NY Times 9-21-1864
From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in September 1864:
Another Battle.
A desperate engagement took place at Opequan Creek [sic], in the Shenandoah Valley on Monday last, between the forces under Gen. Sheridan and those commanded by Gen. Early. The battle raged all day resulting in the repulse of the rebels with a loss, Gen. Sheridan reports, of 2,500 prisoners, five pieces of artillery, and nine battle flags. Our loss in killed and wounded is estimated at between two and three thousand. Two rebel Generals, Rhodes [sic] and Gordan, and one federal General, D.A. Russel [sic], were killed.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 22, 1864:
The War News.
A report was in circulation at an early hour yesterday morning that a fight occurred near Winchester, in the Valley of Virginia, on Monday last, which resulted disastrously to the Confederate arms. As usual, when any unfavorable news is afloat, the grossest exaggerations prevailed, until the following official dispatch from General Lee was given out by the authorities:
“headquarters army Northern Virginia.
“September20th.
“Hon. James A. Seddon:
“General Early reports that, on the morning of the 19th, the enemy advanced on Winchester, near which place he met his attack, which was resisted from early in the day till near night, when he was compelled to retire. After night he fell back to Newtown, and this morning to Fisher’s Hill.
“Our loss reported to be severe.
“Major-General Rodes and Brigadier-General Godwin were killed, nobly doing their duty.
“Three pieces of artilleries of King’s battalion, were lost.
“The trains and supplies were brought off safely.
“[Signed] R. R. [E.] Lee.”
Newtown, the point to which our forces fell back on Monday night, is about eight miles this side of Winchester, at the interaction of the Valley turn-pike and White Post reads [road?], Fisher’s hill is adjutant to Strasburg, some eight miles south of Newtown. We have no further particulars of the battle than furnished by the official dispatch, except that Major-General Fite Lee received a painful, though not dangerous, flesh wound in the thigh.
Sheridan, having been reinforced from Grant’s army, was cabled [enabled?] to bring overwhelming numbers against the Confederates, who resisted nearly an entire day before falling back; and the fact that our trains and supplies were brought off safely, shows that it was no rout.
As in all other engagements of magnitude, we have to mourn the loss of many brave officers and men, the most prominent among whom is Major-General Robert E. Rodes, who fell nobly-doing his duty. Major-General Rodes was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, was the son of David Rodes, and at the time of his death was about thirty-four years of age. He received a military education, and was for some time an assistant professor in the Virginia Military Institute. Subsequently, in the capacity of civil engineer, he was engaged in the construction of various railroads in the South, and located at Tuskegee, Alabama, where be married On the breaking out of the war, he came to Virginia as captain of an Alabama company, and, winning distinction by meritorious conduct in the field, rose rapidly from this rank to that of brigadier. In conformity with a dying request of General T. J Jackson, he was subsequently made a major-general, and appointed to the command of a division, a position which he has filed with honor to himself, and was justly esteemed as one of the most brave and gallant spirits of our army.
Brigadier-General Archibald C. Godwin was a native of Nansemond county, Virginia. He was in California at the time of the breaking out of the war, but left for Virginia immediately upon her secession and offered his services to his country.–He was assigned to the command of the military prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, and afterwards had charge of the prison in Richmond. Receiving the appointment of provost-marshal of this city, he discharged the arduous duties of the position with much credit, but resigned and returned to Salisbury and raised the fifty-seventh North Carolina regiment, of which he was appointed colonel. He led his command through many hard fought batties, and was finally wounded and taken prisoner. Soon after his exchange he was made a brigadier, and at once returned to the field, where he had been actively and arduously engaged up to the time of his death. His age was about thirty-six years. It is thought that his remains will be brought to Richmond for interment.
