The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-05
HAYES ARMY SERVICE.

Inc FlSnC AT ElSnerS Hlll-HOW HAYES ElGC-
tioneered Successfully by Denouncing Elec-
pioneering.
From the New York Times.
Sheridan, after raiding the Shenan-
doah valley with his cavalry, had with
drawn to point near Cedar creek, six
miles below Fishers Hill. and had
gone on a flying trip to Washington,
devolving the command upon his SEN
ior corps commander, Gen. Wright.
The troops occupied high ground,
Crooks corps being in advance, Emo
rvs Nineteenth on the right and about
a mile in the rear of Crooks front
line, and Wright's Sixth on the right
OF Emory's, the extreme right being
covered by division Of cavalry.
Crook S forces comprised two divisions,
Hayes and Thorburn's numbering
about 1000 men in all, Hayes line be.
ing continuous of that of the Nine
teenth corps and Thorburn occupying
position about mile in advance Of
Hayes, covered by slight parapet.
The nearest force of national cavalay
on the left was at Fort Royal, eight
miles distant. Gen. Crook had applied
for division of this force to cover
his exposed left and an adjacent ford
of the Shenandoah. and his request had
been granted, but by some mischance,
the cavalry did not take it's position
promptly as ordered. Early, aware Of
the absence of the cavalry, resolved
to steal out of his forest covert at
Fishers Hill, pass by the Cedar creek
position, then fall upon the union flank
and rear. He began this movement
during the night Of October Is, which,
fortunately for him, happened to be
very foggy and dark. Sending one d.
vision to the west by way of Il diver
sion, his main column, leaving the
turnpike, advanced to the right by I'M
frequented paths along the side OF the
mountain, holding on by bushes where
the men could scarcely otherwise have
kept their feet, and twice fording the
north fork of the Shenandoah. The
cavalry which Crook fully believed to
be in position on his flank would, had
it really been there, have covered the
principal one of these fords, and rem
dered this movement impossible. In
it's absence, Early succeeded in COM
pletely passing the flank without Civ
ing serious alarm, and an hour before
dawn his troops stood in the positions
assigned them, waiting for the order
to attack.
Just as the first gray light of morn
ing began to appear this order was
given, and simultaneously the familiar
rebel yell and a tremendous volley of
musketry, stretching all along the
flank from far to near, announced the
presence of the foe. In an instant
Early's plunging lines swept forward,
and striking Thorburn's division,
crushed it in a. twinkling. All the
guns in the line of parapet were, Of
course, captured, and the broken reg.
iments, utterly unable to resist such
an overwhelming onset, were swept
hurriedly to the rear. Hayes division
meanwhile flew to arms, and changing
front, advanced in the direction in
which the enemy was evidently COM
ing. Its whole strength at this time
was about fourteen hundred and forty
five electives, not enough to make a
respectable skirmish-line along the
front of attack. In a moment the
enemy, inspired and impelled by his
first success, burst from the thick
woods in front, and was greeted with
Il full volley from Hayes men. But
successful resistance was impossible,
and even the attempt to resist seemed
like madness. In a moment more the
force which had struck Thorburn was
closing in upon Hayes flank and rear,
and there was no alternative but re-
treat or capture. In the face of immi-
nent peril the division withdrew with
steady lines, and from this to the close
Of the terrible ordeal of surprise and
retreat, maintained it's organization
unbfoken, not losing SO much as a tin
plate. Col. Hayes directed it's move
ments with the utmost intrepidity,
leading it backward in good order and
from one hill top to another, and MAX
ing energetic resistance at every pos
sible point. His superb GOODNESS and
courage in the midst Of the frightful