The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-03-01

trees. French was now in capital spot
nearly up with us, and we were still un-
able TO see the regiments on our right.
Officers sent over the hill to reconnoitre
found rebel line Of battle and q section
Of their artillery nearly on the prolonga.
tion of our line, and it was considered
that we should be doing extremely well
IT VIC we're able to hold our then position.
being il will be remembered, the extreme
left of the army, with heavy force Of the
enemy in our front, and even extending
across the pike, where We had now no
troops excepta regiment or so of Colonel
Kitchens unattached provisional" train
guard, and some cavalry.
Therefore we kept concealed as much
as was consistent with expending the full
fifty rounds Of ammunition consumed in
the next half hour, the rebel fire mean.
while being so hot that we could not car
ry off our wounded or send for more car.
tridges. At last, however, the excellence
of Sheridan's plan was proved Warmers
left was again advancing, and with q
cheer we made final charge against the
walls before us. The enemy faced our
advance but for moment, and then fed
in confusion we pursued faster and fast
er, only stopping to hastily fill our car
fridge boxes with captured ammunition
the retreat became a stampede, the pur-
suit became reckless chase, and with
tumultuous cheers and throbbing hearts
we crowded the motley mob before us, on
aud on over the miles of hill and plain to
the banks of Cedar creek. Our forma-
tion was entirely lost, but we had the or
ganization and enthusiasm of recognized
success every man felt that it would not
do to allow the enemy to rally on this
side OF the stream the front was present
ly occupied by flags alone, as the more
heavily loaded troops became unable to
keep up with the energetic color-ser-
geants; the strong cavalry force on our
distant right were seen charging down the
field; the rebels obliqued confusedly and
in uncomfortable dismay toward the
turnpike and bridge; a fine attempt was
made to organize last resistance on the
hills that crowned the creek, but after
feeble volley the line melted away
last battery faced us with round of can.
lister, bat in vain ; we saw the flag that
followed Sheridan, white star on red
above a red star on the white, flashing in
the font and center of the army, literally
leading it to victory; the regimental
standard bearers We'd with each other in an
eagar strife to be first in the works OF
the morning, every brigade in the army
afterward claiming the distinction, our
own brigade certainly not with the least
ground Of any aud 80 at last we manned
the entertainments Of the 10Th corps.
while the foe toiled up the other bank of
Cedar creek and hastily formed a battle
line outside our muskct range.
Artillery came up on the gallop and
opened vigorously. Generals exchanged
congratulations with each other and their
troops. Sheridans promise was fulfilled
again, for We had our camps as the eve
ming fell.
1t is perhaps not surprising that sarca..
tic cheers and impudent questions con.
cerning the distance to Harpei's Ferry,
and the probabilities of an early mail sa-
luted few of General Crooks officers,
who followed to witness our success. The
feeling was prevalent and not unreasona
bic that we were indebted to them alone
for our days work, with the terrible dis.
com6ture of the morning; but we were
afterwards convinced that they had done
what they could.
Sheridan was not satisfied even yet.
Custer was ordered to pursue the enemy
still further. We saw in the twilight
the regiments he had selected, being the
LIST Vermont and the 9TH New York cav.
airy, cross the creek at ford mile
above the bridge, then gradually deploy
and climb the hill in an extended line;
volley awaited them at its summit which
was like blaze of fire in the darkness,
but the brave horsemen did not falter and
that volley was the last.
"Every regiment to its camp of the
morning" was the order next received,
and we joyfully picked our way to our
first position. Tent poles, rude tables,
and rustic couches were found undisturb-
ed; few minutes more and everything
was as it had been twenty-four hours be-
fore, save in the absence of the fallen.
Fires were lighted, and the excited men,
though weary were more ready to discuss
and congratulate than to sleep; while
once and anon quiet party would sally
forth into the night to find and save some
; groaning sufferer The bodies of the Tn.
ion troops left dead and wounded on the
field in our first retreat had been most
shamefully plundered by the rebels, many
of them laying naked on the ground when
recaptured.
At perhaps 10, Z. NJ, cavalr, ac-
: quaintence hurried into the camp, and
from him we learned the sequel OF the
: day how Custar and Davies had pushed
. the cavalry over Fishers Hill and were
still in pursuit how all our captured
cannon had been retaken, and nearly ev.
cry one of the enemy's guns had been
> brought into camp by their own unwilling
u drivers; how prisoners were crowding III
: by the hundreds, and the vacant space in
front of Sheridans headquarters had be
). come corral, full of all sorts of plumber,
men, guns, wagons, and mules, upon which
he was wont for many days to look with
. grim satisfaction how Vermont boy
!, had, single handed, captured rebel gen
cral, for which he afterwards received II
y wcll.earned decoration, naively telling
!, Secretary Stanton at the time of its he.
stowsl that the Johnies in the darkness
J, expostulated with him for interfering with
}. "the Generals" ambulance, whereat he
u guessed the General was the very mau
!, he was looking for how in fact the
turnpike had been blocked at the iool Of
. Fishers Hill, and three miles of wagon.
!. and guns were captured entire.
u The defeat was utter and decisive :,