The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-06
General Sheridan at the Battle
OF winchester.

From "Personal Recollections of Mai
Gen. Sheridan" by au officer OF lis staff
We quote the following story OF the battle
OF Winchester At this juncture, Sher-
idan appeared on the field, having ridden
up in hot haste from Winchester. A
fearful responsibility suddenly dpvolved
upon him for, with him alone, rested the
safety Of thousands Of precious lives, the
fate Of his army and the security OF the
Federal Capitol and he was equal TO
the emergency Making his.way to Gen.
Wright's headquarters, he eagerly in
auired after the situation, and received
the despording answer: General, l fear
the battle is going against u.s." What
exclaimed Sheridan, his face livid with
indigyatiou, Early whip my three corps
Of Infantry and my cavalry He can: do
it! Before night we shall have our camps
back again, and Early will get the worst
vhippipe ne ever had" "Sheridan has
come !" leaped from lip to lip along the
Union lines, and, no longer -etreatlng,
the whole command seemed inspired with
confidence, as though, by the advent of
che man, victory was already assured.
Ior two hours there vas a lull In the
conflict, while the stragglers from the diff
ferent corps were returned to their COM
mands Then Sheridan proceeded to
carry into execution the plans he had
hastily formed. First, he sent General
Custar with his division of Cavalry TO
the extreme right, with Instructions to
concentrate his attack upon limited por-
ton Of the enemy's line-;o vex, haFrass,
and distress it, until he should succeed in
creating panic, when, upon given sig
nal, Sheridan with the rest OF his army
would cause this panic to communicate
itself along the entire length of the enc
my's lines. This plan, simple in it's
conception, was successful beyond the
expectation of the commanding General
tuIneG the euemy's left flank, charge
was ordered along the whole line.
It seemed hardly credible that the men
who were so badly worsted III the morn
ing were the same men who made that
magnificent charge in the afternoon. The
Sixth Corps sprung forward as if impelled
from the cannou's mouth, while the other
corps We'd with it in impetuosity. The
enemy opened on the charging party with
fifty pieces Of artillery, filing the air with
flying missiles. With surprising precis-
ion shells were thrown into the solid
masses of Union infantry, scattering limbs
in every direction, and lifting mang:ed
corpes nigh in the air. The Federal
batteries, likewise, were not idle. Along
the crests of the hills on either side CT
the road, and down the pike close upon
the heels of the Infantry, they followed.
Sheridan seeing one posted in an advan-
tageous position, turned to one OF his
staff and said, Ride down to Capt. -
aud tel! him t. fire faster, FASTER" The
message delivered, the detonations were
almost without interval.
Only once did our infantry, falter when
subjected to scutEips fre of mu-ke'ry
from the enemy posted behind stone wall.
The survivors pushed on, and, with the
bGyonet, dro.e The opposing force from
the wall. The enemy no longer made
stand Their men alike indifferent to
The threats and en;Teatias Of officers,
sought safety only in flight. a miserable
rabble, they plunged into the stream, and
crossing, hurried on through Strasburg
toward the mountains. with Sheri0an's
troopers close upon them. Over forty
guns, together with large number ot
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 recspture, rode
back to Sher:dan's headquarters, when
the following dialogue easucd
General. | have come back to ask for
O brigade of ihiautry, to help hold the
artillery already captured, 0: which l
think we have at least tweutF-ive pieces"
81 don't believe it" said Sheridan, not
yet realizing the full extent OF the victory.
"Who are you ?"
Captain B, of the -- Dragons.
General, believe We have over forty
pieces"
Captain, you shall have trO brigades
Of infantry"
When CuStar came back, soon after, to
report his wonderful success, Sheridan
caught him in his arms, embraced him,
and then wrested with him with all the
playfulness Of child.
Szsz..-n.-s-s-.-szszs-zzEE --z.s1..-.z -
FOB WORK