Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-24
The Battle of Cedar Creek.

One IeOeis OOilquSu OVuAuSouiy o"U ."
uncomfortable dismay towards the turn
pike of the bridge; final attempt was
made to organize last resistance on the
hills that crowned the Greek, but after
feeble volley the line melted away; a
last battery faced us with round of
canister. but in vain; we saw the flag
that followed Sheridan, white star on
the red above q red star on the white.
flashing 10 the front and centre of the
army, literally leading it to victory the
regimental standard bearers wed with
each other in an eager strife to be first
in the works of the morning, every brig
ado in the army afterwards claiming the
distinction, our own brigade certainly
not with the least ground of any; and
80 at last we manned the entertainments
of the Nineteenth Corps, while the foe
toiled up the other bank of Cedar Creek
and hastily formed battle-line outside
our musket range.
Artillery came up on the gallop and
opened vigorously. Generals exchanged
congratulations with each other and
their troops. Sheridan's promise was
fulfilled again, for we had our camps as
the evening fell.
1t is perhaps not surprising that sar-
castle cheers and impudent questions
concerning the distance to Harper's Fer
ry and probabilities of an early mail
saluted a few of Gen. Crooks officers
who followed to witness our success.
The feeling was prevalent and not un-
reasonable that we were indebted to
them alone for our days work, with the
terrible discontinue 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
First Vermont and the Fifth New York
Cavalry, cross the creek at ford mile
above the bridge, then gradually deploy
and climb the hill in an extended line /;
q 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 touches 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
fourth into the night to find and save
some grOaning sufferer. The bodies Of
the Union troops left dead and wounded
on the field in our first retreat had beer
most shamefully plundered by the rebels
many of them lying naked on the grount
when recaptured.
AT perhaps ten p. M, cavalry &C
quaintance hurried into camp and from
him we learned the sequel of the day
how Custer and Davies had pushed tn,
cavalry over Fishers Hill and were still
in pursuit; how all our captured cannon
had been re-taken and nearly every ON
of the enemy's guns had been brough
into camp by their own unwilling driv
ers how prisoners were crowding in b,
hundreds and the vacant space in from
of Sheridan's headquarters had becom
a corral, full of all sorts of plumber, men
guns, wagons, and mules, upon which h
was won't to look with grim satisfaction
how Vermont boy had, single-handed
captured rebel General, for which b
afterwards received well-earned deco
ration, naively telling Secretary Stanto
at the time of its bestowal that the John
MES in the darkness expostulated wit
him for interfering with "the Generals
ambulance, whereat he guessed tn
General was the very man he was loOl
ing for" how in fact the turnpike ha
been blocked at the foot of Fishers Hill
and three miles of wagons and CUR
were captured entire.
The defeat was utter, and decisive S
far as the Shenandoah Valley was col
cerned. Its secret was simply Sher
dams personal magnetism, and all-cor
quering energy. He felt no doubt,
would submit to no defeat, and he too
his army with him as on whirlwind.
General Grant well said with generor
eulOgy, "this victory stamps Sheridan &
what l always thought him. one of tt
ablest of Generals"
The number of killed was So, WOUND
ed 2l0, missing Al, total 2S4.
The only officer killed was Secon
Lieutenant Oscar R. Lee, of the Elevent
Regiment. He was a remarkably bray
and efficient officer, from Waterfort
whose commission as Captain was r
ceived a few days after his death.
commission previously issued to Lieutel
ant Dennis Duhigg of Lyndon as CAPITA
Of the same company (M) had in lii
manner reached the regiment day