The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-01-29

appeared very much excited and very mad.
He was accompanied by only one aid,
then Captain, now General Forsythe, and
had for an escort squadron of the 18th
Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was strung
out to the rear over a mile, trying to keep
up with the General. ] found Sheridan,
and we kept on towards the battle field at
full speed.
As we advanced we met large patches of
men rushing in great confusion to the rear.
They appeared to be utterly demoralized;
some without caps or shoes, and great
many without arms The first detachment
we met was from the 9th corpse. Az we
neared the field of battle, the number in
creased, until appearances pointed 30 a
complete rout of our army.
SOLDIERS WORSHIP OF SHERIDAN.
But the sight Of the general had won-
derful effect upon the men, They wor-
SHIPPED him and had perfect confidence in
his ability as general and courage as g
soldier. As he thundered down among
them he was greeted with the widest en-
thusiasm, and cheer after cheer was beard
on every side. They believed that the de-
feat was due to his absence, and that with
his coming the tide would be turned in our
favor. The men had become superstitious
in their faith in Sheridan. They believed
that with him they could never be beaten,
but without him they we're easily dishear-
tened.
Occasionally on meeting body of men
the general would stop ond address them
in a very loud, firm tone, usually saying
cd d-n it, men, what does this mean?
Go back, you have WHIPPED them out OF
of their boots and can do it again" All
within sound of his voice would halt and
cheer and invariably turn back, go that BY
the time we reached the battle field q very
respectable army was following in our
rear.
WILD DIsMAY.
There the widest confusion also pre-
vailed. The only infantry in line was
portion of the sixth corps. commanded by
Gen. Wright,!who was just behind this di-
vision, his face bandaged up, having been
wounded early in the 6ght. Gen. Sheri-
dan dismounting, spoke with Wright =
moment. and, then, mounting his horse
again rode round in front of the infantry
in line. As the soldiers saw him they rent
the air with their glad shouts of welcome
shouts that gave assurance of victory and
sounded the death knell to their foes.
The 9th corpse we're drawn up behind
stone fence. Presently a column OF rebel
infantry advanced at double quick time
with that loud yell peculiar TO them when
charging. The 9th corps stood firm and
held their ground until the foe was within
fifty yards, when they opened FIRE. A
steady, incessant roll Of musketry Vas kept
up for twenty minutes, then gradually
ceased. When the smoke cleared up few
rebels were seen flying in all directions,
while in front of the 9th corps the sight
was perfectly terrible, The ground was
piled high with dead and wounded.
THE BATTLE TURNED.
That turned the fight. Sheridan thus
saved the day. He at once organized bis
forces and the result you know. He turn
ed defeat into a glorious victory. Some
pretend to say that had Sheridan heen on
the ground when the attack occurred, he
could not have prevented the defeat. Had
he been there he never would have been
surprised. The rebels would never have
taken him unawares in that way.