The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-09-13
Sheridan's Ride.
STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS.

Having been an eye witness of Sheri-
dams ride.to the front on the morning
of October 10 1864, am. perhaps. in
position to make some comment on
the stter-day historians who proclaim
that incident Of the war to be- merely u
romantic fiction. The battle Of Cedar
Creek had begun in the early dawn.
and Sheridan was then in Winchester,
on his return to his head quarters,
after having been summoned to Wash
ington to attend military consuita-
ton. which-as was afterwards devel-
oped-settled the work of SGeridan's
army in swinging down the valley.
crossing the Rapidan, and striking the
left of the Confederate army around
Richmond. As is we'll known on the
night of tho 9Th Early had started his
troops, and ON tho morning of the 10th
Of October he had forced our Zines and
driven back both the Eighth aud Nine
teenth Corps. 1t is perfectly true that
early on the morning of the 10Th
Sheridan heard at Winchester Of the
disaster. and started TO rally bis troops.
That morning was in command Of
detachment conveying a large am
munition train from Winchester to
Cedar Creek. We had been harsssed
by Mosby's cavalry cn our way. who
struck us st intervals between Martins.
burg. Bunker Hill and Winchester.
On tho 10th we started from Winches-
ter before daylight. We were not
more than five miles from the town
when we heard the sharp cannonsding
that denoted an action at the front.
Our train was making tolersble good
time, and we were near Middletown
when, on looking back, we perceived a
cloud of dust in the rear upon the turn
pike. We had no idea what caueed it until
Sheridan cme into view from the sur
rounding cloud. He had been down
to Washington. and consequently had
on his uniform of Major General. which
was covered with dust. No jockey on
the last quarter of . four-mile heat
ever rode harder than did Sheridan -
be thundered down that Virginia pike
on his big black horse. His head was
down, his body slightly inclined for
ward, and his soul thrown into the
race against time, with the fortune Of
his army at the stake. As he drew
near to us he perceived that our train
blocked the road, and that it would
take some time to clear it. He solved
the difficulty BY. cutting through an
open field to our left. and striking the
road again after he had gone ahead OF
Us.
He had outridden almost every ybody
who had started with him from Win
chester. The only officer remember
Of recognizing near him was General
William p. Fessenden Jr. of Msine.
who was some ten or fifteen lengths In
Sheridsn's rear. and who afterward
told me that his own English mare was
a present from his father (Senstor
Fessenden), aud was noted for: speed.
bpt had no chance alongside ct Sheridan
And ~. trsm ndous black. After these
came Sheridan's staff officers. stringin9
ont in long line. and oil OF them pret.
ty we'll tired out at the pace he naa
Get them since they left winchester.
The cavalry escort was about hail a
mile in the rear. with their horses con-
siderably blown. have only written
this much TO demonstrate by one wit
ness. at least, that Sheridan's ride was
AN .otus,ity, and that it deserves to be
preserved among the annals OF the
noble acts of American soldiers.-ufa'
Fsler Angus in Baltimore American