The National tribune., 1881-12-03

Eighth Corps was doubled up men where shot
and bayoneted in their tents or taken prisoners
before they could escape The rebels once in
possession of our breastworks turned twenty
four Of our own cannon with terrible effect upon
our retreating regiments. There was one con-
tinuous roar of musketTy. Above the crashes OF
musketry the rapid booming Of cannon fairly
shook the earth. But above all this horrid din
rose the wild piercing battlccry Of the victorious
rebel army. Our little band on the picket line
listened with terrible anxiety until we were
forced TO believe that our army had been driven
from their works. The roar of battle was re-
cedng We were cut off. A rebel battery came
within pistol-shot, and our commanding officer
was knocked from his horse. The situation was
desperate, and our retreat commenced. 1t soon
became impossible to hold the men in skirmish
line, for we were exposed to a raking fire and
almost surrounded. Down the steep banks Of
the creek, through the water, waist deep, the
men flung themselves. Almost exhausted they
struggled up only to meet the rifles of the foe on
the opposite side Rebels were in front, rebels
on our flank, rebels in our rear, rebels every
where, and many brave man sank down to rise
no more, in that winding, murky stream-Cedar
Creek. Those Of Us who escaped struck off
through piece of woods by circuitous route,
and succeeded in getting at last in advance of the
enemy, and after passing down between the two
armies exposed to the artillery duel that was
going on, found the fragments of our decimated
regiments Those once proud regiments looked
like mere skeletons. Men, hungry and faint,
were wandering about inquiring for their regi-
ments Brigade and division commanders were
unable to give the desired information. Regi-
ments had been almost annihilated, and the COM
manders could only point to the colors surrounded
by few brave followers
The elated rebel army, after crushing the
Eighth Corps, had fallen in great fury upon the
Nineteenth Corps, and that, in turn, had been
steadily driven back upon the Sixth Corps 1t
was hand-to-hand fight. Men were bayoneted,
and their companions the next instant shot down,
and the tide assumed such force that even the
gallant Sixth Corps, in readiness to receive the
onslaught, could not stand the shock, and slowly
fought its way back, with the Nineteenth Corps
sandwiched in between it's divisions. The rebel
army had won great victory, and, flushed with
success stopped to plumber the Union camps,
and to reform their excited columns preparatory
to moving on, anticipating the easy humiliation
Of SheTidan's disheartened army. Sheridan was
away. All the long, horrible morning men
anxiously looked into their comrades faces and
inquired, where is Sheridan ?" or exclaimed,
" Sheridan must be away" But there was no
reply from the clenched lips-only a shake of the
head and sullen look. All knew in their hearts
that their gallant chieftain was far away, else
Io,-o
midst ell the morning.
Sheridan had passed the night twenty mile.
away at Winchester. Between six and seven
o'clock in the morning the officer on picket
Winchester hurried to the bedside of Gener
Sheridan who slept at the house of Colonel Et
wards, and reported the sound Of scattering arti
lery shots. These General Sheridan supposed
be made by General Growers division which wa
to have made reconnaissance that morning
Sherdan's powerful black war-horse was, how
ever, saddled, as well as the horses of the staff
officers, and they started about eight o'clock,
passing through the main street of Winchester
On reaching the southern suburbs of the town
the sound Of artillery made the fact that battle
was proceeding to the General unmistakable.
Still he not alarmed; for he felt sure if Early
attacked his strong position at Cedar Creek he
would be beaten. They walked their horses
leisurely until they reached Mill Creek, half a
mile OR so from the town, trying to determine by
the sound whether the firing was coming toward
them or receding, and, after crossing Mill Creek
and rising little bluff on the south side, saw
the heads of the retreating troops coming rapidly
to the rear. Sheridan at once ordered halt,
directed that the wagon train be stopped and
packed at Mill Creek and sent orders that the
brigade in garrison at Winchester be stretched
across tho country, and all stragglers stopped.
All this was but the work Of few moments,
and, taking twenty trusty men from the escort,
he buried his spurs in his magnificent black
steed, and then began that wonderful ride for
lfe-not for his own, but for the life of his gall
liant army. Defeat, too, meant more than the
destruction of his noble army; it would have
laid open to the confederate troops Maryland
and Pennsylvania and the Capital of the Nation.
Sheridan's ride was no myth. The black horse
Winchester was one of the most powerful and
feet in the army. The animal seemed to be in
fused with the inspiration of his master, and
bore his rider with frightful speed up and down
the hard pike road, now dashing suddenly to the
right or left into the fields that ran parallel with
the road to avoid the shouting teamsters and
crowds of stragglers, and then with bound upon
the pike again. but still and ever on The crowd
dispersed, but stopped suddenly as Sheridan flew
past. They recognized their leader Men who
but moment ago thought themselves defeated