The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-23
War News Fifty Years Ago
tFrom tho Richmond Dispatch, Oct %, lss4)

Official dispatches received yesterday state
that General Early attacked Shcrldans camp on
Cedar Creek and surprised and routed the
| Eighth and Nineteenth Corps, and also drove
the Sixth Corps OF the Federal army beyond
Middleton, capturing eighteen pieces OF artii-
lery and large number OF prisoners. which
were safely brought off, But subsequently. the
i'm turn attacked Early in most determined
manner. causing his line to give way. Being
met by overwhelming numbers. Early was
forced to retreat. and by the time the Confed-
crates reached Strasburg the retreat became
something of rout. The report is that the
enemy captured at Strasburg thirty pieces OF
artillery and some wagons and ambulances.
However, the enemy did not push the pursuit
One OF the distressing reports that comes
from the affair at Cedar Creek in the Valley, is
that General Ramseur was severely wounded
while leading desperate charge on the lines
OF the enemy.
| The latest Information of an official character
from General Hood is to the effect that he, with
all OF his troops. have reached the mountain
Businesses. where they are enabled to do great
| service. One day this week they ptured
immense supply train that was carrying supplies
! to Sherman's army. and. OF course. appropriated
! the same which came In well just at this
time.
| The enemy in front of Petersburg yesterday,
having heard OF the temporary defeat of Early
shell salute all along the lines. and this for y
while created some excitement. Beyond this
sautins business, which. il Is said. was done
under the direct order OF General Grant, there
was nothing doing In front OF Petersburg
| General Gary. OF the South Carolina cavalry.
| Is down the Charles City Road terribly
| harassing the famous Federal General Kaut1
near Dutch Gap. In the same way. and not very,
far off, General Hampton Is worrying General
Greggs forces.
Charles II. Porter. the State attorneylat Nor
! folk, arrested few days ago by order
of the Federal authorities the trumped- up
charge of using reasonable language" 1t is
said that this language was used In speech
lie made I'm the courtroom. He was tried by a
military court martial OF the Yankee kind and
sentenced to six months confinement nj Fortress
Monroe.
While the Northern papers are reporting that
! Mostly has met with severe rcvcrses aud has
been put out OF commission, the superintendent
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal tells Very
different story. He officially reports from Point
OF Rocks, Md. that Colonel Mosby dashed in
upon the canal and captured and destroyed Ave
boats loaded with supplies for the Federal
! forces, and also captured and carried off nifty
mules and seventy-hve good horses.
Two negroes. Ben Gentry aud William
Fauntleroy were executed yesterday morning
| for burglary. They taken from the Jail
at 10 o'clock by the officers, and, being hand
cufYed put aboard the death wagon and
conveyed through the streets to the foot of
Poor House Hill, near Victor's Mill, where a
gallows had been erected. Rev. DIR. Burrows
accompanied the condemned negroes and minis
tered unto their spiritual needs. a large crowd
| witness the final scenes. Ben Gentry made a
| short talk, in which he said that from boyhood
| he had been going from bad to worse, until
now he found himself on the gailows. He
warned all boys to beware OF bad company.
etc The other man had nothing to say. DIR.
Burrows offered fetvent prayer, and then the
officers completed their gruesome duty.