The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1867-10-17

fSheridan's conduct 1t the battle Of VIM
chester il thus described in Mr. Whi.elaw
Reeds forthcoming biography Of the Gene.
ral. to Be published BY Messrs. Monroe.
Willstach & Baldwin:
General Sheridan had arrived at
Winchester the night before, on his
way back from the consultation at Wash
ington, to which he had been ordered.
In the morning artillery firing was
heard, but it was attributed to an in
tended reconnaissance, and nothing was
thought Of it. After an early break
fast, Sheridan mounted and trotted
quietly through Winchester, south
ward. A mile from the town the first
fugitives from the lost field were en-
countered. He instantly gave orders
to park the retreating train on either
side of the road; directed the greater
part of his escort to follow as best they
could; then, with only twenty cavalry
men following him, he struck out in a
swinging gallop for the scene Of dan
ger. As he dashed up the pike the
crowds Of stragglers grew thicker. He
reproached none; only swinging his
cap with q CHEEKY smile for all, he
shouted: "Face the other way, boys :
face the other way. We are going to
lick them out OF their boots" Less
classic, doubtless, than Napoleon's my
children, We will camp on the battle
field, as usual" but the wounded rails
ed raised their hoarse voices to cheer
as he passed, aud the masses Of tugi-
tives turned and followed him to the
front. As he rode into the forming
lines the men quickened their pace back
to tho ranks, and everywhere glad
cheers went up. "Boys, this never
should have happened if I had been
here,'' he exclaimed to one and anoth-
er regiment, "I tell you it never should
have happened. And now we are 60
ing back to our camps. We are going
to get 4 twist on them we'll get the
tigbtest twist on them yet that oyer
you saw. Well have all those camps
and cannon back again I" Thus. he
rode along the lines, reoti6ed the forma-
ton, cheered and animated the soldiers
Presently there grew up across that
pike .s compact body Of infantry and
cavalry Is that which a month before
| had sent the enemy "whirling through
Winchester" His men had full faith
in "the twist he was ''goiug to get
on tho victorious foe. His presence
was inspiration; his commands were
victory.
While the line Ms thus re.establish.
ed, be was in momentary expectation
of attack. Wright's 9th corps waa
some distance in the rear. One staff
officer after another was sent after il
Finally Sheridan himself dashed down
to hurry it up; then back to watch il
going into position. As he thus stood
looking of from the loft, he saw the en'
emy's columns onse more moving up
Hurried warning was sent to the 10Th
corps, on which it was evident the at
tack would fall. By this time it wa
after three o'clock.
The Nineteenth corps, no longer Ia
ken by surprise, repulsed the enemy's
onset. s'Thank God for that" said
Sheridan gaily. "Now tell Genera
Emery if they attack him again. to g
after them, and to follow them up
Well get the tightest twist on them
pretty soon they after saw" Tie mel
heard and believed him; the demorali
sation Of the defeat was gone. But h
still waited. Word had been sent i,
from the cavalry of danger from heav,
body moving in bis flank. He doubt
ed it, and At last determined to run th'
risk. At four o'clock the orders wen
out: s.The whole line will advance
The Nineteenth corps will move in con
nection with the Sixth. The right Q
the Nineteenth will swing toward til
LOFT" IS. !. H.: l.: :=sa .:..5 .s:.,..
The enemy lay behind stone fence.
and whore these l,iled, breastworks .
rails eksd out his limo. For 4 lit,l
!. while he held bis position firmly. Hi
lsft overlapped sherid.n'' right, an