The sun., 1897-10-03

Early in tho morning Wilson's cavalry gal
loped through the Berryyillc gorge. which Is
carried the earthworks at tho head OF this dcflc;
Wilson kept the enemy engaged until relieved
ey tne he ensep roa Th 20 and
Nineteenth corps. by noon, or seven hours after
the beginning Of the movement I'VE were fy formed
ter. Crook was left in reserve at the Opcquon
ford, with orders TO establish artillery for its
DarEsvilio, and Merritt moved toward stephen
sons Depot to unite vita AvereH.
division econfronting M is sheridan. but % While the he
Union line was forming Gordon and Rodes
were hurried from Stephenson,s. Tho former
line, near Red Bud Kun; Rodes when he ar
rived, was placed in the centre. The Confeder-
ate line WAS about halfway between the Union
line and Winchester
A few minutes before noon an advance was or;
dered by both commanders; A portion OF
ing back Ricketts's division of the Sixth, md
Growers division OF the Nineteenth Corps Tho
sell and afterward under Upton, rcpulsed this
attack. and saved the army from defeat. Tho
ing the enemy back somewhat, but the right
had been beaten. and the left had to be re-
called from some of the ground 1t had won.
Almost as soon us tho action opened the weak
ness of Shcrdans right became apparent, and
~ the, stream Of fugitives continued 10 pour
anxious about the result OF the battle, md or
dered Crooks force to be brought up, sending
MS own bthlI ana tfOoR Il 10 nnStcn lIS coming.
The road from the opequon TO the line of battle
and strngglers, which impcdcd the progress Of
the reserve, but by o'clock The head OF the col
umn reached the field, Crook was directed to
place his command lin support OF the Nine
was feared that the encmy's divisions return
ing from stephenson's might fall upon this part
Crook placed one division under Thoburn in
support OF the Nineteenth Corps. with tho
other he crossed the Red Bud Run. rohis surprise
hat hs
yond this stream, and at once resolved Ia, move
UP its bank and strike AT Early's flank and rear
move he sent, word 10 sheridan that he was on
the enemy,s flank aud would attack At once, ut
the same u tine asknE TINT Int he be supported by an
Gen; II, B, Hayes. The cavalry under Merritt,
Joining on the right Of the infantry, took part
In this flank attack, which resulted in victory
he rctrcntcd through Winchester. Rnnscur's
tual lly covered the retreat. Early saved his
trains, most of his artillery, and his array. -,
night, WINS hard fought and bloody. The Union
los los u killed Wounded and mL;SnF oNn Ms ShHis h
ono'haif Of whom were prisoners, mostly cap
tured by the hanking column.
Tho Union army, numbered 10000 men ac-
tually engaged on the field, the returns ahowin;
| II present for duty strength Of moro than 30 900
men the GonfrderHtG ODD Eressnt fGF duty
The plan of the Union commander vac cN-
ceedingly faulty, and would have proved disaa,
trous had ii not been for the great numerical
| superiority of his force. As IL was the issue
| was for some time in doubt, although with such
| superiority in numbers failure could hardly be
| OF tho several courses open TO him IL would
| seem that Sheridan chose the worst. II re.
| two army corps through II long and narrow de:
| iile; and, second, front attack, pure an and
sdpb p"n az enemy
too far to the rear to be readily available in any
sudden emergency.
| This was not tho plan Sheridan had sub
| mitted TO Grant and which the latter had ap'
proved. Tn. plan was TO move upon the pike
| south of Winchester across Earlys line of re-
| treat, a plan according with Grants ideas and
| Instructions from the beginning OF tho cam
paign; had il been carried into effect ii is dill
| cult TO see how Early could have prevented the
| capture or dispersion OF his entire force such
move would have been entirely practicable