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line some little distance in advance of the position from which it
started in the morning； and behind Russell's division （now commanded
by Upton） the broken regiments of Ricketts's division were rallied。
Dwight's division was then brought up on the right； and Grover's men
formed behind it。
The charge of Russell was most opportune； but it cost many men in
killed and wounded。 Among the former was the courageous Russell
himself； killed by a piece of shell that passed through his heart；
although he had previously been struck by a bullet in the left
breast； which wound； from its nature； must have proved mortal； yet of
which he had not spoken。 Russell's death oppressed us all with
sadness； and me particularly。 In the early days of my army life he
was my captain and friend； and I was deeply indebted to him； not only
for sound advice and good example； but for the inestimable service he
had just performed； and sealed with his life； so it may be inferred
how keenly I felt his loss。
As my lines were being rearranged； it was suggested to me to put
Crook into the battle； but so strongly had I set my heart on using
him to take possession of the Valley pike and cut off the enemy； that
I resisted this advice； hoping that the necessity for putting him in
would be obviated by the attack near Stephenson's depot that
Torbert's cavalry was to make； and from which I was momentarily
expecting to hear。 No news of Torbert's progress came； however； so；
yielding at last； I directed Crook to take post on the right of the
Nineteenth Corps and； when the action was renewed； to push his
command forward as a turning…column in conjunction with Emory。 After
some delay in the annoying defile； Crook got his men up； and posting
Colonel Thoburn's division on the prolongation of the Nineteenth
Corps； he formed Colonel Duval's division to the right of Thoburn。
Here I joined Crook； informing him that I had just got word that
Torbert was driving the enemy in confusion along the Martinsburg pike
toward Winchester； at the same time I directed him to attack the
moment all of Duval's men were in line。 Wright was instructed to
advance in concert with Crook； by swinging Emory and the right of the
Sixth Corps to the left together in a half…wheel。 Then leaving
Crook； I rode along the Sixth and Nineteenth corps； the open ground
over which they were passing affording a rare opportunity to witness
the precision with which the attack was taken up from right to left。
Crook's success began the moment he started to turn the enemy's left；
and assured by the fact that Torbert had stampeded the Confederate
cavalry and thrown Breckenridge's infantry into such disorder that it
could do little to prevent the envelopment of Gordon's left； Crook
pressed forward without even a halt。
Both Emory and Wright took up the fight as ordered； and as they did
so I sent word to Wilson； in the hope that he could partly perform
the work originally laid out for Crook； to push along the Senseny
road and； if possible； gain the valley pike south of Winchester。 I
then returned toward my right flank； and as I reached the Nineteenth
Corps the enemy was contesting the ground in its front with great
obstinacy； but Emory's dogged persistence was at length rewarded with
success； just as Crook's command emerged from the morass of Red Bud
Run； and swept around Gordon； toward the right of Breckenridge； who；
with two of Wharton's brigades； was holding a line at right angles
with the Valley pike for the protection of the Confederate rear。
Early had ordered these two brigades back from Stephenson's depot in
the morning； purposing to protect with them his right flank and line
of retreat； but while they were en route to this end； he was obliged
to recall them to his left to meet Crook's attack。
To confront Torbert； Patton's brigade of infantry and some of
Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had been left back by Breckenridge； but； with
Averell on the west side of the Valley pike and Merritt on the east；
Torbert began to drive this opposing force toward Winchester the
moment he struck it near Stephenson's depot； keeping it on the go
till it reached the position held by Breckenridge； where it
endeavored to make a stand。
The ground which Breckenridge was holding was open； and offered an
opportunity such as seldom had been presented during the war for a；
mounted attack； and Torbert was not slow to take advantage of it。
The instant Merritt's division could be formed for the charge； it
went at Breckenridge's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry with such
momentum as to break the Confederate left； just as Averell was
passing around it。 Merritt's brigades； led by Custer； Lowell； and
Devin； met from the start with pronounced success； and with sabre or
pistol in hand literally rode down a battery of five guns and took
about 1；200 prisoners。 Almost simultaneously with this cavalry
charge； Crook struck Breckenridge's right and Gordon's left； forcing
these divisions to give way； and as they retired； Wright； in a
vigorous attack； quickly broke Rodes up and pressed Ramseur so hard
that the whole Confederate army fell back； contracting its lines
within some breastworks which had been thrown up at a former period
of the war； immediately in front of Winchester。
Here Early tried hard to stem the tide； but soon Torbert's cavalry
began passing around his left flank； and as Crook； Emory； and Wright
attacked in front； panic took possession of the enemy； his troops；
now fugitives and stragglers； seeking escape into and through
Winchester。
When this second break occurred； the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were
moved over toward the Millwood pike to help Wilson on the left； but
the day was so far spent that they could render him no assistance；
and Ramseur's division； which had maintained some organization； was
in such tolerable shape as to check him。 Meanwhile Torbert passed
around to the west of Winchester to join Wilson； but was unable to do
so till after dark。 Crook's command pursued the enemy through the
town to Mill Greek； I going along。
Just after entering the town； Crook and I met； in the main street；
three young girls； who gave us the most hearty reception。 One of
these young women was a Miss Griffith； the other two Miss Jennie and
Miss Susie Meredith。 During the day they had been watching the
battle from the roof of the Meredith residence； with tears and
lamentations； they said； in the morning when misfortune appeared to
have overtaken the Union troops； but with unbounded exultation when；
later； the； tide set in against the Confederates。 Our presence was；
to them； an assurance of victory； and their delight being
irrepressible； they indulged in the most unguarded manifestations and
expressions。 When cautioned by Crook； who knew them well； and
reminded that the valley had hitherto been a race…courseone day in
the'possession of friends； and the next of enemiesand warned of the
dangers they were incurring by such demonstrations； they assured him
that they had no further fears of that kind now； adding that Early's
army was so demoralized by the defeat it had just sustained that it
would never be in condition to enter Winchester again。 As soon as we
had succeeded in calming the excited girls a little I expressed a
desire to find some place where I could write a telegram to General
Grant informing him of the result of the battle； and General Crook
conducted me to the home of Miss Wright； where I met for the first
time the woman who had contributed so much to our success； and on a
desk in her school…room wrote the despatch announcing that we had
sent Early's army whirling up the valley。
My losses in the battle of the Opequon were heavy； amounting to about
4；500 killed； wounded； and missing。 Among the killed was General
Russell； commanding a division； and the wounded included Generals
Upton； McIntosh and Chapman； and Colonels Duval and Sharpe。 The
Confederate loss in killed； wounded； and prisoners about equaled
mine； General Rodes being of the killed； while Generals Fitzhugh Lee
and York were severely wounded。
We captured five pieces of artillery and nine battle…flags。 The
restoration of the lower valleyfrom the Potomac to Strasburgto
the control of the Union forces caused great rejoicing in the North；
and relieved the Administration from further solicitude for the
safety of the Maryland and Pennsylvania borders。 The President's
appreciation of the victory was expressed in a despatch so like Mr。
Lincoln that I give a facsimile of it to the reader：
＇In the handwriting of President Lincoln＇
〃EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
〃WASHINGTON； Sep。 20； 1864
〃MAJOR…GENERAL SHERMAN
〃WINCHESTER； VA。
〃Have just heard of your geat victory。 God bless you all； officers
and men。 Strongly inclined to come up and see you。
〃A。 LINCOLN
This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of brigadier…
general