American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-11-06
a .',Smisrellaueous.
SHBRIDAN'S RIDE.

NnbQlDhN % PlDuS
General Sheridan had arrived at Win
chester the night before, on his way
back fromthe consultation at Washing.
ton to which he had been ordered. ln
the morning artillery firing was heard,
but it was attributed to an Intended re-
connoisance, and nothing was thought OF
it. After an early breakfast, Sheridan
mounted aud otfotted quietly through
Winchester, southward A mile from
the town the first fugltives from the lost
field we're encountered. He Instantly
gave orders to park the retreatTng 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 accompanying him, he struck
odtiha swinging 'gaIIop for the 1sceDe'ot
danger. AS lie dashed up the pike the
crowds of strsgglers grew thicker He
reproached none 6aly swinging his cap
with CHEEKY smhe for ALL he shouted:
nsFaee the otner way, boys face the
other way. We are goibg back to our
camps We are gong to lick them out
of their boots Less classic, doubles. :.
than Napoleon's, o"My children, will
camp 90 the atlle>feld, as usual" but
the wounded raised their hoarse voices
to cheer as helpassed, and the masses Of
fugitives turned and followed him to the
front. As he rode into the forming
line, the men quickeued their pace back
to the ranks, and everywhere glad cheers
went up. Boys, this never should
have happened if 1 had been here" he
exclaimed 70 one and another regiment
- / tell you it never should have hap.
pened. And now we are going back to
our camps. We are going to get twist
on them we'll get the tightest twist on
chem yet that ever you saw. Well have
all those camps and cannon back again y
Thus he rode along the lines, recti-
fed tho formation, chesred and AMI.
mated the soldiers. Presently there
grew up across that pike as compact a
body Of Infantry aud cavalry as that
which, month before, had sent the
enemy whirling through Winchester"
Hi men had full faith in the Twist"
he was goingt to GET on the victorious
foe his presence was inspiration, his
commands were victory.
While the line was thus re-establish-
ed, he was in momcntary expectations of
attack. Wright's Sixth Corps was some
distance in the rear One staff officer
after another was sent after it Finally
Sheridan himself dashed down to hurry
it up; then back to watch it going into
position. AS he thus stood, looking off
from the left, he saw the enemy's col.
umns once more moving up. Hurried
warning was sent to the Nineteenth
Corps, on which it was evident the at
tack would fall. BY this time it was
after three O'clock
The Nineteenth Corps, no longer taken
by surprise, repulsed the enemy's onset.
- Thank God for that" said Sheridan
gaily. ''Now tell General Emery if they
attack him again to 60 after them, and
to follow them up. Wen get the tight,
est twist on them pretty soon they ever
saw" The men heard and believed
him; the decentralization of the defeat
was gone. But he still waited. Word
had been sent in from tho cavalry Of
danger from heavy body moving on his
flank. He doubted it, and at last deter
mined to run the risk. At four o'clock
the orders went out: The whole line
will advance. The Nineteenth Corps
will move in connection with the Sixth.
The right of the Nineteenth will swing
toward the left ~ 1r1 .a t..a
O. The enemy lay behind stone fences,
and where these failed, brsastw9rks Of
rails eked out his line. Fora liitle he
held his position firmly. His left over
tapped Sheridan's right, and seeing this
advantage, he bent it down to renew the
attack in flank AT this critical mo
mentSheridan ordered charge of Gen.
McWilliams' brigade against tho angle
thus caused in the rebel line L. forced
Its Nay through, and therebel fanking
party was cut of. Clusters caEalry was
sent swooping down upon tit broke, /
and fed or surrendered, according to the
agility of the individuals Simultane>
ously the whole fine charged along the
front; the rebel line was crowded back
to the creek; the difficulties of the
crossing embarrassed it, and as the vic
torious ranks swept up it broke in utter
confusion. ie ~ n'af - eco" g" efa
Custer charged down in the fast gath
ering darkness to the west of the pike
>Devin to the east of it and on either
flank the fleeing rout they flung them
selves Nearly ell the rebel transporta-
tiop was captured, the eaups and artil-
lery we're regained;; up to Fishers hin |
the toad was jatnmsd With artillery, cas-.
sions, and ambalanccs prisoners came
streaming faster than the Provost Mar. |