The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-28
The Battle of Cedar Greek mud the Re-
r suits of the Valley Cumras..

suits Of the Valley Campaign.
William Swinton, author of the Twelve
Decisive Battles" gives the following account
of the engagement which is associated
with Sherldan's ride from Winchester, and
also of the fruits Of the victory. The eulogy
upon the character OF the man who won the
victory will not be thought extravagant. The
extract which we give below takes up the
story just as Sheridan had lett Winchester for
the front: g d3Gf1
Half mile south of Winchester SAYS he,
the head Of the fugitives appeared in sight,
trains and men coming to the rear with an
palling rapidity" He Immediately gave orders
to halt and park the trains at Mil Creek, and
ordered the brigade at Winchester to stretch
across the country and stop all stragglers.--
Moving like lightning among the retreatng
troops, he swung his cap in the air, shouting
at the top OF his voice, Face the other way,
boys! we are going back to our camps" His
magnetism was infectious, and the disorderly
mass began to take cohesion and "iace the
other way" The men, says he, found they
had not done themselves justice, and came
back with cheers. Then forward again TO the
front, where arriving he galOped up and down
the lines, repeating his fiery words. "Boys,"
he exclaimed, "if had been here this never
should have happened-we are going back %
His eyes shOne with the light Of battle. He
used the rasping and histy language which
soldiers appreciate. PERHAPS he swore lit
tie. I'VE are going hack to give those fellows
boots-were going back to occupy cur old
camps" Such like was the tenor of his talk
that October afternoon.
There was just time to straighten out and
strengthen the lines when the Confederatas
moved forward to renew the assault. Catch
Ing the surge, he hurled It back. Then he
took the offensive. Moving his cavalry to the
right, he caused 1t to charge impetuously the
enemy's flank, and simultaneously with this
he ordered combined movement of the
whole line This drove the enemy back In
confusion to Cedar Creek, where, owing to
the difficulties OF the crossing, the Confeder-
ate force fell into mere stones and debris
The pursuit was continued as far as Fishers
Hill, the enemy abandoning his trains, can
non, etc. The spoils, which We're very great,
included above fifty pieces Of art | eIy.
The action at Cedar Creek practically end
ed the campaign in the Valley of the S6enan-
doah. The sun of Confederate fortune which
had for three years shone SO brilliantly over
the Valley went down in lurid clouds behind
the Blue Ridge. 1t is true some tatteredmai-
lOu Udluo otii uduuGtu JIlt DlOQuLall IaSL-
nesses and occasionally sailed forth into the
plains. But 1t was only to be as constantly
beaten. And when in the following spring
Sheridan moved up the Valley to join Grant,
he halted long enough to make an end of the
lean and dried anatomy of Eafly's once proud
Army OF the Shenandoah. Jubal had collect
ed together at WaynesbOrough scratch of a
force numbering about three thousand men.
whom, to make retreat impossible, he had
planted with their backs to deep river. The
resultl may be imagined; Sheridan bagsed
two thirds OF 1t and most OF its artillery.
The n suits of the valley campaign were
mani old OF Its material fruits It Is worth
knowing that Sheridan took 49, 900 prisoners,
lOl pieces OF artillery. and any quantity OF
standards. 1t forever relieved the loyal bOr-
der OF all teal OF being trodden by rebel feet.
1t enabled Grant, in the autumn OF 1864, to
recall good part of the Shenandoah force TO
aid in the operations before Petcrsburgh II
found the Shenandoah Valley a Valley OF
Humiliation for the Union Army; it left it a
Valley OF Humiliation for the Rebel Army.
1t was in this campaign that the extraor.
dinary capacity OF Sheridan shone with the
| brightest iustfe. For though he had done
brilliant things before, and gained new Ian.
rels afterwards at Five Forks II was in tbs
Valley compaign that, being independent and
untrammeled, he was left free TO work out
the inspirations of his own genius. To him
| theIeiore the glory belongs.
ne won ms victories by consummate art
| oy profound appreciation and application OF
eternal principles of war, those same prlnci-
pies on which Cesar and Hannibal and FRED
erick and Bonaparte wrought. One OF the Sc
crets OF is success was the admirable ineth-
cd he had of combining the two arms of i'll
fantry and cavalry. As have observed IN
the Campaigns of the Army OF the Potomac
'he constantly used his powerful body o.