The Cecil Whig., 1878-11-09
SHERIDAN.S RIDE
lis History by One Who was There.
MAJOR srERA vINpIC,TEs ruE TRUTH OF
HISTORY.

From tie Lancaster Inquirer
We have often said to Major W. II. Spera,
whom we met for the first time on the bat
tie field Of Cedar Creek, fourteen years ago
To day October l9i, that he should write
for publication an account of his historic
ride OF Gen. Sheridan, from Winchester to
the front, on that memorable day. The
Major commanded the escort. detachment
of the 18th Regiment =. V. c.. and had
peculiar facilities for witnessing the whole
of that memorable ride, about which so
much, false and true, has been written.
We have the pleasure now of laying before
our readers Major Spera's statement of the
affair, with the assurance that 1t is made
by one who adds to unusual intelligence
and acute powers of observation, a deter
mination 10 make no statement that is not
absolutely correct:
ION the morning of the 18th of October,
1864, Gen. Sheridan arrived at Martinsburg
from Washington, whittier he had gone the
day previous and desiring TO proceed TO The
front Immediately, | was ordered to report
to the General for escort duty. had ar
rived the previous evening from the front,
with detachment of two hundred men of
my regiment, the 18th Pennsylvania Cav
airy. About Q \. VI. the General. in com
pany with Colonies Thorn and Alexander,
and Major Forsyth, left Martinsburg, ar
irving at Winchester about 3 +. NJ, Sheri
4 a,,l e. L..
headquarters, Col. Edwards, 37th Massa-
chusetts, commanding. | was ordered to
encamp for the night at Mill Greek, one
mile south of Winchester, with orders to
be in readiness to move at } A. NJ on the
following morning. Early in the morning
of the 10Th heavy artillery firing was heard
in the direction of the front; it was re
ported at post headquarters by the infan
try u f1icer of the picket. and was attributed
To an intended reconnaissance that had been
ordered for that morning. About s 4 "
Gen. Sheridan came riding leisurcly along,
Inquirng of us whether we had heard fir
ing in the direction of the front. We re-
piled that we had aud as early as o clock.
reconnaissance that had been ordered for
that morning. The escort was formed,
advance and rear guard and bankers
After moving scarcely half mile, the head
Of train from the front was whipping to
the rear, also number of fugitives from
the field were encountered, giving a differ
ent interpret alton of the firing Of the morn
ing. All trains going TO and returning
from the front were ordered into park
Gen. Sheridan then ordered me to take
twenty of my best men and horses fIom
the escort and follow him. AS he intended
In move lively to the front; the remain
der of the escort was ordered to report to
Colonies Thorn and Alexander, to do what
they could in stemming the torren; of fugi-
tives.' The General then struck out in a
brisk gallop toward the scene of action
At times the pike was so much crowded
with troops and wagons. that the General
and escort were Obliged To take to the fields
over fences, stone walls and bitches. He
spoke To few, occasionally swinging his cap
saying: Face the other way. boys; face
the other way. You shall all be in your
old camps before night Men halted by
the road side as he passed. aud on several
occasions the General was cheered by groups
of soldiers. who, seeing the great haste with
which lie WAS going, Immediately rctraced
their steps. y chaplain. mounted on a
mule, desired to speak TO the General, and
hcckoned HIM To stop; the General told
him he had no time, but he should face
about and ride along i! he had anything 10
say; chaplain and mule were left behind in
twinkling, with his story untold. The
race was headlong, the horses were put to
their full speed, and never did q general
and escort go over sixteen miles in less
time. Arriving on the field, the General
immediately went to Gen. Wright's head
quarters, eagerly inquiring after the situa
tron. and received for an answer from one
of his staff: General, fear the battle is
against us; suppose Gen. Early intends
driving you out of the Valley What
exclaimed Sheridan. Early drive me out
of the Valley. whip three corps of infan-
try and all If my carairy.. he can't do it:
I'll lick him like h-ll before night; III
give him the worst licking he ever had
After a short consultation with several
officers Of his staff. he rode along the skir
mish line. The men seeing him. cried out:
sheridan has come, and shout after shout
went up. Boys. said he. this never
would have happened. if would have been
here Wen get the tightest twist on
them they ever saw. Well get all those
camps and cannon back Shout after shout
went up for Sheridan as he passed along
, the lines. Never before did SO much seem
ingly depend upon one man; all seemed con
iideut of success as soon as they heard of
Sheridan's arrival, and indeed with him
alone rested the safety of thousands OF
lives and the preservation of his army.
He Immediately commenced reforming the
lines, transferring Clusters cavalry division
To the right, Merritt's remaining on the
left, the infantry lines were re-established
and formidable body of men stood ready
to dispute the advance of proud and vic.
tory flushed foe. For over two hours there
was Il IulI III tue Dattlc, anu stragglerS were
rapidly returning to their commands.
While the line was thus being re -estab-
lished, it was evident that the enemy was
preparing for an attack on Sheridan S lines
Word was sent the 10Th corps that the at
tack would be made on that part of the
line; 1t being now not taken by surprise,
repulsed the enemy. Thank God for that,
said Sheridan. Tell Cen Emery if they
attack him again. to go after them and fol
low them. Wen get good twist on
them, the tightcst one they ever saw At
about l.. NJ. the order went ont: The
whole line will advance, the 10Th corps will
move in connection with the 9th, the right
of the 10Th will swing toward the right
\ compact mass of men was formed across
the pike, Custer ON thee extreme right tn
l.R-.