CHARLESTOWN, W. VA., September 2, 1864-7.30 p. m. Official dispatch from Averell confirms my previous telegram and the capture of 20 or 25 wagons, 2 battle-flags, and some prisoners. Early and his command commenced moving to-day. I have sent two divisions of cavalry to the Front Royal pike. P. H. SHERIDAN, CLIFTON, NEAR BERRYVILLE, VA., Yesterday evening, just before dark, Kershaw's division attacked Crook on the Berryville pike, and was handsomely repulsed, with a loss of 50 prisoners and over 200 killed and wounded. To-day has been spent on both sides without any results. The indications look to an engagement to-morrow. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. NEAR BERRYVILLE, VA., September 5, 1864-11 p. m. In my dispatch of yesterday I supposed that an engagement would probably take place to-day, but the enemy withdrew during the night to the west side of the Opequon. I have not been able to verify the reports that any portion of the rebel troops in the Valley have as yet left for Richmond. Yesterday and to-day I have had prisoners from Early's corps, Kershaw's division, and from Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry. I have had no prisoners from Breckinridge's corps for three days, but have had other information from prisoners, from scouts who have been to Winchester, and from my cavalry, who have been to the Front Royal and Strasburg pike, that as yet no rebel troops have gone toward Richmond. My estimate of Early's force is about 27,000 infantry. Captain Blazer's company of mounted men, of General Crook's command, had a fight with Mosby yesterday. Killed 2 officers and 11 men and captured 6 men; also a number of horses and equipments. Our cavalry captured 1 officer and 3 men. The enemy's loss, in their attack on General Crook yesterday, was greater than I first reported. They left a number of their dead unburied. Major-General HALLECK. P. H. SHERIDAN. NEAR BERRYVILLE, VA., September 8, 1864-9 p. nr. (Received 1.25 a. m. 9th.) Nothing important to report to-day. I moved General Crook to Summit Point as Rodes moved from Stephenson's Depot to Brucetown. Yesterday Wilson's cavalry division crossed the Opequon and went in the direction of Winchester; met by Kershaw's division. Kershaw is on Early's right, covering the Berryville pike. I telegraphed you some time ago that Lieutenant-General Anderson was here. He has not assumed command (being senior to Early), as only a part of his corps is here, but that he is here is unquestionable. There is no truth in the newspaper report of the loss of Crook's ambulance train. Only one ambulance was lost and some twelve or thirteen horses. The train was attacked and badly stampeded by six of Mosby's men. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff. NEAR BERRYVILLE, VA., September 9, 1864-9.30 p. m. (Received 8.30 a. m. 10th.) Nothing important to report to-day. My cavalry drove the pickets of Breckinridge's corps from Opequon Creek, burned 4 flouring mills, and captured 2 officers and 8 men of Breckinridge's command. The Potomac rose beyond fording last night, and I transferred to east side of Opequon Creek Averell's train and a portion of his cavalry, still holding Martinsburg pike, near Bunker Hill, and across to Gerrardstown. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. NEAR BERRYVILLE, September 13, 1864-7 p. m. This morning I sent General Getty's division, of the Sixth Corps, with two brigades of cavalry, to the crossing of the Summit Point and Winchester road, over Opequon Creek, to develop the force of the enemy at the crossing in that vicinity. Rodes', Ramseur's, Gordon's, and Wharton's divisions were found on the west bank. At the same time General Wilson, with McIntosh's brigade of cavalry, dashed up the Winchester pike, drove the rebel cavalry at a run, came in contact with Kershaw's division, charged it, and captured the Eighth South Carolina Regiment (16 officers and 145 men) and its battle-flag, and Colonel Henagan, commanding brigade, with a loss of only 2 men killed and 2 wounded. Great credit is due to Generals Wilson, McIntosh, and Third New Jersey and Second Ohio. The charge was a gallant one. A portion of the Second Massachusetts, Reserve Brigade, made a charge on the right of our line and captured 1 officer and 11 men of Gordon's division of infantry. Our loss in the reconnaissance is very light. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Lieutenant-General GRANT. WINCHESTER, September 19, 1864-7:30 p. m. I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces of General Early on the Berryville pike at the crossing of Opequon Creek, and after a most stubborn and sanguinary engagement, which lasted from early in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening, completely defeated him, and, driving him through Winchester, captured about 2,500 prisoners, 5 pieces of artillery, 9 army flags, and most of their wounded. The rebel General Rodes and General Gordon were killed,* and three other general officers wounded. Most of the enemy's wounded and all their killed fell into our hands. Our losses are severe, among them General D. A. Russell, commanding division in the Sixth Corps, who was killed by a cannon-ball. Generals Upton, McIntosh, and Chapman are wounded. I cannot yet tell our losses. The conduct of the officers and men was most superb. They charged and carried every position taken up by the rebels from Opequon Creek to Winchester. The enemy were strong in number and very obstinate in their fighting. I desire to mention to the lieutenant-general commanding the army the gallant conduct of Generals Wright, Crook, Emory, Torbert, and the officers and men under their command; to them the country is indebted for this handsome victory. A more detailed report will be forwarded. P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General GRANT. Major-General. STRASBURG, September 20, 1864-9 p. m. I have the honor to report my command at Strasburg. My troops were so much fatigued by their work yesterday that I was only able to follow the enemy a short distance south of Winchester last night. My infantry marched from Winchester to Strasburg to-day. I could not get ready to attack the enemy before night. Early was badly whipped yesterday. I have not yet received full reports. The enemy left in Winchester over 3,000 wounded. We captured 5 pieces of artillery, a number of caissons, 4,000 stand of small-arms. My estimate of Early's loss yesterday is over 7,000. He lost the following general officers: Rodes and Godwin, killed; Gordon, wounded mortally; Terry, Hays, Fitz Lee, and Bradley Johnson, wounded. General Ramseur reported by citizens as wounded; this is doubtful. My casualties will be about 4,000; no accurate returns received. Colonel Duval, commanding division in Crook's army, was wounded. General Chapman was slightly wounded; he is now on duty. P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General GRANT. STRASBURG, September 20, 1864-9.30 p.m. In consequence of a report that I received from Averell that Early had marched two divisions of his command down to Martinsburg, I changed the programme that I spoke about when I saw you at Charlestown, and moved directly up the Berryville pike. The information that Early had marched two-divisions to Martinsburg was incorrect, and I found his whole force, excepting Kershaw's division, which was at Front Royal, in my front. I then attempted, by swinging round A mistake as to Gordon. Reference is probably to General A. C. Godwin, who was killed. my left flank, to cut him off from Winchester. This movement would have been entirely successful if it had not been for the unfortunate giving way of a part of Ricketts' division, Sixth Corps, and a portion of the Nineteenth Corps, which came back in confusion. This mishap was soon remedied by the good conduct of Upton's brigade, of the First Division, Sixth Corps. The enemy then attempted to turn my right flank, but General Crook, who was up to that time held in reserve, went in and turned their left. Our whole line then advanced beautifully, routing the enemy at every point. From the best sources of information that I have Early's strength is much greater than your estimate. The people of Winchester say that Early had yesterday on the field 28,000 infantry. One of my staff, who was captured yesterday, and released by Early near this place this morning, and saw all their force, estimates it at least that number. I can scarcely think, however, that it is as high as these figures. The engagement was a very handsome one, the lines at different points being in the open field. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. Lieutenant-General GRANT. STRASBURG, September 21, 1864-8.30 p. m. (Received 22d.) I have the honor to report that General Wilson's cavalry division charged the enemy at Front Royal this morning, and drove them from Front Royal up the Luray Valley for a distance of six miles. I directed two brigades of the First Cavalry Division, with General Wilson's division, to follow the enemy up that valley and to push them vigorously. The enemy's infantry occupy a very strongly fortified position in my front, across the Strasburg valley. Heavy fighting occurred during the day between the Sixth Corps and the enemy, and late in the evening a sharp fight took place between a brigade of the Second Division, Sixth Corps, and two or three regiments of the Third Division, Sixtli Corps, [and the enemy,] in which the enemy was driven from a strong crest, and the crest held. Lieutenant-General GRANT. P. H. SHERIDAN, HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, Six Miles from Woodstock, September 22, 1864-11.30 p.m. (Received 23d.) I have the honor to report that I achieved a most signal victory over the army of General Early at Fisher's Hill to-day. I found the rebel army posted with its right resting on the North Fork of the Shenandoah, and extending across the Strasburg valley westward to North Mountain, occupying a position which appeared almost impregnable. After a great deal of maneuvering during the day, General Crook's command was transferred to the extreme right of the line on North Mountain, and he furiously attacked the left of the enemy's line, carrying everything before him. While Crook was driving the enemy in the greatest confusion and sweeping down behind their breast-works, the Sixth and Nineteenth Army Corps attacked the rebel works in front, and the whole rebel army appeared to be broken up. They fled in the utmost confusion. Sixteen pieces of artillery were captured; also a great many caissons, artillery horses, &c. I am to-night pushing on down the Valley. I cannot say how many prisoners I have captured, nor do I know either my own or the enemy's casualties; only darkness has saved the whole of Early's army from total destruction. My attack could not be made until 4 o'clock in the evening, which left but little daylight to operate in. The First and Third Cavalry Divisions went down Luray Valley to-day, and if they push on vigorously to the main valley, the result of this day's engagement will be still more signal. The victory was very complete. A more detailed report will be made as soon as I can obtain the necessary data. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding." Lieutenant-General GRANT. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, I cannot as yet give you any definite account of the results of the battle of yesterday; our loss will be light. General Crook struck the left flank of the enemy, doubled it up, advancing down along their line. Ricketts' division, of Sixth Army Corps, swung in and joined Crook, Getty's and Wheaton's divisions taking up the same movement, followed by the whole line, and, attacking beautifully, carried the works of the enemy. The rebels threw down their arms and fled in the greatest confusion, abandoning most of their artillery. It was dark before the battle ended. I pursued on after the enemy during the night to this point, with the Sixth and Nineteenth Army Corps, and have stopped here to rest the men and issue rations. If General Torbert has pushed down the Luray Valley according to my directions, he will achieve great results. I do not think that there ever was an army so badly routed. The Valley soldiers are hiding away and going to their homes. I cannot at present give you any estimate of prisoners. I pushed on regardless of everything. The number of pieces of artillery reported captured is sixteen. P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General GRANT. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARÝ DIVISION, (Received 25th.) The result of the battle of Fisher's Hill gives us 20 pieces of artillery, 1,100 prisoners of war, a large amount of artillery ammunition, caissons, limbers, &c. Early expected to stay at Fisher's Hill, and had placed all his artillery ammunition behind the breast-works. A large amount of intrenching tools, small-arms, and débris were also taken; no accurate list received. I have been disappointed in the cavalry operations which were to have formed a part of this battle. My advance |