The National tribune., 1904-07-28

| Nlrglnla under GenS. CROOK ana AVcroll.
were added two divisions of cavalry from
the Army of the Potomac, under Torbert
| and Wilson. This gave him an effective
in the tc! of 10000 men. whereof 10000
consisted cf excellent cavalry-an arm for
the use of which the Shenandoah region
| affords 4 fine field.
| SHERIDAN TAKES CHARGE.
Gen. Sheridan was appointed to the
command on the 7th of August. and his
operations during that month and the fore
| part of September were mainly confined
to manuverS having for their object to
| prevent the Confederates from gaining the
rich harvcStS of the Shenandoah Valley.
But after once Or twice driving Early
southwark to Strasburs. he each time re-
turned on his path towards Harper's
Ferry. Gen. Grant had hcsitated in al
| lowing Sheridan to take real initiative.
as defeat would lay open to the enemy the
States of Maryland and Pennsylvania be-
fore another army could be interpoSed to
check him. Finding. however. while on Il
personal visit 10 Gen. Sheridan. i'll the
month Of September. that That officer eX
pressed great confidence of success, he au-
i thorlZed him to attack.
At this time the Confederate force held
the west bank OF Opequan Creek. cover
| ing Winchester; and the Union force lay
in front of Rerryvlle, 20 miles south Of
/ llarpcrS Ferry. The situation of the OPP
posing armies was peculiar: each threat
encd the communications of the other. and
either could bring on a battle at any time.
1t would appear that Gen. Early had
| designed assuming the offensive: for. leav-
ing one division Of infantry and Fitz Hugh
Lees cavalry to cover Winchester. he had
thrown the bulk of his army well forward
by his left to Bunker Hill. ~ miles north
! or " lnchcster From this point he, on the
18th advanced accommodating force as
far as Martinsburg. - miles further to
the north. Sheridan. whose position at
| Berryville was - miles east of Winches-
ter. being well content with his antagon-
| lists mannvcr. advanced towards Winches-
| Ter early on the morning of the 10Th eX-
pecting to catch his opponent in fagrante
| deicto.
SHERIDAN DEFEATED EARLY AT WIN
| CHESTER
Wilson's Cavalry Division, having the
advance on the Winchester and Berry
| vile turnpike. at dawn carried the Con-
| federate intreEclcd skirmish line on the
west bank of the OpeIuan. This stream
runs northward at distance of four
miles east of Winchester. The way being
thus opened the infantry column the
Sixth Corps in the van, crossed at the
ford and took position within two miles
of Winchester. The direction of Sheridan's
advance brought his attack full upon
Early's isolated right, which, but for
| veXatiOus delay, might readily have been
overwhelmed. while the main Confederate
force was still 1O miles off at Bunker
Hill. This delay, which consumed two
hours in the march of the Nineteenth
Corps. was caused by the obstruction of
| the Winchester and Berryyille turnpike by
| the wagOntrains Of the Sixth Corps and
of Wilson's Cavalry Division. This delay,
which was much regretted by Gen. Emory,
enabled Early to hurry his force south
| ward from Bunker Hill in time to meet
the attack. Sheridan formed his line Of
battle with the Sixth Corps on the left,
| covered on that flank by Wilson's Cavalry
Division, the Nineteenth Corps in the cen
ter. and the Kanawha infantry on the
right. The latter flank was covered by
Merritts Division of Cavalry. AverelI's
Division Of Cavalry, which had pressed
down on the retreating Confedcrates from
the direction of Bunker Hill, succeeded in
closing in on the Union right. This,
therefore, brought two powerful divisions
| of horse on the right of the Federal line,
which had a development Of about four
miles, enveloping Winchester from the
north and east. Early's left rested on
series of detached and fortified hills to
| the northwest of the town. 1t is due to
state that there was great disparity in
| the numbers engaged-Early' force CON
slsting Of $500 muskets and 5000 sabers
(3S) while Sheridan's strength was thrice
that OF the aggregate Confederate force.
Sheridan's preponderance in horse en-
ablcd him To extend far beyond and over
lap the Confederate left, and when after
several hours of indecisive fighting between
the infantry. a general advance was. at
p. m, made by the whole line, the cav
airy. by an impetuous charge. carried the
fortified nights: the Confederates, pressed
heavily in front by the infantry, and on
the right by Wilson's cavalry, broke in
confusion. retiring from the field and
through Winchester, with the Union forces
tod
Sheridan from following up the victory.
among the trophies OF which were $500
prisoners, five pieces of artillery. and nine
battlefags. Among the Confederate off,
GERS killed were Gems. Rodcs and Goodwin.
The Union loss was also severe. and in
cluded that intrepid soldier. Gen. ID. A.
Russell commanding division of the
Sixth Corps, who was killed
EARLY RAN 80 MILES.
After his defeat at Winchester, Early
did not pause in his southwark retreat till
he reached Fishers Hill, near Strasburg
30 miles south of Winchester. This is IL
very defensible position, commanding the
debouche Of the narrow Strasburg Valley
between the north fork of the Shenandoah
River and the North Mountain. On these
obstacles Early rested his flank. In front
of this position Sheridan arrived an the
morning of the 22d, and formed his force
| for a direct attack, while he sent Torbert
with two divisions Of cavalry by the par
allel Luray Valley, to gain New Market,
20 miles in Early's rear After much
manuyering, and several Intellectual efforts
to force the position, an attack of cavalry
was made from the right. Under cover OF
this mask corps of infantry was moved
to that flank. and by an impetuous assault
carried the Confederate left resting on the
North Mountain. A general attack in front
then disrupted Early's whole line, and the
| Confederates retired in great disorder
leaving behind 16 pieces of artillery and
several hundred prisoners,
BEATEN AGAIN, EARLY RETREATED AGAIN
The success at Fishers Hill was greatly
Influenced by the fact that at the time the
attack was made Early was about retiring
from the position, owing to his fears OF an
irruption of his line of communications
by the Union cavalry column moving
through Luray Valley. This fear, was,
| however, grOundless; for this powerful
body was held in check all day by q much
inferior force of Confederate cavalry ut
Milford. C39
3S. The authority for this statement of
the Confederate force, is letter written