Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-24
The Battle Of Cedar Creek.
BY COL. A. +. WALKER.

The now historic stream which gave
its name to the remarkable battle which
is the subject of the present chapter, is
a shallow, rapid river, perhaps thirty
yards wide, flowing across the Upper
Shenandoah Valley just where it de-
bouches into the Lower Valley, which it
will be remembered, from Cedar Creek
to the Potomac unites the width of the
Upper Valley and Luray. The Shen-
andoah here sweeps round the base of
the rocky and precipitous Massannutten
mountain, hugging its foot and turning
to the east with a sharp right angle. at
the very apex of which it receives the
waters of Cedar Creek, coming from a
prolongation of the new direction of the
larger river. The turnpike from Win
chester to Staunton crosses the Creek
about mile above its junction with the
Shenandoah. Middletown is two miles
this side of the bridge Strasburg two
miles beyond it. Hills, perhaps three
hundred feet high, rise irregularly on
each side of the Greek. The army was
facing south; Gen. Crooks command
lay on the left of the turnpike, occupy
ing several hills which overlooked the
junction Of the two streams, their pic
quets protecting the left flank of the
army, though without watching sufi-
ciently the fords of the rivers The
Nineteenth Corps was across the pike on
Crooks right, on other hills along the
hither side of the Creek the Sixth
Corps was next in line and the last of
the infantry; Getty's Second Division,
on the extreme right of all, being re-
fused so that it faced westerly the Cav
airy Corps lay at our right and behind
us; picquets from our Division were four
miles from camp, guarding, in connec-
ton with the cavalry, the line Of the
Creek clear across the Valley.
General Wright being now in COM
mand of the army, Gen. Ricketts, sue
ceeded to the command of the Corps.
Our position was a good one, and as
far as human foresight could reach, a
safe one, though perhaps too much re-
lance was placed on the decentralization
of the enemy. In fanking it General
Early adopted Sheridan's tactics at
Fishers Hill, where the same Eighth
Corps that was first attacked and routed
here, by climbing the mountain side,
had turned the line which Early assur-
ed his men could by no possibility be
hanked; the successful attack of Early
at Cedar Creek was as admirable as our
own at Fishers Hill, and even more au-
dacious, as it involved the double ford.
ing of rapid river to commence with,
and the certainty of complete destruction
in case of failure.
1t has always been somewhat of a
mystery where Early obtained the troops
with which he fought this battle. The
previous engagements had cost him fully
twelve thousand men hOrS du combat
including prisoners, and as many more
in stragglers. Kershaw's Division
however, which had retired through the
Luray Valley, had been recalled, anc
Pegram's Division had joined him entire
from Longstreets Corps. The scattered
remnants of other divisions had beer
collected from their hiding places in th'
forests and the mountains. 1t is certain
also that large body, estimated BY
Druid at from twelve to fifteen thou
sand more, had been raised by the las
relentless conscription in the vicinity o
Gordonsville and Lynchburg. 1t ha
been asserted that many of these mel
were without muskets, hoping to gathe
arms on the field in our anticipated
rout. Probably, however, but few un
armed men in the enemy's lines. 4
letter from Richmond to a paper furthe
south at the time in question says tha
the force thus concentrated was 5000,
for" 10000 men, and that $4,000 re
serves were to be called out. This
however, was greatly exaggerated es
innate. Sheridan had received no re
Inducements and we could not have ha,
$4,000 men present for duty equipped
including the cavalry which did nothing
until evening. Early must have ha,
10000 infantry at the very least. Hi
plan was to attack us in detail and rou
our Divisions successively, from tn
left; we shall see that he succeeded un