Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-09-22
Gen. Sberfdan AT the Battle Of
Winchester. Ed. &.

From personal Recollections of Mai Gen.
Sheridan" by an officer of his steff, we quote
the following story of the battle of Winches-
ter At this juneture, Sheridan appeared
on the field, having ridden up in hot haste
from Winchester. A fearful responsibility
suddenly devolved upon him; for, with him
alone, rested the safety of thousands of pre-.
cious lives, the fate of his army and the &C.
curity of the Federal Capitol ol-and he was
equal to the emergency Making his way
to Gen. Wrght's headquarters, lie eagerly
inquired after the situation, and received
the desponding answer: a"General, fear
the battle is going against u.s." what ~
exclaimed Sheridan, his face livid with in
dignation, "Early whip my three corps of
infantry and my cavaryg He can't do IL Z
Before night we shall have our camps back
again, and Early will get the worst whipping
he ever had.". "Sheridan has comet" leaped
from lip to lip along the Union lines, and,
no longer retreating, the whole command
seemed inspired with confidence, as though,
by the advent ofone man, victory was already
! assured. . -'''a'h
For two hours there was lull in the con-
flict, while the stragglers from the different
corps were returned to their commands.
Then Sheridan proceeded to carry into exc
cution the plans he had hastily formed. -
First, he sent General Custar with bis 6ivi-
sion of cavalry to the extreme right, with
instructions to concentrate his attack upon
a limited portion of the enemy's line-to vex,
harass, and distress it until ne should sue.
ceed in creating panic, when, upon given
signal, Sheridan with the rest of his army
would cause this panic to communicate it.
self along the entire length of the enemy's
lines. This plan, simple in its conception,
was successful beyond the expectation of the
commanding General himself. At Ann,
Custar having turned the enemy's left flank,
charge was ordered along the whole line
1t seemed hardly credible that the men
who were so badly worsted in the morning
were the same men who made that magnii-
cent charge in the afternoon. The Sixth
Corps sprung forward as if impeled from
the cannon's mouth, while the other corps
viad with it in impetuosity. The enemy
opened on the charging party with fifty
pieces of artillery, filling the air with flying
missiles. With surprising precision shells
were thrown into the solid masses of Union
infantry, scattering limbs in every direction,
and lifting mangled corpscs high in the air.
The Federal batteries, likewise, were not idle.
Along the crests of the hills on either side of
the road, and down the pike close upon the
heels of the infantry, they followed. Sheri-
dan seeing one posted in an advantageous
position, turned to one of his staff, and said
"Ride down to Capt.-and tell him to fire
faster FASTER" The message delivered, the
detonations were almost without interval.
Only once did our infantry falter, when
subjected to scathing fire Of musketry from
the enemy posted behind stone wall. The
survivors pushed on, and, with the bayonet,
drove the opposing force from the wall. The
L. a. H..
alike Indifferent to the threats and entrcaties
Of officers, sought safety only in flight. A
miserable rabble, they plunged into the
stream, an6 crossing, hurried on through
Strasburg toward the mountains, with Sheri-
dams troopers close upon them. Over forty
guns, together with large number of army
wagons abandoned on the road and in the
town, fell into the hands of the cavalry.
Devin's Brigade, having the advance, was
occupied until midnight in securing these
trophies. An officer of the brigade, fearing
recapture, rode back to Sheridan's head
quarters, when the following dialogue en-
sued sl foa'- '.
"General, have come back to ask for
brigade of infantry, to help hold the artillery
already captured, of which think we have
at least twenty i've pieces" rI
~ don't believe it," said Sheridan, not
yet realizing the full extent of the victory
"Who arc you 2" H 30
"Captain B., of the Dragons.
General, believe We have over forty pieces"
Captain, you shall have t.eo brigades of
infantry"
When Custar came back, soon after, to re-
port his wonderful success, Sheridan caught
him in his arms, embraced him, and then
wrested with him with all the playfulmess
of a child. -atr oI