The Washington herald., 1914-09-22
CIVIL WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
September 22 864-he Confederate Army Under Gen ub Early
Inenehed Fishers HILL the Shenandoah Valley Was Attacked
Flank Federa Under Gen p H. Sheridan Driven Confusion
from the Field

ne "dShlnBlOn f1eTdlO-J
gun barrels on the mountain side would
have betrayed the movement as surely
as the sparkle OF a heliograph. to the
watchful Confederate signalmen on
Three Top-CrOOk' mountaineers scram-
bed. crswled and climbed along the
rough face OF the mountain.
Sheridan did not rely on concealment
alone to insure the safely OF Crooks
movement When the force had started
on its climb along the mountains face
an order was sent TO Gen. James B.
Ricketts, division OF the Sixth Corps TO
move against the enemy's left as IL to
attack, while a cavalry division, under
Gen. w. W. Averell. was ordered to take
position on Ricketts, right and drive in
the enemy's skiTmishers.
Promptly the signalmen on Three Top
warned Gen. Early that his left was in
danger. Already the Confederate general
was debating withdrawal from his posi-
tiOn. and orders had been issued to
withdraw after night fell.
wild Charge. wilder Flight.
The Confederates were not TO he
granted withdrawal. While they
watched their enemy in front. and ex-
changed shot for shot with him from
cannon and musket Crook was drawing
near tlLOuEu u Slllht
He first encountered a few skirmishers.
who were driven in. Then his men
dashed on.
when within half a mile OF their
(the enemy's) batteries the charge be-
gan with a shout" reported Gen. Crook
The intervening ground between US
and the open country was covered with
rocks underbrush. and almost impene-
trable cedar thiCkets. and intersected
and broken by numerous ravInes so that
by the time We arrived al the foot of
the mountain and emerged from the
woods our ines were completely broken:
cheer upon cheer the charge was con-
tinued."
BY this time the whole Federal line
was in action. The cannon thundered at
| the Confederate batteries on the heights,
and the left of the line advanced. swing
ing forward TO join Crook
The enemy. finding themselves assailed
from the rear. and threatened in front.
now turned to save themselves.
The wild rout and equally wild pursuit
are without parallel in the history OF the
war. owing to the rough character Of the
country. The ConfederatCs sought to get
into the valley pike. 1t was their one road
| TO safety. The way to It was across the
toughest Of rough country. The few bad.
steep roads were soon Choked by the
guns. In the woods behind rose the wild
shouts Of the pursuing Federals.
Gen. Crooks report gives some idea OF
the pursuit:
The charge was continued for a dis
tance OF four miles. up hill and down
hill, across fields and through woods.
On a prominent ridge. about a
mile from the base OF the mountain. the
| enemy made his most gallant stand.
My men soon drove them pell nell
from their position, when. abandoning
their artillery and throwing away their
small arms and other membranes. they
| fed in the utmost confusion and dismay.''
FederaIs outfoOtcd.
In the charge of the whole line Rick
| etts' division encountered positions they
could not scale. Yet the pursuit was kept
up in the dark. until the enemy had out
| footed the more numerous Federals. Only
| darkness saved Early.
Sheridan was Obliged to halt at New
Market for supplies TO be brought up.
| His cavalry pursuit was not vigorous,
| and the enemy escaped across the Shen-
andoah at Mount Jackson, there to pull
himself together, with wonderful recu-
perative power. He was destined to de-
| liver a startling blow at Sheridan's
army at Cedar Creek on October 1s.
The Confederate losses at Fishers Hill
were between 1900 and l. 100 men, OF whom
about loo were prisoners. Early lost
eleven Of his guns, and several battle
flags Sheridan's loss in killed and wound
ed was about 400 men.
The losses at Winchester and Fishers
Hill are grouped in the official records.
Those Of the Federals were: Killed, 693:
wounded, 4.0l6; missing, 623: total 53S2.
or about II per cent on the total OF 43 OOJ
present for duty" at the beginning OF
the fighting.
The Confederate losses were not tabu-
| lated. They are estimated at 400 at
| Winchester and 1,35O at Fishers Hill:
total, $50, or about IS per cent on the
ll,4eo men estimated by Gen. Early as
his total In battle at Winchester.
Tomorrow - A campaign attack
on LineoIn. hone.ty.
tCopyriEht, lalAl