The National tribune., 1881-12-03
SHERIDAN'S RIDE.
WINCHESTER TO CEDAR CREEK.

Colonel Herbert E. Hill, an ex-officer of the
Union army, contributes to the Boston Traveller
the following graphic description Of the battle
of Cedar Greek, that wonderful victory snatched
from the jaws of terrible defeat by the reinforce
ment of single man, Phil Sheridan:
Wednesday week was the SEVENTEEN ami
versary of the battle of Cedar Creek, which was
fought on the 18th of October, 1864. Very many
people get the battles Of Winchester and Cedar
Greek con1ounded, and suppose Sheridan's ride to
have taken place in connection with the battle
Of Winchester This is not the fact The battle
Of Winchester occurred on September 49, 1864,
and the battle of Cedar Creek occurred just one
month later, on October 10, 1864, and twenty
miles south of Winchester 1t was with the
battle of Cedar Creek that Sheridan's ride was
connected. The Union army was intrenched on
the banks Of the creek, stretching across the
valley, confronted by the rebel army under,
General Jubal Early. Sheridan had been absent
for a few days on visit to Harper's Ferry and
Washington, and had returned on the 18th as
far as Winchester, where he stopped with his
staff that night
At the army, twenty miles to the 'front.' was
ordered on, and had charge of, portion of the
picket line in front of the centre of our amy the
night before the battle. At about four o'clock
on the morning of the 10Th dense fog enveloped
the shivering guards or pickets, and continued
till daylight. Just before daybreak, while lying
beside a small fire, with an officer, who is now
an officer OF the Clafin Guards of Newton,
heard the sound of three scattering shots on our
extreme right, which were instantly answered
by the enemy On the extreme left. They were
evidently signals for an advance of the rebel
host. We were both on our feet in a moment
the Goals of the almost dead fire were hastily
smothered, and the picket reserve ordered up
I took rifle from the stack close by stepped
out in front some five yards, crouched down in
the wet grass, and listened intenty for approach
ing footsteps.
For moment the silence was almost painful;
not sound from the sleeping camp in our rear
not even the rustling of leaf about us nor in
front. But this was only for a moment. 1t was
the calm before the storm. l heard the sound
of mufhed footsteps, and the next moment /
recognized in the dim light the form of a man.
and directly upon me. was upon my feet in
an instant, with the point Of my bayonet in his
face, and the sharp click of the hammer as l
cooked the musket was the first intimation that
tiiC iSoOi flIil nau
he was facing loaded rifle in the hands of q
Union soldier. l shouted "Surrender!n and in
less time that it takes to tell the incident two or
three Of my own men were at my side, and we
hurried the prisoner inside and piled him with
questions. In answer to my inquiry if he was
acting simply scout skrmisher he re-
piled: Il may as well tell, for you will know
shortly. Our whole army will be upon you in
q few minutes" | took his gun from him. which
he carried in his right hand at his side-a fine
English rife-a guard was directed to hurry
him at once to headquarters and couriers were
rushed off to alarm the sleeping army. Neither
the guard nor the prisoner were ever heard from
by afterward. We had barely time to
strengthen the picket line, much less warn the
army, when the crash Of ten thousand rifles and
the Wild, unearthly rebel yell burst from twenty
Thousand Threats, as the rebel army rushed like
all avalanche past our left, through the gloom,
over across the creek, up the banks, and over the
oreaSt"orks of the Eighth Corps. At the same
moment large body furiously attacked the left
hank Oh the corps, having crept cautiously round
OIL 'ile sue OF the mountain during the night
ana apparently to within few yards of our
lines, ana charged on hearing the signal of three
guns, above referred to- and simultaneously with
the attack in front
The surprise was complete The left of the