I'D Early posted himself
.crn.. <,eaar Creek near Strausburg
ON the esd news came which proved 10
he correct, that wright's column nad
returned to Washington. where transports
were ready 20 convey them to Grant ~
petersburg and that Crook and Averii
had united at Ksrnntown.
Quick as On eaa1e swoops upon us prey
Early iaaped upon Crook, VINO com
manded the Army Of West virgins.
consisting OF hunters and sigers FORCES
ana Averprs cavalry. and there where
jackson and Shields had such rough
work. he rolled up Crooks TANKS, drove
him from the deld. Colonel Muihsah'
division commander being killed. between
two ana three hundred prisoners TAKEN.
twelve caisscns and seventy-two wagons
either burned or captured, and the whoic
army being driven across the Potomac to
Ma,v,ani Heights and Harper's Ferry, In
the tracks OF Bankss frequent eyoiutions
before Jackson.
This living and broken army six weeks
before had defeated and killed General
zones. OF Piedmont. IL had now had a
second defeat from E1riy's hands, ana
when Grant heard the news he sent an
other division OF the Nineteenth corps 10
washington IN Sead OF the troops TIER
continuing their movements 10 return 10
him. 49,,
The 10Th finds Early on the Potomac
and McCauslarsa at ChambersburR, where.
in defaalt of payment OF 100000 leVleo
,Inon the town, In retaliation for Hun
ter's excuses In Virginia. re, uhuer
Early's orders. put 1t 70 the flames On
the 5th OF August Early crossed the TO
tonac. taking position near Sharpsourg'
Intending to threaten the enemys coun-
try and keep troops from getting 10
Grant and to mystify Hunter as 10 his
movements.
GRANTS PLANS BROKEN UP.
The result shows Early's sagacity. On
the goth of July while McCausland was
nj Chamberaburg, Grant exploded the
mine under a portion of Lees lines at
Petersburg. and on that day sheridan
had Joined him there with his cavalry.
.'Tne explosion" says Grant. was stu
pendous failure" and he lost 1000 men
In a vain endeavor: but the next DAY
he ordered Meade TO take corps OF
infantry and the cavalry and to proceed
August LIST. before Lee could get back
10 the Weldon railroad, and destroy
flfteen miles of that important line. But
misfortune" says Grant, never comes
singly." He learned that afternoon, July
1st. OF Early's movements on the Poto-
mac. and ne says: 81 rescinded my oroers
for the division to 20 out ana uestroy
the Weldon railroad and directed them
10 embark for Washington city lhus
was EarIy'a draft on Grants lines again
boDored the pressure on Lee to that eN-
,c,t relieved the second invasion termi-
mated as successful as the first, ana now
We shall see Grant himself and an army
larger than all Of Lees hurrying 10 look
after the irrepressible, redoubtabie' anu
ubiquitous Early.
cront had been greatly stirred up by
Enrlv's movements, and Hunter Infinitely
mystifed, just a. Early calculated they
y,uld be on the 4th OF August Grant
jumped upon the train for cry POINT
took a steamer. and posted direct through
Washington 10 Monocecy. There ne louhu
Hunter. who mad started TO Richmohd
and landed at White Sulphur Springs.
the ohio river. and finally at Monocacy
He asked Hunter an embarrassing
question: where is the enemy lie
ronlied that he did not know, and was 80
embarrassed with orders from Nashing-
ton that he had lost all trace OF .he
enemy Grant told him that Sheridah
1vas in Washington with one cavalry
,t,.IsIon and another on the way ana
eprgestcd that ne QIunter should make
haaJcuarters at Cumberland. Baltimore.
or elsewhere and give Sheridan command
IN the Valley. Hunter asked 10 be re-
uevod. and was relieved, TO the equal re-
lief OF his foot-sore excursionists' Inc
,nshot was that Sheridan was placed III
command.
SHERIDAN FORCED BACK TO HALL
TOWN.
Grant returned 10 Petersburg. Hunter
PASSED away. and now for SIX weeks
n
rlay,ng and skirmishing. We have cav
aIrv slIrnlishes and infantry skirmishes
without number The 7th of August
Averlu takes four pieces OF artillery ana
about 800 prisoners from McCauslahu
Brigade at Moorefeld. on the Sun 'Sheri-
dams whole army Is concentrated at mar
per'sl Ferry, and Early hears that ne ~
:, command on the 10th Early formed
cast of winchester 10 cover the roads
from Charlestown and Berryville. then
goes To Fishers Hill. Sheridan following.
on the 18th Anderson. with kershaW
Division and Cutshaw's artillery, APP
proaches TO reinforce Early, ana Eariy
i'm turn forces Sheridan back to the Niclh-
age of Charleston. skirmishing every day'
and &c heartily commended by Lee I'm his
dispatches The Federal historian roma
saws of Early's movements at this period:
"Holding the line of the Opequon, Early
had for weeks not only kept Maryland
and Pennsylvania quaking with appre-
tension but persistently maintained MS
grasp on the Baltimore ana ONO ran
road and the Chesapeake and ohio canal.
checking every effort to open these con-
duits TO the capital and greatly impeding
thus travel and trade His own communi-
cations mean time were not cut, ana the
Virginia Central railroad behind him was
in free operation between stanton ana
Richmond
a. 9 A,ncst a
cavalry is driven through Sheppards-
town by Early's infantry and F1tz Lees
cavalry. ON the 30 OF September ker-
shaw's Division starts back 20 Rich
mond under orders from Lee. but IN
quickly recalled. the enemy being dis
covered in limo OF battle and terrifying.
Early now posts himself on the west
bank Of the Opequon near Winchester
and on the 14th Anderson starts again
10 Lee carrying his infantry and ar
tillery. on the 10th Sheridan hears OF
this through n spy and prepares to adj
vance and give battle. On the 18th Early
is at Martinsburg. where he hears that
Grant has again visited Sheridan at
Charlestown. He diVnes that move
ment Is on hand. at once orders con-
centration at Winchester and snuffs bat
tie In the air.
BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.
Early was none too quick in his dlvlna-
ton, for at dawn on the morning of Tho
18th Ramseurs Division, at the crossint
OF the Opequon and Berryville road. Il
assailed, and from that time till nghtiai
grim battle ragged. The Confederate arm!
was posted across the Berryville pike OF
an elevated plateau between Abraham
creek and Reibud Run, about a mile an'
half east OF Winchester. with Loma'
and three cavalry brigades covering ou
right and the Valley pike going south
ward, and F1tz Lee covering the Vale!
pike TO Martinsburg on our north an'
LETT. Sheridan lost an hour in getting hi
troops we'll in hand, which Early, as n
says, twas not slow to avail or. For, a
he pressed upon Ramseur with the SIKH
and Nineteenth Corps, Wilson's Caviar.
Division, which had preceded them as
cover. passed 10 the Federal left flank 7
threaten our communications on the Val
ley pike. Early. who had brought VI
Rodes's and Gordons divisions from ste
venson's Depot. hurled them upon hi
tanks in moment of Imminent ant
psro ~ NfFtnl